Circular route from Porté-Puymorens station to L’Estany de Font Viva

de fr

From the SNCF station to the Estany de Font Viva overlooking the valley. Enjoy a circular walk taking in the village, the forest, a stream, a torrent, the magnificent Étang de la Fontaine Vive and Lac d’el Passet. Make the most of the Carol-Cerdagne valley.

Details

n°99881210
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
–
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.78 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,385 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,385 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 6,289 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 5,105 ft
Downloads
Open in the mobile app
Download GPX GPX
Download PDF PDF

Description of the walk

Departure from Porté-Puymorens station (stop). I recommend parking directly at Porté-Puymorens if you’re travelling by car.

(S/E) Stay on the platforms; facing the station, turn left and follow the tracks as they lead into the railway tunnel; a narrow path will appear in front of you

(1) When you reach the fork, take the path that climbs up to the right.

(2) Cross the N320 with care and follow the tarmac road opposite; watch out for cars. Keep to the right at every junction.

(3) Cross the Riu de Querol (or the Aravó) and continue left onto the DFCI track.

(4) Continue along the DFCI track to the right, which leads away from the river. Always keep to the left bank.

(5) At the fork, take the path on your right. The path on the left is an optional route offering a cooler route.

(6) Ignore the climb on the right. Carry on to the left, heading due north.

(7) Cross the Rec du Lanós (Torrent du Lanoux) via a small footbridge. Take the opportunity to cool off; a beautiful waterfall lies ahead of you. You’ll arrive at the Estany de Font Viva.

(8) On your left you can enjoy the greenery and the trees; otherwise, carry on straight ahead along the main path, skirting the lake to the right.

(9) Carry on straight ahead along the steep path on your left.

(10) At the fork, take the path on your left. Be careful – the path isn’t very visible here; you’ll be walking across a flat area.

(11) Turn right; this is the start of the steep descent along the Rec de l’Estany Font Viva.

(12) This is a difficult section ; proceed with caution.

(13) Cross the footbridge, follow the road to the right, then cross it and head towards the Riu de Querol.

(14) Cross the river and follow it to Lac du Passet.

(15) At the fork, take the path on the left.

(16) At the fork, turn right to return to the fork you passed on the way there.

(4) Head straight ahead and follow the path in the opposite direction to the outward journey to reach Porté-Puymorens station (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 5,125 ft - Gare de Porte-Puymorens
  2. 1 : mi 0.2 - alt. 5,148 ft - Difficult section
  3. 2 : mi 0.68 - alt. 5,262 ft - Crossing the road
  4. 3 : mi 1.24 - alt. 5,282 ft - Riu de - Carol (rivière) - Affluent du Sègre
  5. 4 : mi 2.12 - alt. 5,377 ft - Junction of the circular loop
  6. 5 : mi 4.15 - alt. 5,814 ft - Turn right
  7. 6 : mi 5.04 - alt. 6,188 ft - Junction
  8. 7 : mi 5.26 - alt. 6,106 ft - Waterfall and stream of the Riu de - Carol (rivière) - Affluent du Sègre
  9. 8 : mi 5.71 - alt. 6,234 ft - Estany de Font Viva
  10. 9 : mi 6.12 - alt. 6,214 ft - Junction
  11. 10 : mi 6.34 - alt. 6,060 ft - Junction
  12. 11 : mi 6.63 - alt. 6,024 ft - Zigzag descent. Rec of Estany Font Viva
  13. 12 : mi 6.78 - alt. 5,853 ft - Difficult section. Rec de l’Estany Font Viva
  14. 13 : mi 6.92 - alt. 5,676 ft - Road. Route to Estany Font Viva
  15. 14 : mi 7.16 - alt. 5,614 ft - Riu de - Carol (rivière) - Affluent du Sègre
  16. 15 : mi 7.65 - alt. 5,620 ft - T-junction. Lake d’el Passet
  17. 16 : mi 8.25 - alt. 5,453 ft - Junction
  18. S/E : mi 10.78 - alt. 5,125 ft - Gare de Porte-Puymorens

Notes

Worth a visit

- Village of Porté-Puymorens.

