The Bassiès ponds and their refuge

Sport
Pedestrian sports
Hiking itinerary

Elevation : 841m

Parking De Massada, 09220 Auzat

5h 40min
Hard

DepartureAuzat
Distance14.8 km
Difference in height881 m
Elevation841 m
Minimum altitude840 m
Maximum altitude1682 m
Total positive elevation881 m
Total negative elevation-881 m

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This superb hike takes you through beautiful forests before reaching the Bassiès ponds. They stretch over 2.5km, from the Etang d'Escalès to the Etang du Pla de la Font, via the Etang Long and the majestic Etang Majeur.

August 19, 2026: Municipal ordinance of the town of Auzat prohibiting swimming in all mountain lakes and requiring dogs to be kept on a leash. Access: After passing through Vicdessos and Auzat, take the D8 south. Pass the Artiès turnoff; 1 km past that, before the first hairpin turn, you’ll find the Massada parking lot on your right. PLEASE NOTE: As of August 2026, the trail is closed starting from the Massada parking lot per an Auzat municipal ordinance. We recommend accessing the Bassiès Refuge via SALEIX or La Coumebière. A prefectural order has been issued to close the section of the GR10 between the lower part of the Bassiès ponds and the hamlet of Toutous in Marc, due to a wildfire that has not yet been brought under control. The detour established by the Prefecture and the ONF is as follows: - At the Saleix Pass, descend toward Auzat through the Saleix Valley by following the GRP “Tour des 3 Seigneurs” trail - In Auzat, ascend to Marc via the yellow-marked trail at the bottom of the Vicdessos Valley.

Guidebook with maps/step-by-step
Start - From the Massada parking lot, walk about 200m and turn right at the bend in the road onto a path that plunges uphill to a footbridge. Less than 20m further on, turn left for what will be the start of your ascent (white and red markings). The Vicdessos rival is fairly wide and paved. After a 20' walk, you leave it at the stream. To the right, the path initially becomes entangled in the stream, then climbs more safely, on the left bank, to the GR10. The path is less easy... It later crosses the road and enters the woods. It becomes even more demanding with a few twists and turns.
After 15', a fork in the road takes you to the aqueduct, but you keep going straight on north-west. The twists and turns start again! Don't get bored. At last, you descend a little, past a few small streams and wetlands, and emerge from the woods. You cross the penstock. A little further on, the path bends sharply to the right to pass the lock.

1h50 - Cross the Bassiès stream on the beautiful stone bridge. A few dozen meters further on, and you're at the Escalès pond. The others follow one another, and you join them as you advance along the left bank of the Bassiès planèze towards the W - N W. You border the main pond and pass to the left of the small, marshy Etang Mort. Keep going, you'll soon be there. The GR10 bends to the north, and in a few minutes it's time to turn left to the south-west,

3h00 - the Bassiès refuge at 1650m. Take a bite to eat, especially if you want to go further down the valley for a swim, as you're sure to find a lovely spot. This will give you a better view of the deep valley that winds its way past the ponds of the Escale lavants to the famous Bassiès red pick, which you'll do another time...

For the return journey, take the opposite route

5.40 - Arriving at Massada, you now know why the Bassiès ponds are so famous!