Lac de Binaros Inférieur

Lac de Binaros Inférieur is a small mountain lake in the municipality of Bagnères-de-Bigorre, in the Hautes-Pyrénées department, sitting on the south-facing slope of the Lesponne valley. At 1,841 metres above sea level, it forms the lower of the two Binaros lakes, its counterpart, Lac de Binaros Supérieur, lying just above it at 1,857 metres. Locally the lower lake is also known as Lac de Moungès.

How big is the lake?

Lac de Binaros Inférieur covers only about 0.4 hectares and reaches a depth of roughly 2 metres. It is a typical small Pyrenean tarn, fed by water draining down from the higher Lac de l'Œuf and feeding into the Adour de Lesponne stream system. Tucked below the surrounding ridgeline, the water stays cold even in summer.

What lives in the lake?

Brown trout (truite fario) and minnows (vairons) live in its waters. Fish here tend to be wary, which is typical of high-altitude lakes that see few visitors, so anglers should expect a cautious, sparse population rather than easy catches.

How do you get there?

The starting point for the hike is the Col de la Courade, at around 1,270 metres. To reach it from Bagnères-de-Bigorre, take the D935 toward Campan, then head into the Lesponne valley past Pont d'Arrimoula on the D154. From the col, the climb to the lake takes roughly two hours on foot. The full round trip covers just over 10 kilometres with about 735 metres of elevation gain, which makes it a demanding outing best planned as a full-day hike with proper trekking gear.

What else is worth seeing nearby?

The lakes sit beneath Pic de Péne Nère (2,256 m), which offers views over both the Lesponne and Campan valleys. The area falls within a ZNIEFF protected zone (type 1 and type 2, covering the upper Adour basin), recognised for its high-altitude flora and fauna — a good reason to stick to marked paths. The wider massif also includes Pic du Midi de Bigorre, visible from several points along the route.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Lac de Binaros Inférieur? In the municipality of Bagnères-de-Bigorre, Hautes-Pyrénées, on the south-facing slope of the Lesponne valley, at 1,841 metres.

How does it differ from Lac de Binaros Supérieur? It is the lower of the two Binaros lakes, sitting 16 metres below the upper lake (1,857 m) and smaller in its surrounding terrain.

How long does it take to reach the lake? From the Col de la Courade trailhead (1,270 m), the climb takes about two hours one way.

Can you fish there? Yes, brown trout and minnows live in the lake, though the fish population is small and wary.

Is the hike difficult? Yes — with a round trip of over 10 kilometres and 735 metres of elevation gain, it is considered a demanding route.