Circular walk around the Col d’Ayens

de fr

A family walk with no major difficulties.

Details

n°13619155
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 2.89 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 689 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 705 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 3,140 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 2,431 ft
Downloads
Open in the mobile app
Download GPX GPX
Download PDF PDF

Description of the walk

Starts at the Col d’Ayens.

Yellow markings

(S/E) Head down the access road to the Col d’Ayens towards Boussan. Enjoy the lovely view along this quiet route. Ignore the road towards Las Plagne, walk past the hamlet of Pradals d’en Bas and look for the start of a path on the right at an acute angle, about a hundred metres after the left-hand bend and about a hundred metres before the first house in Boussan. A sign on the right reads “8.2” with a Yellow Circle.

(1) Take this path, with a few horses as your neighbours. Join a farm track and follow it to the right for a few metres.

(2) At the wide junction, continue along the track to the left, which climbs gently up the hillside. Ignore the side tracks on either side until you reach a four-way junction on a ridge, where the grassy path to the left follows the ridge downwards.

(3) Turn right and head up this narrower, stony track, which runs past several barns, some of which have been renovated. The path continues to climb, due north, through the woodland and then lined with numerous ferns, until it reaches the orientation table at the Col d’Ayens (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 3,136 ft - Col d’Ayens
  2. 1 : mi 1.39 - alt. 2,431 ft - Path on the right before Boussan
  3. 2 : mi 1.68 - alt. 2,536 ft - Path on the left
  4. 3 : mi 2.27 - alt. 2,579 ft - Four-way junction, turn right
  5. S/E : mi 2.89 - alt. 3,120 ft - Col d’Ayens

Notes

This walk is based on Circular Loop 8.2 from the Boussan Tourist Office.
The official start point (a flat stretch on the left as you leave Boussan) isn’t easy to spot. Only a sign marked ‘8.2’ on a tree indicates it. Incidentally, this is actually walk 8.1, not 8.2.

The walk took about 1 hour 45 minutes with an independent 8-year-old child.

Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 4 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4 / 5
Route interest
4 / 5
User 16712006

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 12, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant route with magnificent views of the mountain range including Le Valier, starting with a descent along the road then a fairly steep climb along a path and through the forest. We missed the start of this path (watch out for the 100 m after the bend) and went too far down, as there is a sign hidden behind an oak tree marked 8.1 and not 8.2.a at this junction, as stated in the description.
To reach the pass, do not take the road from Erp, which is very narrow and ends in a stony path, but continue via Soulan

Machine-translated

SteveTLS
SteveTLS
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 31, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Two people aged 65 and over, we had a very pleasant time, despite the blazing sun and a slight over-estimation of our sporting abilities A good part (around 2/3) of the route is shaded and the climb back is not too steep.

A few points to note:
- to get to the start, at the pass, by car, it's better to arrive on the Boussan side and not the Erp side. The last 1-2km is an unpaved forest track from Erp. It's fine, but not really comfortable without a 4x4 or similar.

- The pass is well laid out, with parking areas and picnic tables in the shade, an orientation table, etc. Plenty of time to spend before and after the hike.

- The last third of the descent from the pass is on a lightly used road, as described in the information sheet, but without shade. Similarly, the first half of the ascent is often exposed. Take this into account for clothing, sun protection products and other water reserves

- the U-turn to go back up, between the hamlet of Pradels-d'en-bas and the entrance to Boussan is well described but not so easy to see if you're in the middle of a discussion rather than paying attention
The sign mentioned at the very end of section S/E of the information sheet has been replaced by a yellow sign in the shape of an arrow, but it's only visible once you've passed the tree to which it's attached.
The number has been corrected and the sign gives more information "Boucles d'Ayens N° 8.1" with the total distance and altitude difference for circuit 8.1. There are more yellow signs with this number afterwards and you will reach the pass again, already without any particular difficulty in finding your way.

Machine-translated

philippeorlando
philippeorlando

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Easy and enjoyable when you just want to go for a walk and don’t have much time.

