The HRP is a high route traversing the Pyrenees from the Atlantic ocean to the Mediterranean sea (or vice versa). Unlike the GR10 (France) and GR11 (Spain) the route stays close to the crest of the range along the French-Spanish border. While only a few sections are off-trail, the trail is pretty rugged at times and due to the elevation gain of 160k ft over 450 miles, daily progress is comparatively slow. There are a wide array of variations to pick and choose from depending on resupply, weather, and personal preference. I started in late August in Hendaye in the Basque country and finished about a month later in Banyuls with a dip in the Mediterranean.

  1. Hendaye to Lescun
  2. Lescun to Gavarnie
  3. Gavarnie to Benasque
  4. Benasque to Arinsal
  5. Arinsal to Bolquere
  6. Bolquere to Banyuls

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Lescun to Gavarnie

 Posted on November 11, 2022  |  7 minutes

Dates: 08/28 - 8/31 Start: Lescun (Gité) End: Gavarnie (Hotel) Distance: 62 miles Vert: 27k+ / 25k- I was excited to leave Lescun. While it was a picturesque village in the mountains, I knew I was just at the start of the aforementioned mountains and couldn’t wait to climb higher up. After a disappointing breakfast at the Gité (weak coffee, stale bread, and a single croissant), I made my way to the ski town of Candanchu. [Read More]
log  hrp 

Overall thoughts and advice

 Posted on November 11, 2022  |  12 minutes

There’s already a ton of information for the HRP freely available online, and I’d encourage you to seek out some of the other resources listed below. What follows is my personal opinion and views after finishing the route and should be taken as such. Resources and maps The HRP has been around for a while, and I didn’t have any issue finding websites and blogs covering everything from maps, resupply, and navigation. [Read More]
overview  hrp 

Hendaye to Lescun

 Posted on October 25, 2022  |  8 minutes

Dates: 08/23 - 8/27 Start: Hendaye End: Lescun (Gite) Distance: 100 miles Vert: 35k+ / 32k- I got up early to catch the bus to the train station and make my way to the French-Spanish border via train. Thanks to the TGV, I quickly arrived in Paris, where I had to change trains and take the metro to another train station first. The stations were crowded with tourists, as expected in the middle of the summer. [Read More]
log  hrp 

HRP Gear list and thoughts

 Posted on October 19, 2022  |  4 minutes

The HRP was my first hike in Europe, so I wasn’t too familiar with the conditions in the Pyrenees. I started a little bit later than I had intended in late August, but luckily managed to bypass a heat wave that way. Like many mountain ranges, late September to mid October is shoulder season where anything can happen. I was pretty lucky and only had a few nights close to freezing. [Read More]