Estibat hut

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A snowshoe walk in the Col du Port area.
This route provides easy access to the base of the Griets summit, making it suitable for children. More experienced hikers can continue on to the Pic d’Estibat.

Details

n°490561
Creation:
Last update:
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Last review:
  • Snowshoeing
    Activity: Snowshoeing
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.18 km
  • ◔
    Duration according to the author: 4 hrs 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 258 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 258 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,328 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,118 m
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Photos

Estibat hut in January 2026
Pic d'Estibat seen from the hut
Former forest house
Point 1140

Description of the walk

Park before the hairpin bends at Col de Port on the D618 when coming from Tarascon-sur-Ariège.

(S/E) From the car park, take the forest track below the road. Head towards a hairpin bend.

(1) Follow this forest track to the left. Ignore the various paths to the left and right. You’ll reach a junction where there’s a sign on your right indicating “Promenade Sauzettoise”.

(2) Leave the track and take the path on the right that runs parallel to the road but in the opposite direction.
Start the climb. 50 metres further on, the path turns 90° to the left; follow it. Do not go straight ahead. The slope becomes steeper.
Then turn 90° to the right 100 metres further on. Do not go straight ahead. A yellow mark on a tree on the right shows you the way to go. Continue along this path to the forest hut, ignoring a sign on the left 50 metres before it.

(3) Go round the hut on the left, following the sign on its front wall. You’ll leave the Sauzet Forest and then spot the roof of the Estibat hut in the distance. Head towards it.

(4) Start your return journey along the same route to get back to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,132 m - Car park D618
  2. 1 : km 0.26 - alt. 1,121 m - Sharp left. Cross the - Saurat (rivière)
  3. 2 : km 3.03 - alt. 1,148 m - Point 1140. Follow the sign
  4. 3 : km 4.05 - alt. 1,280 m - Former forest house
  5. 4 : km 5.09 - alt. 1,325 m - Estibat hut
  6. S/E : km 10.18 - alt. 1,132 m - Return to the car park

Notes

Snowshoes may or may not be required depending on snow conditions.
Road conditions and access to the Col de Port can be checked on Inforoutes 09
A few yellow markings on the trees guide you, but they are not very visible.

For those who prefer to do this hike in a circular manner, it is possible to continue past the Estibat hut, but this requires very good navigational skills as the paths are barely visible or not visible at all

Worth a visit

Auberge du Col de Port.

Reviews and comments

4.1 / 5
Based on 5 reviews
Reliability of the description
4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
ALEX69
ALEX69

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 27, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The walk through the woods was lovely, even though we lost our way at one point. We cut through the ferns to find the path again and make our way back to the cabin.

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ALEX69
ALEX69
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 27, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The walk through the woods was lovely, even though we lost our way and had to cut through the ferns to get to the cabin

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carameldu29
carameldu29

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 04, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely route, mainly through the forest. Done on snowshoes. No difficulty at all. Thanks to the person who posted the route.

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Philippe G
Philippe G

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 03, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A lovely walk along a forest track that’s easy for the first two-thirds, but steeper towards the end.
Having a picnic at the Cabane au Soleil is a real treat.
Alternative route down from the hut: head behind the hut towards the road through a few copses and bushes; further down, follow the ridge and join the track (farm track) which leads to the starting point, which comes into view very quickly. It’s steeper than the way up but much shorter: 2 km and 35 mins from the hut. Very pleasant with a good layer of snow.

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legna
legna

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 11, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A pleasant walk that’s well within the capabilities of a 70-year-old. Thanks to the route planner and Visiorando.

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Snowshoeing Pic d'Estibat and Sommet des Griets circular from the Col de Port

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