Ax-les-Thermes - Mérens via the Chemin de Llatta

Go to Ax-les-Thermes railway station. Free car park with 125 spaces.
Public transport: train, bus.

Off the marked route

(S) Head towards the town centre. After about 350 m, turn right and cross the River Ariège via the road bridge.

Yellow and red markings for the^GRP®® Tour des Montagnes d’Ax.

(1) Turn left onto the^GRP®® and follow the Ariège for about 400 m.

(2) Cross the Ariège river again via a road bridge and turn immediately right.

(3) Cross the footbridge and arrive at the ticket offices for the Ax-Bonascre cable car.
Pass under the cable car and turn right, heading uphill to rejoin the^GRP®®. Walk alongside the spa and head uphill to the right until you reach the end of a cul-de-sac. Continue through the gap between the houses and carry on straight ahead, heading uphill. After about 50 m, you’ll reach a fork in the path.

(4) Carry on straight ahead^, following the GRP®® signposts^. You’ll reach a five-way junction. Take the second road on the left, walking alongside a building with a picnic area.
You’ll reach the N2020. Cross at the pedestrian crossing and head uphill opposite along the^GRP®® for about 150 m.

Yellow^PR®®signposting

(5) Turn right, heading due south along the^PR®® or Chemin du Llatta, towards Petches. Pass under the railway line. Take care: there are many odd signs that can be misleading. Pass under a power line and continue climbing. Join the road leading to Petches. Follow it to the right and arrive at a fork with a wash house and a drinking water tap on your right.
“A short detour into the village is possible.”
With the wash house behind you, set off along the street that bends to the right and you’ll soon reach an area with some very distinctive signposting.

(6) Head uphill to the left along the lovely path through the woodland, passing a wooden chicane. Cross the Route Forestière du Llatta, skirt it further on and continue uphill. Join the forest road once more and follow it to the right. At the tight left-hand bend that follows, carry on straight ahead to reach a four-way junction at an elevation of 1265.

(7) Set off straight ahead, due south, then head south-east along this good path. Join the Route Forestière du Llatta once more and follow it to the right for about 150 metres until you reach a grassy track that climbs to the left.

(8) You can walk a few metres further up to a lovely, well-maintained and fully equipped hut.
A lovely spot for a well-deserved break.
Continue along the forest road and, very soon after the next bend, head straight on along a lovely path that climbs through the forest. Cut across the Lacout Forest Road and continue climbing through this beautiful beech woodland.
You’ll reach a fork in the path with signposts nailed to the beech trees.

(9) Head straight on towards the Col de Joux and its clean, well-maintained hut.
An excellent spot for a well-deserved lunch break.

(10) Turn back and head down to the previous fork.

(9) Carry on to the left towards Pont du Rial via Courtal – Juan. Follow an almost level path to reach the closed forest refuge (noted on 1 August 2022). Continue down for about thirty metres along the track, which has been damaged by forestry work, and reach a junction of forest tracks at elevation 1545.

(11) Turn sharp right, staying almost level, and reach a junction of three main tracks and a fourth, overgrown track that is less visible. Directional sign.

(12) Turn left and descend along this overgrown track, heading towards: Couillet de Bergon, Mérens No. 21

(13) Reach a junction of two tracks and a path at the small Col de Couillet de Bergon, deep in the forest. Turn left, heading due south along the path, and begin a descent through the forest to reach a track suitable for vehicles. Follow it to the left, heading due south. Pass under a power line and continue generally due south. Arrive directly beneath another power line.
Leave the track and turn right for a few metres to discover the small iron Croix de Larguis and a fine view of the valley and Mérens. Mown area (observed on 1 August 2022).

(14) Return to the track and cross it to climb up the opposite side via a lovely path running along a ledge above Mérens.
You’ll arrive opposite the Saint-Pierre Chapel in Mérens-d’en-Haut. Walk a few metres to the right along the road and head down to the right along a stony track to reach the inn.

(E) Auberge du Nabre: stopover for the first day.

Mid-mountain terrain: you’ll therefore need suitable kit, including: warm clothing and rain gear, two litres of water, walking poles, a compass, a GPS or Visorando, a 1:25,000 map, a GPX track and a route description.

To shorten this stage: head directly
- from (6) to (13),
- from (8) to (12),
or skip the Col de Joux (10).

(S) Drinking water at the SNCF station.
(6) Drinking water at the Petches washhouse.
(10) Spring beneath the north-facing hut (signposted and marked).
(8) Borde de Gabriel and (10) Col de Joux hut are open (confirmed on 1 August 2022).

Auberge du Nabre
Mérens-les-Vals Town Hall