Circular patterns in the Pélengarri massif

A lovely, challenging hike with climbs along good tracks and descents through wooded valleys and playful paths.

Details

40994772
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Mountain biking
    Activity: Mountain biking
  • ↔
    Distance: 14.91 mi
  • ◔
    Duration according to the author: 2.5 hrs 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 3,117 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 3,107 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,611 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 358 ft
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: Ceyreste (13600)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 43.234891° / E 5.670402°

  • ◶
    Type of surface:
  •  
     
     
     33% Road  34% Byway  33% Path
  • ⇧
    Bike carrying: No
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Description of the route

Start from the Grand Caunet car park on the edge of theD3D

(S/E) Follow the track leading from the back of the car park until you reach the second three-way junction.

(1) Ignore the left-hand turn (return route) and continue straight on to the next junction (underground DFCI water tank).

(2) Carry on straight ahead until you reach a four-way junction.

(3) Carry on straight ahead until you find the start of the Sentier du Vallon de l’Oppidum on the left.

(4) Take this path and follow it downhill to a hairpin bend on a track.

(5) Turn left onto the track and you’ll soon reach thefirst houses in Ceyreste.

(6) Take the track on the left, passing a football pitch and then a tennis court, until you reach a three-way junction.

(7) Ignore the path on the left (return route) and carry on straight ahead until you reach a fork with a path on the right, a few metres before the ridge.

(8) Ignore this path for now and rejoin the track you have already taken.

(2) Turn left back onto the track you have already taken and return to the four-way junction you passed on the way out.

(3) Leave the route you have already taken straight ahead and turn left onto the Chemin du Vallon des Devens. Head down to the Ceyreste tennis courts and the junction you passed on the way there.

(7) Return to the track you have already taken on the left and follow it to the junction with the path on the right, a few metres before the ridge.

(8) This time, follow this path to the right, then turn right just before the hairpin bend in a track and you’ll soon reach the next fork.

(9) Turn right and continue along the path that follows the Vallon du Pélengarri.

(10) At the tarmac road, continue to the left. Walk past a hamlet on your right, then carry on along the track past a DFCI barrier until you reach the ridge and the original junction.

(1) Turn onto the track on the right and, following the route back along the same path as on the way out, return to the Grand Caunet car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 1,306 ft - Grand Caunet car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.46 - alt. 1,316 ft - 1st round trip. Three-way junction
  3. 2 : mi 0.85 - alt. 1,414 ft - 2d Return. Junction. Underground DFCI water tank
  4. 3 : mi 1.43 - alt. 1,598 ft - 3rd return trip. Four-way junction
  5. 4 : mi 1.6 - alt. 1,588 ft - Vallon de l’Oppidum Trail
  6. 5 : mi 4.42 - alt. 358 ft - Track
  7. 6 : mi 4.62 - alt. 449 ft - First houses in Ceyreste
  8. 7 : mi 5.08 - alt. 610 ft - 4th round trip. Three-way junction. Tennis courts
  9. 8 : mi 6.85 - alt. 1,404 ft - Path on the right
  10. 9 : mi 6.89 - alt. 1,414 ft - Crossroads.
  11. 10 : mi 7.47 - alt. 1,598 ft - Vallon des Devens
  12. 11 : mi 9.21 - alt. 607 ft - Track junction
  13. 12 : mi 10.99 - alt. 1,401 ft - Vallon de Pélengarri junction
  14. 13 : mi 11.19 - alt. 1,168 ft - Pélengarri valley junction
  15. 14 : mi 11.21 - alt. 1,158 ft - Junction
  16. 15 : mi 12.56 - alt. 499 ft - Route
  17. 16 : mi 14.44 - alt. 1,316 ft - Junction
  18. S/E : mi 14.91 - alt. 1,306 ft - Grand Caunet car park

Notes

The journey time is the riding time.

Reviews and comments

3.7 / 5
Based on 1 review

Reliability of the description
4 / 5
Ease of following the route
3 / 5
Route interest
4 / 5
patrickbertu
patrickbertu

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 19, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Downhill runs in poor condition, the last one being blocked by large uprooted pine trees

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