25.1
PDI
15.1 mi
DISTANCE
4,513 ft
GAINED
5.5 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
INTRO
Lac d'Aumar climbs 24.3 km (15.1 mi) out of Saint-Lary-Soulan in the Hautes-Pyrénées, gaining 1,376 m (4,513 ft) at a 5.5% average grade to a high mountain lake in the Réserve Naturelle du Néouvielle, above 2,000 m (6,580 ft). The road shares its first 9 km - a gentle warm-up to the village of Fabian - with the climb to Lac de Cap-de-Long before the two routes diverge.
Past Fabian the grade picks up through a series of named hairpins (the lacets des Écureuils, des Myrtilles, and des Edelweiss are local favorites) before dropping briefly to Lac d'Orédon. This is where the climb becomes genuinely unusual: from mid-June to mid-September, private cars are barred from the final stretch to the lakes from 9:30 am to 6 pm, with visitors required to park and take a shuttle - but bikes are exempt. The result is several traffic-free kilometers on a well-paved road, including the steepest sustained section of the climb, a long straightaway that touches double digits.
The payoff at the top is a pair of lakes - Lac d'Aumar and, a kilometer further, Lac d'Aubert - set in open, rock-and-pasture high country below the Néouvielle massif. The first 9 km to Fabian is mild enough to feel like a warm-up, so pace the middle section past Orédon accordingly; recent-season rider reports through 2025 describe the road as being in good condition with no closures beyond the normal seasonal shuttle restriction.
PLAN YOUR ROUTE
We've partnered with Sherpa-Map.com to bring you the best route planning tool. With a PRO Membership you can use this climb as a reference when creating your route. From Saint-Lary-Soulan, Lac d'Aumar runs 24.3 km (15.1 mi) and gains 1,376 m (4,513 ft) at an average grade of 5.5%.
The grade is uneven rather than steady. The first 9 km to Fabian are mild, around 3-4%, and function as a warm-up. From Fabian the road steepens for roughly 10 km shared with the Cap-de-Long climb, then eases briefly at Lac d'Orédon before the hardest section of the whole climb - a long straightaway just past Orédon that holds double digits, with the steepest kilometer averaging 9.9% and a 100-yard stretch reaching 11.4%. The final kilometers to the lake ease back off again.
World rank: 550.
Roadway: The road is paved and in good condition the entire way, including the Route des Lacs section past Lac d'Orédon, which multiple rider reports through 2025 describe as smooth and well maintained - it's built to carry tour buses and shuttles, not just occasional traffic. The descent has some rough sections and blind corners reported on the older lower stretch near Fabian, so ride it with a bit more caution than the ascent.
Traffic: Traffic is moderate on the lower D929 through Fabian, where cars share the road with tour buses heading to the lakes. Above Lac d'Orédon it changes completely: from mid-June to mid-September, private vehicles are barred from 9:30 am to 6 pm and visitors must park and ride a shuttle, but cyclists are exempt from the restriction - so the final, steepest kilometers are ridden nearly car-free during the exact hours most people are out.
Parking: Riders typically start from the last roundabout on the edge of Saint-Lary-Soulan. There's also a paid parking area at Lac d'Orédon if you'd rather drive the lower section and ride only the car-restricted upper portion to the lakes.
Saint-Lary-Soulan is a full-service resort town with shops, bakeries, and restaurants for a proper start. Fabian, about a third of the way up, has more limited options, and there's nothing at all between Lac d'Orédon and the lakes at the top, so top off water before the barrier.
Standard road gearing handles the overall 5.5% average fine, but keep a low gear available for the double-digit straightaway above Lac d'Orédon. The lake sits above 2,000 m, so pack a light layer even in summer - it's noticeably cooler and windier up there than in town.
Before heading out on any cycling adventure check out our Things to Bring on a Cycling Trip and use our interactive check list to ensure you don't forget anything.
For those looking to stay in the area we would recommend the Pyrenees Cycling Lodge. Located in the beautiful medieval village of Saint Savin and hosted by Mark & Niamh, the Lodge is run by cyclists for cyclists. It is a great location for any cycling adventure in the Pyrenees with several renowned climbs within 100km of the property and 6 Tour de France climbs within 15km. Visit their website or contact them directly at pyreneescyclinglodge@gmail.com .
Most riders pair this climb with Lac de Cap-de-Long, which shares the first 9 km out of Saint-Lary before splitting off at Fabian - doing both lakes in one outing, in either order, is the standard way locals ride this valley. If you have another day in the area, Saint-Lary-Soulan is also the base for Pla d'Adet, Col d'Azet, and Piau-Engaly, making it one of the best-stocked towns in the Pyrenees for stacking climbs. Our Routes in the Area tool is a good way to see the full list.
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