Pic d'Orhy
2,017 m
France, Spain
Also known as Monte Ori, Orhi, +2Also known as
Monte Ori · Orhi · Ori · Orhy
- Elevation
- 2,017 m
- Prominence
- 603 m
- Difficulty
- 2/10
- Hike
- Best Season
- Jun–Oct
- Routes
- 1
Routes
1Sources differ: T1 (Camptocamp) · Randonneur (no difficulty without snow) (topopyrenees.com)
The short, steep standard route: about 430–500 m from the Port de Larrau (about 1,575 m) on the French–Spanish border, on a clear unmarked path below the frontier ridge, round a rocky point and up the west flank to a long grassy summit ridge. About 1½ hours up, 2–3 hours round trip; often windy and in cloud.
Elevation Profile
- Distance
- 2.2 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +440 m
- start → summit
- High Point
- 2,017 m
- Time Up
- 1h 45m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 1h 10m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
Park at the Port de Larrau (about 1,575–1,585 m), the border pass between Larrau in Soule and Ochagavía in Navarre. The path leaves the bank between the 'Navarra' sign and border stone no. 237 and heads north-west, climbing across the south flank just below the frontier ridge. It is unmarked but well trodden and cairned, and the summit is in view most of the way. At about 1,810 m the path passes below a rocky point on its left (west) side, the only narrow, rocky spot; one report in 2025 mentions a short easy step with a fixed rope after a fence, reached by taking the first fork right. At about 1,880 m leave a col on the right and reach a well-marked col on the south-west ridge (about 1,915 m), then turn right (north) and climb across the west flank to the summit ridge, which runs for some 40 m and is easy to walk along. A steeper direct path straight up the final pyramid is used by some but is loose; the loop to the left is better. Return the same way or along the ridge crest, dropping back to the path near the end. The south-flank traverse can carry avalanche risk in winter. The summit is very exposed to westerly winds, with reported gusts of up to 200 km/h, and is often in cloud; the grass is slippery after rain.
Start
Port de Larrau1,577 m
- No public transport to the Port de Larrau was confirmed.
- Parking at the trailhead
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Port de Larrau → Pic d'Orhy | 2.2 | 440 | 0 | 1h 45m |
Waypoints
- Parking: Port de Larrau1,577 m
- Summit: Pic d'Orhy2,017 m
Key Passages
- Rocky point at about 1,810 m, passed on the west side
- Col on the south-west ridge (about 1,915 m)
- Grassy summit ridge
Equipment
0/5 packedDownloads
Route confidence 75%Overview
The westernmost 2,000 m summit of the Pyrenees (2,017 m), on the French–Spanish border between Soule and Navarre. A steep, short walk from the Port de Larrau leads to a long grassy summit ridge with views from the Atlantic coast to the central Pyrenees.
Pic d'Orhy (Orhi in Basque, Ori in Spanish) is the first summit above 2,000 m coming from the Atlantic, rising on the frontier ridge between the Soule valley around Larrau in France and the Salazar valley around Ochagavía in Navarre, above the Iraty forest. From the north it shows a steep rocky face; from the south it is a grassy pyramid ending in a summit ridge some 40 m long. It holds a special place in Basque culture and is often called a mountain of the Basques.
The standard ascent from the Port de Larrau, a road pass at about 1,580 m used by the Tour de France, is short: about 430–500 m and 1½ hours up on a clear, unmarked path. The finest summer approach is the long ridge walk from the Iraty side via the Col de Bagargiak and Pic Zazpigagn. On clear days the view stretches from the Landes coast and the ocean to the Pic d'Anie, the Aragonese peaks and the Pic du Midi de Bigorre.
The mountain's exposure to Atlantic weather is its main hazard: westerly winds are often violent on the summit, with reported gusts of up to 200 km/h, and cloud frequently covers the top. The north face holds snow and ice routes in good winters.
Climbing Notes
In summer this is an easy half-day for anyone used to steep mountain paths; allow 2½–3 hours round trip from the Port de Larrau. Avoid very windy days in any season, carry windproof layers and be ready for cloud: the path is unmarked, though cairned and well trodden. The steep grass is slippery after rain. In winter the ascent needs proper snow equipment and judgement, as the south-flank traverse can be avalanche-prone and the road to the pass may be blocked by snow. For a full day, combine the summit with the ridge to the Iraty side or descend over the Orhy Chipia.
Season
Best Jun–Oct- January: Possible
- February: Possible
- March: Possible
- April: Possible
- May: Good
- June: Best (best window)
- July: Best (best window)
- August: Best (best window)
- September: Best (best window)
- October: Best (best window)
- November: Good
- December: Possible
- Jan
- Winter; snow equipment needed; road to the pass may be blocked
- Feb
- Winter; avalanche risk on the south-flank traverse
- Mar
- Late snow; strong westerly winds
- Apr
- Spring snow patches
- May
- Mostly snow-free; changeable weather
- Jul
- Flowers on the south flank; afternoon cloud common
- Sep
- Often clear, with views to the ocean
- Oct
- Autumn colours in the Iraty forest; wood-pigeon hunting season on the ridges
- Nov
- First snow possible; short days
- Dec
- Winter conditions
Access & Permits
- Getting There
Larrau (Soule, France); Ochagavía (Navarre, Spain)
Biarritz Pays Basque (BIQ); Pamplona (PNA)
- Car from France: Tardets-Sorholus – Larrau, then the D26 over the Col d'Erroymendi (1,362 m) to the Port de Larrau (about 1,580 m)
- Car from Spain: from Ochagavía on the NA-2100 up the Salazar valley to the Port de Larrau
- Alternative start for the long ridge route: Col de Bagargiak (Iraty, about 1,330 m)
- No public transport to the Port de Larrau was confirmed
Hazards
- Weather
- Avalanche