Estaragne, Mountain summit in the Hautes-Pyrénées, France

Estaragne is a bare summit of dark brown and grey rock reaching 3,006 m in the Néouvielle massif, Hautes-Pyrénées, near Saint-Lary-Soulan. A ridge runs from the upper left down toward the centre, with loose scree and angular stones across the slopes and small patches of snow or ice clinging to the upper right flank and gullies. A rough grey boulder speckled with dark lichen and moss sits on the slope below the top.

Like other Pyrenean peaks, this mountain formed through tectonic forces over millions of years. Glaciers later shaped the granite faces and carved out the lakes that exist on the mountain today.

Alpine meadows surrounding this peak have long served as summer pastures for herds from nearby valleys. You can still see shepherds moving their flocks through these high grasslands during the warmer months.

You can reach the summit from two main starting points: the D929 road bend or Cap de Long lake. Summer is the best season for hiking here, as snow melts and trails become clearly visible.

The name Estaragne is of unclear origin, though a small valley and stream just northeast of the peak carry the same name. Snow cover on the upper slopes usually begins in late October and lasts until June, so the bare rock of the summit is exposed only in the short summer.