Appy walks

A short, pleasant half-day hike in spring to the Étang d'Appy and its cirque.

Enjoy magnificent views of the Ariège mountains as you cross the Col de Cadène and Col de l'Étang d'Appy. You can relax at the foot of the Étang d'Appy, dominated by the Pic de Saint-Barthélemy.

This circular hike will take you across the Plateau de Beille, offering beautiful views of the eastern Ariège Pyrenees throughout the hike. When you reach the top of the plateau, you may encounter a few herds grazing (goats, cows or Mérens horses).

Located on the outskirts of Tarascon-sur-Ariège, this hike gradually takes you up the slopes where you can admire the Ariège, Tarascon and several peaks of the Pyrenees!

Superb viewpoint over the entire eastern part of the Pyrenees. The Pic de Saint-Barthélemy also offers an exceptional view of the plain to the north. It is easily identifiable on a clear day from the motorway... The route combines beech forest, where the small Lac de Moulzoune nestles, two old quarries, grassy hilltops overlooking two high-altitude lakes, a small forest of mountain pines and ends with a stony ridge covered with rhododendrons.

Loop starting from the Étang de Moulzoune via the peaks of Soularac and Saint-Barthélémy. To be done between June and November, checking that there is no snow on the north side (visible from Lavelanet), as access would be difficult.

Loop starting near the village of Montségur, via the peaks of Soularac, at 2,368 m, and Saint Barthélémy, at 2,348 m, then return via the Diable and Truites lakes. This is a fairly demanding circuit in terms of elevation and the nature of the trails.

This route, which circles the village of Arnave, is particularly dedicated to visiting the Romanesque chapel of Saint-Paul, a jewel of tranquillity in a rural setting. From its promontory, it invites you to take your time and enjoy the peace and quiet.

This loop takes you from the village of Arnave up to the Col d'Ijou, where you can see the village of Croquié before starting the descent via the village of Serres. You can also admire the beautiful view of the Pyrenees at various points along the walk.

Randonnée longue et partiellement hors sentier. Vue magnifique du sommet de la Frau à 1900 m et possibilité de visiter la grotte de l'Ourse qui est exceptionnelle. Ce parcours comporte des passages hors sentiers, l'application ou un GPS de randonnée est fortement conseillée.

A few kilometres from Ax-les-Thermes, this is an easy hike offering a variety of pleasures and sensations. After the first part, mainly through a magnificent beech forest, the view opens up as you cross the mountain pastures on the legendary Chemin des Bonshommes, a short section of which you will follow. And of course, don't forget the arrival at the Refuge du Chioula, which offers a magnificent panorama of the Pyrenees and all the great peaks of the Ariège.

At an altitude of 2,000 metres, Mont Fourcat is the northernmost peak of the Cirque des Monts d'Olmes. It offers a vast view of the plain to the north and a view of the entire Ariège mountain range to the south and west. Beyond that, on a clear day, you can even see the Maladetta glacier in the distance. To the east, the view plunges into the Cirque des Monts d'Olmes, dominated by the imposing Saint-Barthélemy. You first climb through a beautiful forest and as soon as you reach the open space among the ferns and heather, which then give way to rhododendrons, broom and gispet, you can enjoy a beautiful view as you walk along a ridge formed by continuous grassy hillocks leading to the summit. This outing is quite challenging (800 m elevation gain), but the route is entirely on very comfortable trails and tracks, hence its "medium" rating.

Despite its modest altitude (1,618 m), this peak, well known to paragliders, offers a 360° panorama including the Cathar fortress of Montségur and the Montagne de Tabe. The circuit begins with a steady climb through the Bois de Montminier and continues over wide, grassy ridges that present no difficulty. On the way back, the Lac de Moulzoune and its picnic area offer a very pleasant place to stop.

This pleasant hike will take you to the charming village of Orgeix, where you can explore its castle on the shores of Lake Campauleil.

This route is one of four hiking trails maintained and promoted by the Caminaïres de Comus association. Starting from the village of Comus, it comprises two loops forming a figure of eight. At the junction of the two loops, you can continue to Sarrat de Rouquières (second loop) or just do the first loop via Roc Rouge. Both peaks offer remarkable views. The first loop has steep slopes, both uphill and downhill, with gradients of over 20%. However, there is a gentler access route via the Col de la Gargante, which is also signposted. Please note that the name "Roc Rouge" is a local name: the peak is marked "le Poumairol" on maps.

This route is one of four hiking trails maintained and promoted by the Caminaïres de Comus association. Starting from the village of Comus, it takes you up to the Col du Boum, then down to the Pla du Boum, a large pasture surrounded by pine and beech forests, before reaching the Cols de Camurac. In addition to forest trails, the route offers splendid views, particularly of the Massif de Tabe. This hike is also accessible by mountain bike and snowshoes in winter.

This route is one of four hiking trails maintained and promoted by the Caminaïres de Comus association. Starting from the village of Comus, it joins the Col du Boum, the Pla du Boum, and after passing through the woods, it climbs towards the Pic des Rives, then the Cols de Camurac before reaching Montpié. This hike offers splendid views. It is also accessible by mountain bike and snowshoes.

