The Fontargente Lakes loop

de fr

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

Technical sheet

n°155373
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.83 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 35 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 472 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 476 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,160 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,694 m
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Photos

Fontargente ponds
Fontargente ponds
Small watercourse
Small pond

Description of the walk

(S/E) From the Pla de las Peyres car park, follow the sign to the Refuge du Ruhle, heading due south. Continue along this path and never leave it.

(1) At the first crossroads, turn right at the sign for "Étangs de Fontargente" and forget about the Refuge du Ruhle. Follow the stream on your right until you reach a metal footbridge.

(2) Cross the bridge, then continue straight ahead (slightly to the right), leaving the path on the left. Continue through the heather on this single path, which then bends 90° to the left.

(3) Start climbing. The Refuge du Ruhle is now visible high up on the left. Continue along this path until you reach the largest of the three ponds.

(4) To return to the car park, continue along the same path, which bends to the right and takes you past the second and third ponds.

(5) Go around the third pond to the right and begin the descent. Cross several scree slopes and switchbacks, without any particular risk, but be careful. Continue on this single track, which takes you back to flat ground, until you reach a wooden footbridge that was totally collapsed the day we were there but which still allows you to cross the stream in the dry (it remains to be seen whether it will be repaired or whether it will continue to rot).

(6) Turn right and follow the stream on your right as far as the car park. Cross a final footbridge and you have reached the Pla de las Peyres car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,698 m - Pla de las Peyres car park
  2. 1 : km 1.16 - alt. 1,836 m - Right fork
  3. 2 : km 1.6 - alt. 1,889 m - Metal footbridge over the - Rivière de l'aston
  4. 3 : km 1.83 - alt. 1,911 m - 90° left-hand bend
  5. 4 : km 3.15 - alt. 2,147 m - The largest of the 3 ponds
  6. 5 : km 3.7 - alt. 2,140 m - 3rd pond to the right
  7. 6 : km 5.92 - alt. 1,866 m - Collapsed wooden footbridge
  8. S/E : km 7.83 - alt. 1,697 m - Pla de las Peyres car park

Practical information

Access: From Foix, take the N20 towards Tarascon, Ussat-Les Bains. Before Les Cabannes, turn right towards Aston. After Aston, follow signs for the Refuge du Rulhe. Pass the Riète dam, then the dam and Etang de Laparan. Continue on a road that is in poor condition but passable by passenger car, driving slowly (very slowly in places) to the Pla de Las Peyres car park (the end of the road). We parked just after the Laparan dam, as the road is very bad in places. We then walked the last few kilometres to the start.
20km between Aston and the start of the walk.

There are plenty of signs and yellow markings. There is little or no mobile phone coverage on this loop.

The actual duration is approximately 4 hours.

You can modify this itinerary by going via the Refuge du Ruhle (magnificent and what an atmosphere!) or via the GRT from the Etang de Laparan.

In the nearby area

Once you've reached the ponds, you can head due south to climb the Col de Fontargente, which also marks the border with Andorra.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 117 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
manou3109
manou3109

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : May 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Very good explanations. Well-marked trail. Beautiful scenery throughout the hike.

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User 25921139

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : May 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

On 29/05/2025, I did this hike with my girlfriend, who is less experienced. That's why we chose this hike, which is ideal for a healthy adult or sporty child. The start is accessible by a single road by car, which makes it difficult for several people to pass each other. During the walk, the weather was on our side, with no clouds and no shade. So you need to bring at least 1.5 litres of water per person, a little more if you plan to eat at the ponds. What's more, it's a good thing there was a bit of wind, because there wasn't a centimetre of shade and the heat was stifling. The ponds and streams are great places to cool off. Finally, the scenery is magnificent, even with the crowds it remains a wild environment with the sound of marmots, a large number of fish, tadpoles, butterflies etc. ... Surely the best time to go with flowers of all colours and everywhere (especially daffodils in the ponds).

