In the face of climate change, the resort is also developing ancillary activities to compensate for an expected lack of snow in winter.

Artouste is located southwest of the ski resort of Gourette and is about 10 km (6.2 mi) from the France–Spain border north of Formigal.

The discovery attracted the Société hydroélectrique du Midi, which wanted to use the lake for a hydroelectric power station.

With the aim of building a hydroelectric dam at the Lac d'Artouste, the Compagnie des chemins de fer du Midi built a railway between La Sagette and the construction site in 1920.

The resort is known for its train running at an altitude of around 2,000 m (6,600 ft), which is the highest narrow-gauge railway in Europe,[6] and operates from the top of the Sagette gondola lift to the Lac d'Artouste on 10 km (6.2 mi) of track.

To cope with this, the resort has invested in other activities such as a mountain go-kart track, zip line, water sports facilities and a wellness area.

In 2024, during debates within the Regional Council of Nouvelle-Aquitaine in order to grant a budget to this project, The Ecologists' elected representatives contested it on the basis of potential harm to the fauna and flora of a Natura 2000 classified site.

[21] For a long time, there has been discussion of a better physical link between Gourette and Artouste,[22][23] to improve upon the off-piste route that already connects the two ski areas.

[24] Other projects are currently being studied to revitalise the resort in winter, in particular to improve its position on ski mountaineering and snowshoeing.