- Campsite.

- Zip line (Tyrovol) - Dog sledding (Les Traineaux de la Vallée des Ours).

Other walks in the area

Walking Porté Puymorens - Refuge des Bésines

Visorando Member
Porté Puymorens - Refuge des Bésines
↔10.33 mi ↗+3,419 ft ↘-1,919 ft ◔7h 45 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Porté-Puymorens (Pyrénées-Orientales)
It is part of the long (9-day) itinerary around the Carlit, travelling from refuge to refuge, based on the Peyrics tour and using various marked trails.

Walking La Porteille Blanche d'Andorra

Visorando Member
La Porteille Blanche d'Andorre
↔11.09 mi ↗+3,379 ft ↘-3,350 ft ◔8h 00 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Porta (Pyrénées-Orientales)
A fairly long and challenging hike leading to the Porteille Blanche d'Andorre tripoint on the French-Spanish-Andorran border. Throughout the hike, you will follow the legendary Bonshommes trail (GR®107) which runs alongside the wild Campcardos valley.

Walking The Puymorens or Pimorent mines

Visorando Member
Les mines de Puymorens ou Pimorent
↔5.06 mi ↗+774 ft ↘-768 ft ◔3h 00 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Porté-Puymorens (Pyrénées-Orientales)
A pleasant, family-friendly route leading to the historic mining site of Puymorens, with stunning panoramic views throughout the walk.

Walking Puig de Coma d'Or from the Col de Puymorens

Visorando Member
↔10.20 mi ↗+3,533 ft ↘-3,527 ft ◔7h 45 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Porté-Puymorens (Pyrénées-Orientales)
This hike, which is not particularly difficult apart from its distance and significant elevation gain, leads to Puig de la Coma d'Or for a spectacular finale. You can see the whole of Lanoux as well as Carlit, the next destination. You feel very small in the midst of this immensity, and respect is called for... I think.

Walking Font Viva lake

Association / Club / Walk leader
Font Viva lake
↔3.19 mi ↗+673 ft ↘-656 ft ◔2h 05 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Porté-Puymorens (Pyrénées-Orientales)
The village of Portè is a well-known holiday destination in the Alta Cerdanya. Many routes are available in its surroundings, hiking the mountains or connecting the nearby lakes. This is probably the most classical one, visiting the Font Viva lake, under the shadows of the Carlit peak (2921 m.). There, you may find many water sources and falls, pines and flowers, wild and domestic animals.

Walking Font Vive pond

Visorando Member
Étang de Font Vive
↔3.25 mi ↗+663 ft ↘-673 ft ◔2h 05 ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Porté-Puymorens (Pyrénées-Orientales)
A lovely little loop along the stream and through the forest.

Walking The Étang des Bésines and its refuge

Visorando Member
L'Étang des Bésines et son refuge
↔7.95 mi ↗+2,037 ft ↘-2,024 ft ◔5h 25 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from L'Hospitalet-près-l'Andorre (Ariège)
A high-altitude forest walk to one of the most famous lakes in the Haute-Ariège. This walk through a very wooded and therefore very shady area takes you to a large lake before starting the climb to an ideally located refuge. From this refuge, you can then reach others, En Beys and Les Bouillouses.

Walking Pédourès Pond and Siscar Pond loop.

Visorando Member
Etang de Pédourès et Etang du Siscar en boucle.
↔8.80 mi ↗+3,310 ft ↘-3,304 ft ◔6h 55 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from L'Hospitalet-près-l'Andorre (Ariège)
A beautiful hike in Haute Ariège, at the gateway to Andorra. The route includes five lakes and small lakes in a high mountain landscape dotted with streams.

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.