Around Sansa

This route, starting from Sansa, will take you on a tour of the surroundings of the northernmost village in the Garrotxes. A fairly long and challenging hike.

Details

3130686
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.11 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,644 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,644 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 6,165 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 4,701 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the car park located 100 m past the entrance to the village of Sansa (church – town hall).

Yellow signposting

(S/E) From the car park, head first towards St John’s Church, where you’ll find a signpost showing the routes. Follow the sign for the Col de Sansa. You’ll be on a track which you’ll need to leave at the Croix de Rogations.

(1) Leave the track and take the path on the left towards Pla de l’Orri. Cross the Ruisseau de l’Oratori and then the Rivière du Cabrils via a footbridge to reach Pla de l’Orri and its junction.

(2) At Pla de l’Orri, head towards the Refuge des Estagnols by taking the track on the right. Leave the track a few metres further on to take the signposted path on the left. A few hundred metres further on, you’ll reach the Refuge des Estagnols and its two small lakes.

(3) Head towards the Col de Sansa by taking a track a few metres past the refuge and following the red and yellow markings ofthe GRP® ‘Variante du Tour du Capcir’ route to the much-sought-after pass and its junction of trails.

(4) At this point, take the track signposted for the Col de Creu and follow it all the way to the pass. There are superb views along this stretch.

(5) At the Col de Creu, follow the D4 road for about 200 m and turn left at the cross and the viewpoint.

(6) Keep following the yellow markings until you reach the Col du Dragon.

(7) Take the signposted path on the left and begin a long descent.

(8) Cross the Cabrils stream before reaching Sansa (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 4,760 ft - Sansa car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.5 - alt. 4,908 ft - Shrine and end of the track
  3. 2 : mi 1.64 - alt. 5,381 ft - Pla de l’Orri
  4. 3 : mi 2.46 - alt. 5,896 ft - Refuge des Estagnols (Sansa)
  5. 4 : mi 3.43 - alt. 5,827 ft - Col ou Coll de Sansa (1775m)
  6. 5 : mi 5.77 - alt. 5,607 ft - Col ou Coll de Creu (1715m)
  7. 6 : mi 5.97 - alt. 5,558 ft - Exit D4
  8. 7 : mi 7.57 - alt. 5,164 ft - Col du Dragon (1576m)
  9. 8 : mi 8.48 - alt. 4,711 ft - Cross the - Rivière de Cabrils
  10. S/E : mi 9.11 - alt. 4,760 ft - Sansa car park

Notes

Picnic spots at the Refuge des Estagnols, the Col de Sansa and the Col de Creu.

Worth a visit

The Sansa Pass is a good starting point for the Madrès or Pelade Peaks

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 4 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
bernard coulomb
bernard coulomb
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 25, 2026
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely mountain walk, sometimes along a ridge, sometimes deep within the woods or forests, the highlight of which is this cluster of lakes, perfect for camping or simply relaxing during a siesta. The village of Sansa boasts some beautifully restored chalets. It’s easier to park at the Col de Creu when coming from Les Angles or Font Romeu. The route offers a good balance of ascents and descents; lunch is served at the refuge near the lakes.
Stunning Montpellier carnations in the woods before Sansa.
You’ll have no trouble following the route if you stick to the GPX track integrated into MAPS.ME.

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User 19898013

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Great

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LaPierre
LaPierre

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 22, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent route, with no difficult sections, very well signposted (and some welcome shaded sections in summer).
Stunning views of the valleys and mountain peaks.
The village of Sansa, tucked away at the end of the world and out of time, with its rather unusual old church, its thousand-year history and just 20 permanent residents – this village alone is worth the journey out there!

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normanblake
normanblake

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 07, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A brilliant walk. Stunning scenery, a lovely walk with our four-legged friends, plenty of water holes for them, and we arrived just before the village at a spot with a table – a lovely place to take a breather before the final climb....

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