Machine-translated

OLIMartine
OLIMartine
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A peaceful route on the snow. I couldn’t drive up to the car park, but it’s fine on foot – I didn’t come across anyone, so it was definitely peaceful.

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

Walking Col d'Ayens and Col de Bès

Visorando Member
Col d'Ayens et Col de Bès
↔2.21 mi ↗+305 ft ↘-295 ft ◔1h 15 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Soulan (Ariège)
Easy walk with beautiful views of the Pyrenees.

Walking The Couserans mountains seen from Saint-Pierre de Soulan

Visorando Member
↔2.17 mi ↗+423 ft ↘-423 ft ◔1h 20 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Soulan (Ariège)
A short family walk offering 180° views of the Couserans mountains, including Vallier, for almost the entire route. Most of the walk is along a very quiet road. It is best to do this walk in the morning to avoid the mountains being in silhouette.

Walking La Tête d'Âne, between plain and mountain

Local authority
La Tête d'Âne, entre plaine et montagne
↔2.46 mi ↗+873 ft ↘-873 ft ◔1h 55 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Encourtiech (Ariège)
This hike is accessible to all, on a perfectly maintained trail which, after an hour's walk, will take you to the small summit of Tête d'Âne. There, you will enjoy a breathtaking view to the south of the highest peaks of Couserans: Valier, Maubermé and Mail de Bulard. To the north, a completely different spectacle awaits you, as in good weather you can see the plain of Saint-Girons all the way to Lescure. A striking contrast between plain and mountain.

Walking Mont Valier and the Ariège peaks seen from Buleix and Boussan

Visorando Member
Mont Valier et les sommets ariégeois vus de Buleix et Boussan
↔4.61 mi ↗+1,063 ft ↘-1,050 ft ◔3h 05 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Soulan (Ariège)
This easy hike allows you to admire all the peaks of the Ariège, including Mont Valier. From the road (first third of the route) to the end, this majestic landscape unfolds throughout the walk. This route can also be done by mountain bike.

Walking Circular route via Lacourt – Lastès – Erp

Visorando Member
↔5.55 mi ↗+1,253 ft ↘-1,253 ft ◔3h 40 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Lacourt (Ariège)
Discover Lastès with a beautiful view of the Ariège mountains – a very pleasant 3- to 4-hour hike.

Walking Cap de Garrié

Local authority
Le Cap de Garrié
↔1.70 mi ↗+978 ft ↘-978 ft ◔1h 40 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Encourtiech (Ariège)
A viewpoint overlooking the neighbouring villages at your feet. Full view of the remains of the viscount's castle during the climb. At the summit, the Couserans Pyrenees stretch out before your eyes. A 300-metre climb on a well-marked, brand new footpath created in 2021 by the municipality of Encourtiech offers you a breath of fresh air in a splendid landscape.

Walking Tour of the Garrié massif

Local authority
Tour du massif du Garrié
↔4.39 mi ↗+1,089 ft ↘-1,056 ft ◔3h 00 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Encourtiech (Ariège)
A route around the recently renovated and re-erected Croix de Garrié. The route begins in the shade, on a north-facing slope, and follows a gentle gradient for most of the way up this slope. Magnificent scenery on the south-facing slope with breathtaking views of the Pyrenees mountain range and Mont Valier in the foreground. And, before heading down towards the car park at the start, you cross the route to Cap de Garrié and its cross, which the more adventurous can reach in about ten minutes. The return descent is along a slightly steeper slope, but is completely safe, offering views of the Salat valley and the ruins of Encourtiech Castle. This trail, recently renovated and signposted, was created under the supervision of the local council, which oversees and coordinates its regular maintenance.

Walking On the hillsides of Soueix

Visorando Member
Sur les coteaux de Soueix
↔3.37 mi ↗+577 ft ↘-597 ft ◔2h 05 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Soueix-Rogalle (Ariège)
Walk through the hillsides of the village of Soueix with panoramic views of Le Vallier, the Col d'Ayens and Mirabat Castle. Architectural highlights include the churches of Saint-Sernin and Vic d'Oust, and the railway bridge.

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.