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JULTOC
JULTOC
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : N/A
Clarity of route map : N/A
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Everything was very well explained except that we never found the footbridge to cross the river and had a hard time looking for it. We finally crossed in the water but there was a good flow...

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Cristel
Cristel

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A lot of people in the car park, large motorhomes that don't know how to manoeuvre.

But otherwise a magnificent place

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Meylin
Meylin

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 19, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

An excellent and very beautiful ride! You need to be in good shape!

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AlainB64
AlainB64

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A very nice joint hike on the first part, with the Rulhe refuge as the destination, but the paths are separated by a signpost. Always follow the yellow route, which merges with the GR at the lakes (not to be followed). Lovely lakes where we had a picnic and met some fishermen. A nice descent, but a little long to get to the footbridge on the way back. The gradient in the description is very reliable. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to get to know the place and share a pleasant moment.

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Gwean
Gwean

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Nov 19, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

It's about a 2-hour climb with a fairly steep gradient. Beautiful scenery as you discover these magnificent ponds. The return (by doing the loop) is less interesting and rather strenuous on scree that requires you to watch your step.

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jlc47
jlc47
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 22, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Lovely hike, with no crowds at this time of year and great weather!

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pierreaureville
pierreaureville

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 22, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Very nice tour...a bit difficult because of the stones and the icy wind

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Bouconne VTT
Bouconne VTT

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Indeed, the road to get there is a little long at the end. But it's not at all the nightmare it looks like. You have to watch out for the little gutters in the asphalt, which you can't see after the last roadblock.
Car park half full at 9.30 am.

For the hike in the direction indicated, it is indeed superb, a little complicated for novices before arriving at the ponds for about 10m.
The ponds are magnificent, and there are a few campers, but not the underground at 6pm.
The descent is not technically difficult. However, there are a lot of Pierrets requiring constant attention to avoid spraining an ankle.

There is no longer a wooden bridge at the bottom, but a brand new galvanised metal footbridge.

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Dx
Dx

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A very fine circuit.
A sometimes narrow and slightly long road to reach a car park that was more than full, even in September.
Then a very nice route up to the pond with some very beautiful colours.
Several tents were in place for the night!
The return journey is less pleasant, and beware of the cows and calves on the loose, which can be a little hostile.

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maellelrdt
maellelrdt

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 13, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A very affordable walk. The route is very clearly signposted.
You can do the loop in either direction. I advise you to follow the direction recommended on the spot (and in the description of this hike). The climb is easier and the path more pleasant.
On the way back, there is a large scree slope. No particularly complicated sections, but longer than the outward journey, and a tiring path as you always have to be careful where you step.
Done with a dog (a very active 3-year-old Australian shepherd). Everything went very well, even if the scree made him a bit tired.
On the weekend of 15 August, it was quite busy but not enough to be a nuisance.

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Warrian
Warrian

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 06, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Very nice walk! Very well signposted!
The difficulty is mainly at the start, but after that it's pretty cool!
The path by car is narrow, almost only one car to get through!
I recommend it! 😁

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Ailesdange31
Ailesdange31

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 04, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

The car park was still accessible at 10am, but after that it was a mess. The road is quite passable, it's just narrow and passing each other can be complicated. People drive very fast on it.

It's a busy route on this fine day. But only the largest of the ponds was crowded. I was able to stop for lunch at the smallest one, which is magnificent with its beautiful emerald colours and where nobody seems to stop.

Both the ascent and the descent are filled with magnificent scenery.

It was a very nice walk in superb weather, I had a great time and my efforts paid off. I highly recommend it.

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BernardEscalquens
BernardEscalquens

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 14, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A lovely, accessible hike done clockwise in mid-July, according to the reviews, with superb views on the way down, including some scree.
Quite busy, which was expected for a July weekend. The small car park was full by 10:45.
We didn't go up to the port of Fontargente. That's for another time!
Be careful, this is a white zone (telephone) almost to the bottom of the valley. Use 112 in case of distress(https://www2.ffrandonnee.fr/faq/1511/1/s...).

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