Aire d'Artigue - Étang Sourd - Refuge du Pinet

From the Mounicou stopover lodge, walk down the road for 800 m. At the fork in the road, turn left towards Artigue - Emperrot. Continue straight ahead, passing the first car park on your right. Park in the second car park below on the left. Arrive early in summer as it gets very busy.

White and red GRT60markings.

(S/E) From the car park, climb up a path parallel to the road and join it higher up before the public toilets. Continue along the wide path.

(1) Continue straight ahead on the GRT until you reach the fork at the Artigue waterfall*.

(2) Go up to the left along the path, which is very well marked on the ground. Further on, you will come to another fork.

(3) Continue straight ahead on the GRT. When you leave the forest, you will come to a summer pasture area with the Orri de Pla Nouzère. Go through an electric fence and continue for about 50 metres until you reach a fork.

Yellow markings

(4) Turn left, heading south, onto a beautiful path that climbs steeply through the summer pasture. Feel free to take breaks: the landscape is magnificent. After a final climb, you will reach the Étang Sourd lake. Go around it on the right and you will come to the Cabane (closed, private) de l'Étang Sourd, the fountain and a picnic table.

(5) From the hut, head west for a few metres and turn left to climb steeply. The pretty path turns south-west and passes a first snow pole. Further on, a second pole appears, as well as the Refuge de l'Étang du Pinet at 2,240 m, which is a few dozen metres away.
A very beautiful spot, except for the unusual appearance of the refuge.

White and red markings for the GRT60

(6) After a restorative break at the refuge, continue a few metres to a fork at the Étang du Pinet spillway.
Head north, descending along the Ruisseau d'Estats via the GRT60.
Caution: the path is rutted, so take extra care. Feel free to take breaks in this beautiful spot.
Return to the fork in the path and the Orri de Pla Nouzère.

(4) Continue straight ahead, descending via the same route as on the way up. Much further down, you will reach the Aire de l'Artigue (S/E). End of the journey in Haute-Ariège.

(5) Cabane de l'Étang Sourd: private and closed, spring.
(6) Refuge de l'Étang du Pinet: drinking water, drinks, meals, overnight stay.
Plenty of water but needs to be filtered or disinfected.
Mountain environment: you will need the right equipment, including: warm clothing and rain gear, 2 litres of water, walking sticks, compass, GPS or Visorando, 1:25,000 map, GPX track, description.

• (2) Access to the Artigue waterfalls is a round trip of approximately 1.2 kilometres.

(5) The mountains encourage you to continue climbing 3,000-metre peaks: Pic du Montcalm, Pique d'Estats, Pic de Verdaguer, etc.
But a night at the Refuge du Pinet is then a must.