Climbing the Roc du Caroux

Park in the hikers' car park located before the hamlet of Douch.

Parking on the small square near the communal oven and in the narrow streets is strictly reserved for permanent residents.

(S/E) Head towards the Col de l'Airole, then turn left about a hundred metres further on, onto the path marked with a GR® (white and red markings) and a PR® (yellow markings). Climb up to the plateau via this path in the shade of a deciduous forest. It is a steep climb of about 500 metres before you reach a crossroads on the Caroux plateau.

(1) Continue straight ahead, following the double markings. Follow a pretty flat path that winds its way between small stilts, streams, peat bogs and moors, leading to the edge of a forest where several paths meet.

(2) Continue straight ahead, slightly to the right, following the double markings. Enter the shade of a deciduous forest and cross a log bridge. Exit the undergrowth and come out onto a large clearing, with the Font Salesse refuge in sight. Quickly make your way to the refuge.

(3) After visiting the refuge, turn 90° to the left, continuing to follow the yellow markings, and head for the orientation table.

(4) Enjoy the view over the Orb valley and, on clear days, the sea, Canigou and the Pyrenees. Then take the yellow marked trail that heads north at a 90° angle to the left of the orientation table. Follow this flat, stony trail to an intersection of several well-marked tracks after a large cairn in the middle of the path.

(5) Then take the path at a 90° angle to the left, heading back towards the Font Salesse Refuge.

(3) Pass the building again and continue straight ahead along a narrow single track path through the grass. You will reach Plo de la Maurelle, a vast promontory offering sublime views of the Orb valley and the start of the Héric gorges. Continue down the steep path marked with dark blue dots until you reach Rieu Tort.

(6) Cross the stream, go straight ahead at the nearby crossroads, then turn left and climb up the Rieu Tort valley, with the Roc du Caroux a few hundred metres away in your sights. Walk across a slope of moorland until you reach the foot of the rocky massif, at the foot of a large beech tree. Make the final 100-metre climb to reach the summit, marked by a cairn.

(7) After admiring the view overlooking the Gorges d'Héric, retrace your steps in the Combe du Rieu Tort. Leave the arrival trail on your right and keep to the left towards Espinouse, rather than the Caroux plateau as before. The path gradually becomes a wide track which you follow for about 500 metres until you reach a fork on the left, marked by a small cairn.

(8) Descend this track between the rocks (the Lucadou track, usually used by hunters) to quickly reach the Col de l'Airole.

(9) Turn right and, once on the pass's meadow, take the track on the right for about a hundred metres, then turn left to follow a path that leads directly back to the car park (S/E).

Reminder: comply with the regulatory requirement to park your vehicles only in the car park located at the entrance to the hamlet. Parking on the small square near the bread oven and in the narrow streets is strictly reserved for permanent residents.

Water point in the hamlet of Douch.

Most of the circuit is in full sun => be prepared before you set off.

Network accessible throughout the circuit, at high altitude.

Visit to the hamlet of Douch.

Sainte-Marie de Douch Church.

Héric Gorges.