The Haute Route Pyrénéenne (HRP): What, Where, Why, and How?

The Haute Route Pyrénéenne (HRP), sometimes known as the Haute Randonnée Pyrénéenne, Pyrenees High Route, or Pyrenean Haute Route, is a hiking route that spans approximately 500 mi / 800 km through the Pyrenees mountain range along the France-Spain border, from the Atlantic Ocean in Hendaye, France, to the Mediterranean Sea in Banyuls-sur-Mer, France.

The Pyrenees are often overlooked in favor of their arguably more famous neighbors, the Alps. However, that’s good for us because mountains don’t have feelings (as far as we know), and any lack of recognition suffered by the Pyrenees simply means fewer crowds for those in the know (that’s you).

The HRP is not an officially designated trail—unlike many other long-distance hiking paths around Europe, such as the GR trails or the various Caminos—but instead links together a series of existing trails to stay close to the crest of the Pyrenees when possible. That said, there are certainly ways that this route could stay higher for longer if a hiker were so inclined – more on that in a future post (sign up here to be notified).

Because it’s not an established trail, there is no “official HRP,” and hikers can choose from many alternates, detours, or reroutes. Yes, there are widely agreed-upon sections of the HRP, but everyone’s experience on the HRP will likely be a bit different (this can also be largely dependent on the time of year people choose to hike the HRP and/or the variable weather conditions).

General Stats and Information

• Length: 500 mi / 800 km
• Total elevation change: 335,000 ft / 102,000 m
• Location: France, Spain, Andorra
• Cumulative ascent: 167,500 ft / 51,000 m
• Cumulative descent: 167,500 ft / 51,000 m
• Average elevation change: 670 ft per mile / 128 m per km
• Western terminus: Hendaye, France (Atlantic Ocean)
• Eastern terminus: Banyuls-sur-Mer, France (Mediterranean Sea)
• High point: Portilló de Literola, 9,780 ft / 2,981 m
• Low point: Sea level (Hendaye and Banyuls-sur-Mer)
• Permits needed: None
• Things to remember: Bring cash for the refugios

What Is the Haute Route Pyrénéenne (HRP)?

The Haute Route Pyrénéenne (HRP) is a route that attempts to remain as high as possible while traverssing the Pyrenees mountains dividing France and Spain – and running through the center of Andorra. It connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea and spans approximately 500 mi / 800 km with a total elevation change 335,000 ft / 102,000 m.

Despite being billed as a route, that’s a bit of a misnomer.

It’s a route in the sense that it’s not an officially established trail, but there’s isn’t extensive off-trail and crosscountry navigation (as I would typically expect with routes versus trails – at least in the United States). It’s instead a route that links together existing trails with a few sporatic crosscountry-feeling sections sprinkled throughout. Navigation is rarely an issue as there are typically either some sort of trail marker or heaps of cairns showing you the way at all times. That said, the trail markers are inconsistent and hikers will need to pay attention to which particular marker each section of the HRP follows (if they’re choosing to navigate via paint on rocks).

Because the HRP is not an official trail, the length and elevation gain can vary depending on who you ask. Chances are that everyone’s HRP hike will be a bit different as there are plenty of alternates available and no official HRP markings showing you the way – unlink the parallel GR10 and GR11 trails (more on these below).

But full disclosure, I did spy a couple of signs in the easternmost section of the route that actually said HRP on them – in addition to HRP being painted on some rocks a handful of times throughout; these were far and away the exception, not the rule.

The Difference Between the HRP and the GR10/GR11

Europe has a well-established network of trails crisscrossing the continent. There are several different trail systems, but perhaps the best-known (besides the various Camino de Santiago or Saint James Way trails) are the GR trails.

Two of these trails, the GR10 and the GR11, share similarities with Haute Route Pyrénéenne. The HRP even follows these other two trails at various points while crossing the Pyrenees. So, what’s the difference between the three?

First, the similarities.

The GR10, GR11, and the HRP all run the length of the Pyrenees from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea. The GR10 is even referred to as the “Grande Traversée des Pyrénées” or “Great Pyrenees Crossing.” HRP hikers may have a bone to pick with the choice of adjective here. In the mountains, all three will be familiar to staff at the refugios, but as you get into town and/or further from the Pyrenees, you’ll find the HRP less well known than the GR10 and GR11.

