from the northern direction (Lavelanet)
Ref; L'Ariege a pied; walk 13
This has so far been my most exciting walk, a real highlight (2340m!), but not an easy one as instead of going to the lakes I went to the top!
You start from around 1300 m. The first bit was quite steep, but you can take the forest road, which is a more gentle, but longer way. Soon you are out of the forests and have open views all the way around. After 2-3 km there is a fork(point 3). Not very well signposted, both are yellow!
If you want to go to the top go right, if to the lake take the left. But it is worth to go to the top!
Absolutely fantastic views; That’s what made this my most exciting walk. And once you are up there, you can always go along the lakes back, but not the other way around!
So let’s go up; just keep going and only at the very end you will be able to see over to the other side and see the whole of the Pyrenees in front of you. Stunning!
There is only one other peak, which blocks a tiny section of your view, otherwise you can look 360 degrees all around you.
Definitely worthwhile to have your lunch there. It took me 3 hours to get there. On the way back I went via the lakes. It’s very steep down to the first few other tiny lakes. I went along them to cool down and then I continued the path along these little lakes (direction east) and not as is on the map, where it is indicated to go north already by the first of the little lakes.
But you could take this one and let me know what is there! Waterfalls?
Anyway I came to an unrecognisable steep path down; it was all big boulders, but the “path” was marked and you have to jump from one stone to the next. That’s why it would be difficult to go to the lakes first and then come this way to climb up.
I bypassed the devil’s lake and went to the trout lake where I had a nice swim, but not too long and had a good rest and a cup of coffee.(bring your own!!) Also a very nice spot indeed.
From there it is a gentle walk back to the fork in the path where I thought I went wrong!
Probably it took me only 2 to 2 1/2 hr to walk down, lunch, swim, rest not included!
I have no photos as my wife was in England to take photos of our first grandchild! What a shame!
But here is a photo my son took from the top of the ski lift at Mont d’Olmes, which gives you nearly the same view to the west, this time with snow!
Ariege; Reserve Nationale d'Orlu and Refuge d'en Beys
Ref 1) Midi-Pyrenees a pied; walk 18; reserve d'Orlu
Ref 2) Les Sentiers d'Emilie en Ariege; walk 22
Ref 3) Les guides Louis Audoubert; Vers les refuges des Pyrenees; walk 45
Ideal walk for children up to and in the valley, you can also hire a donkey to carry the luggage, which might make you able to go even further all the way to the refuge D'en Beys (coffee!) without too much effort.
It starts off with walking through forests (2 km distance, 300 m up) until you come to a big valley (altitude 1480m), where during the summer you will be able to see cows grazing and half way the valley marmots on your left.
At the end of the valley (app 5 km) comes a short, but difficult bit through another bit of forest, where after is more enjoyable path, but rocky, with open views all around and most likely you will be able to see the isards (wild goats)
Then you will come to a lake and yes just behind it is the refuge (1970m).
All together the walk will have taken you 3-4 hrs.
It's 3 hours back, all the way downhill!
Of course you can stay the night and walk next day to Pic de la Grave (2671 m) or to the next refuge
Just before we come to the open valley