Please note: the approach walk along the road is the only part of the hike that is in the shade if you set off early enough in the morning. This is the only way to complete this loop. It may seem tedious, but the landscape is very beautiful.The hike can be classified as quite difficult. After the footbridge over the Ruisseau de la Coume de Varilhes, the path is not easy: steep, with steps, a paved scree slope, a ledge to cross, etc. But once you reach the top, you will be rewarded. Then the GR®T66 from the largest of the Étang de Fontagente lakes to the refuge is more of the same. This is definitely a mountain hike.

A very pretty mountain circuit with an overnight stay at the Refuge du Ruhle. The ascent is via the Coume de Varilhes, the Étangs de Fontagente and the Aston to reach the Refuge du Rulhe. The return journey will be via the beautiful Crête des Isards, the Col de la Didorte and the Cabane de Rieutort.

A lovely viewpoint, a dolmen and a rural plateau.

This is a magnificent hike that starts from the Plateau du Saquet, and therefore the Ax 3 Domaines ski slopes, and ends at the Refuge de Rulhe, where a good local rataf will do you good. Once you reach the top of the resort, long desert plateaus await you before you descend into the austere scree slopes at the foot of Rulhe and finish sliding down to the Refuge de Rulhe. This first stage is wild and challenging, in the scree slopes. Be careful on the descent from the Col de Lhasse, which is very steep (but the GR® is well marked).

A long hike in Haute Ariège to admire the lakes, ridges and magical landscapes with a stop at the ideally located Refuge de Rulhe, an opportunity to taste the local rataf'. On the second day, you can admire the whole area from the ridges.

Starting from the village of Seignaux, which was once an old kaolin (white clay) mine used to make porcelain, you will reach the Col de Belvèze to discover a superb view of the Pyrenees mountain range. Back in the village, you can take a few minutes to learn a little more about kaolin, see the wagon used in the mine, and admire the view from the orientation table.

This is an easy hike. It is ideal in June when flowers and rhododendrons are everywhere. The ponds are magnificent. If you feel like swimming, choose the second one, as it will be less crowded. In summer, the site can be very busy. We preferred to do the loop in an anti-clockwise direction: fewer people and a more even climb.

A superb hike between the austere Aston Valley and the equally austere upper part of the Inclès Valley in Andorra. There is a succession of ponds. Don't underestimate the difficulty of this long and technical hike, especially on the Andorran side. But as a group of American hikers we met twice during the hike said, "It is gorgeous."The loop is optimised compared to other routes as it does not descend to the bottom of the Inclès Valley and does not pass by the Refuge du Ruhle. But overall, it is very well marked!

A half-day tour to admire the magnificent Étangs de Fontargente and their emerald green reflections.

Beautiful mountain stages are on the programme. Comfortable accommodation and meals await you every evening.Two departments, different types of landscapes, crossing a nature reserve, a long descent along a torrent, mountain ponds and lakes, wide open spaces await you...Note: this trip is accessible by public transport and can start from Mérens-les-Vals. See Practical Information. Another note: users have complained about the descent at the end of the four days. This trip can be done in the opposite direction to the description. But in this case, remember to save the four stages (base maps and gpx track) to help you find your way.

Walk through the ruins of Roquefixade Castle and the Coulzonne Cave.

An easy hike between Rabat-les-Trois-Seigneurs and Bédeilhac offering a beautiful view of the valley from the Roche Ronde.

A lovely half-day family walk to the Étang de Comte via the Jasse du Mourguillou.

The Col de Joux is the only crossing point between the Ariège and Orgeix valleys. This mid-mountain route starts in open terrain and then enters the Ax-les-Thermes communal forest. The ridge passages offer beautiful views of the surrounding peaks, the most iconic of which is undoubtedly the Dent d'Orlu, whose south face is clearly visible. Herds of cows and horses complete the picture.

The village of Montgailhard is dominated by the famous Pic de Montgailhard or Pain de Sucre, rising proudly to an altitude of 627 m. But there is another, lesser-known peak called Carsabel, which is well worth a visit because, at 615 m above sea level, it has nothing to be ashamed of compared to its big brother. Less imposing and much less easily accessible, but without any major technical difficulties, you do, however, have to brave the complications of its winding and unclear paths to reach its summit in the middle of the forest. This is the domain of wild boars, roe deer and other mammals and birds of this region of the Pyrenean foothills, but also of foresters who (moderately) exploit its slopes.Part of the route follows the paths of the plain, in the municipal park or the old paths along the banks of the River Lios.An unusual route, reserved for hikers seeking a challenge or runners looking to diversify their routes.

In the Orgeix Valley, this very varied hike on a well-marked trail to a beautiful glacial lake can be divided into three parts: a beech forest where you walk not far from the stream and its small waterfalls, meadows at the edge of the forest, and finally a series of small glacial locks leading to the lake's spillway. You can then climb the Pic de l'Homme, which is easily accessible via the ridge from the Lac d'Aygue Longue, passing through the Col de la Parade.

This is an easy hike, although the last part is not marked. The first part is shaded. There is a pretty cabin and beautiful views of the region. At (5): you can extend the hike with a return trip along the ridges after Bout de Touron.

A pleasant hike above Foix (in Ariège), alternating between forest paths and ridge trails, with beautiful views of the plain to the north and the Pyrenees to the south.