Alert
Alerts
36 - LE GOUFFRE D'ENFER
IGN cards
Description
A real natural curiosity, this is a cool, wooded hike. At the bottom of the Lis valley, you will see the ""Portillon"" hydroelectric power station on your left, built in 1941.
Did you know that the water used in this plant comes from Lake Portillon, at an altitude of over 2,500 metres in the neighbouring valley? An 8-kilometre underground tunnel and a penstock (above the plant) transport the water to the turbines.
Starting from the car park in the Lis Valley, to the right of the Enfer waterfall, the trail climbs up to the chasm. You can descend via the Pré de l'Artigue and the beech forest to complete a loop.
Technical Information
Altimetric profile
Starting point
Additional information
Detailed stages
1 - From the Lis Valley car park, don't miss the 70-metre-high Enfer waterfall on your way there or back.
2 - A little further on, trail no. 36 branches off to the right (signposted – 1153m). You will first walk under hazel trees and then very quickly under tall conifers. The path climbs steadily in hairpin bends and remains pleasant. There are a few viewpoints along the way. You will cross a few streams, which can be problematic during the snowmelt period.
3 - Further on, you cross the stream via a small bridge. The trail levels out a little, then you leave the path coming from your left from the Artigue meadow. Continue towards the promontory of the Gouffre d'Enfer. There is a viewpoint here where you can enjoy the full power of the water. Climb up to the small bridge just above you, which you can see from the viewpoint. It is only a few dozen metres away.
4 - You can return by the same route or via the Pré de l'Artigue and the Houradade trail.
Dates
From 2026-04-01T00:00:00 From 2026-11-29T00:00:00
Elevation gain
380 (Medium)
Start and end town
CASTILLON-DE-LARBOUST
Contact
Tel : 05 61 79 21 21
Email : info@pyrenees31.com
Website : www.pyrenees31.com
Data producer
Contact : HAUTE-GARONNE TOURISME / OFFICE DE TOURISME PYRÉNÉES 31
Phone : 05 61 79 21 21
This information comes from the Haute-Garonne Departmental Tourism Network and is synchronized as part of the partnership between Cirkwi and Haute-Garonne Tourisme.
Data author