So what are the differences between the HRP and the GR10/11?

The GR10 and the GR11 are well signed and have trail markers that can be followed for the entirety of each. You could, theorhetically, hike the GR10 or the GR11 without a map or GPS and navigate by simply following the signage and trail markers. However, the HRP has no such markers (except for very few number of notable exceptions). You’ll need a map and/or a GPS to follow the HRP.

Despite the overlap, the HRP stays higher than the GR10 and GR11 overall. It wouldn’t be entirely inaccurate to describe the GR10 as following the Pyrenees on the French side, the GR11 as following the Pyrenees on the Spanish side, and the HRP following the Pyrenees between the GR10 and GR11 while staying on the border/crest of the mountains, when possible.

If you hike the HRP, people will likey first guess that you’re hiking the GR10 or 11 (depending on which country you happen to be in at the time).

Where Is the HRP?

The Haute Route Pyrénéenne is oftentimes thought of as a French thru-hike, but it spends arguably as much time (of perhaps even more time) in Spain as it does France. However, because both the terminuses are located in France (albeit quite close to the Spanish border), the French connection sticks.

The HRP western terminus is in Hendaye, France at the Atlantic Ocean the HRP eastern terminus in Banyuls-sur-Mer, France at the Mediterranean Sea.

The HRP also passes through the microstate of Andorra which can be completely overlooked by many would-be HRP hikers. Why some people overlook Andorra? Probably because you could conceivably hike through the entirety of the Andorran HRP portion in a single day if you made a mission out of it (if you’re just learning about this place called Andorra right now, know that it’s quite small as far as countries go – yet only the sixth-smallest state in Europe).

For much of the hike, the HRP is literally following the France-Spain border – oftentimes deliniated by a rudimentary fence featuring a wire that may or may not be electrified (meant for livestock, not for people).

How to Hike the HRP

You do not need a permit to hike the Haute Route Pyrénéenne. There is no HRP trail organization and despite the HRP passing through three different countries and a number of national parks, you do not need a permit to hike through or camp in these areas.

It’s important to note there are some camping regulations on the HRP depending on where you’re hoping to sleep. Within the national parks, you can pitch a tent and sleep above 6,500 ft / 2,000 m or at least “one hour’s walk from the park boundaries or from a paved road” from 19:00 to 9:00.

The HRP can be hiked in either direction, but starting at the Atlantic Ocean in Hendaye and walking eastbound to the Mediterranean Sea in Banyuls-sur-Mer appears to be the more common choice. However, I did meet quite a few westbound HRP hikers – all of them French. Apparently, and I was told this by a Polish hiker I met who previously hiked the HRP, there is a French guidebook for the HRP that describes the route from east to west and this is why most French HRP thru-hikers choose to hike from east to west instead of from west to east.

Both trailheads (rather, both HRP terminus towns) are accessible via public transportation. Hendaye by bus, and Banyuls-sur-Mer by either bus or by train (making is slightly more easy to get to/leave from). Both terminus towns also have plenty of accommodation and food options available.

All along the HRP, hikers can find shelters, refugios, and even hotels. It would be conveivable (although not advisable) that someone could thru-hike the HRP without a shelter. The staffed refugios (of which there are many – and most of which close sometime in the first half of October) typically cost around €20-25 for accommodation and an additional €20-25 if hikers would like dinner as well. Breakfast and to-go lunches are typically available as well. More on HRP huts and refugios in a future post (sign up here to be notified).

Wrap Up

Much of Europe, particularly Western Europe, is oftentimes thought of being far too dense to have majestic stretches of wilderness, but the Haute Route Pyrénéenne attemps to buck this assumption to keep hikers both high and deep in the Pyrenees mountains.

The HRP gets quickly into remote (at least remote-feeling) places, while also providing a surprising amount of access to town. Shelters, both staffed and unstaffed, spaced at seemingly regular intervals along the HRP provide reprieves from weather or meals, drinks, and snacks in the case of the staffed huts.

Interested in hiking the HRP and want to know more? Leave a comment below and I’ll let you know what to expect. I’ll be following this up with more specific HRP posts on huts, resupply, water sources, logistics, and more; click here to get notified when new posts go live.