Refine your search for walks in Cabane Rieutort de Gascous (1740m)
Cabane Rieutort de Gascous (1740m) walks
Quioulès Hut and return via the Orri des Ludines
Visorando Member
9.18 mi
+2,933 ft
-2,913 ft
6h 45
Difficult
Departure from Ariège
Circular route to the Quioules hut, returning via the Rieufort de Gascous and Ludines huts.
No technical difficulties (a bit steep at times – this is the Ariège, after all), but the second part of the route is mainly off-track, sometimes a faint track, sometimes nothing at all, and therefore requires good sense of direction or careful following of your GPS track.Classified as difficult due to the unmarked route and the steep gradients in places.
Stunning views of the Aston massif, the Pic de l’Homme Mort, the beautiful huts and, on the return journey, the Soularac, Saint Barthélémy and Pic du Han. The outward leg along the Ruisseau de Quioulès offers the chance to discover some lovely pools.
This walk can be done in the opposite direction, which would certainly offer a fine view of the Aston massif, but the ascent would then be concentrated in the first section.
Walks near Cabane Rieutort de Gascous (1740m)
Étang des Castellasses
4.31 mi
+2,648 ft
-322 ft
4h 15
Moderate
Departure from Ariège
A short, not too difficult hike – very enjoyable. You follow streams all the way, first through the forest, then across a plateau. A very wild, natural atmosphere. Countless spots, ideal for pitching a tent, with trees galore, majestic rocks and a fast-flowing yet calm river. A very good population of brown trout in the river. The lake, too, is teeming with fish – large brown trout and rainbow trout – to potentially delight the palates of food lovers.
Laparan - La Peyre - Passerelle - Fontargente - Aston - Refuge du Rulhe
6.31 mi
+2,976 ft
-883 ft
5h 30
Moderate
Departure from Ariège
Please note: the approach walk along the road is the only part of the hike that is in the shade if you set off early enough in the morning. This is the only way to complete this loop. It may seem tedious, but the landscape is very beautiful.The hike can be classified as quite difficult. After the footbridge over the Ruisseau de la Coume de Varilhes, the path is not easy: steep, with steps, a paved scree slope, a ledge to cross, etc. But once you reach the top, you will be rewarded. Then the GR®T66 from the largest of the Étang de Fontagente lakes to the refuge is more of the same. This is definitely a mountain hike.
Refuge du Ruhle - Col de Belh - de la Didorte - Cabane Rieutort - Laparan
5.31 mi
+1,198 ft
-3,297 ft
3h 30
Moderate
Departure from Ariège
From the start of the hike, pay attention to the common white and red GR® T66 and GR®10 markings, as there are several crossroads and forks in the trail. Please note: the hike is in open terrain until the descent into the forest, well after the Rieutort hut.From the refuge, via the Crête des Isards and up to the Col de la Didorte, what a view! Of course, you need to be very careful on this ridge, which is often steep and jagged. But as soon as you stop, you can enjoy a 360° panorama.The steep descent to the Rieutort hut is on a narrow but safe path, offering beautiful views. The return to the road is not easy, but the path (GR®T66), although steep in places, is well marked throughout the descent.
Refuge du Rulhe - Castelet
11.00 mi
+958 ft
-5,958 ft
5h 55
Difficult
Departure from Ariège
This second day is exceptional. Most of it takes place on ridges from which you can see the Ax 3 Domaines resort on one side and the Plateau de Beille on the other. And everywhere, there are lakes and breathtaking landscapes. This stage is long (nearly 18 km), but you'll never want it to end before you descend into the valley through the forest. It's best to have someone waiting for you in the valley, or else you can reach Ax-les-Thermes on foot or by bus. Be aware that as you will be taking photos and spending time admiring the landscape, you should allow 6½ to 7 hours for the whole trip.
From the Juclar Refuge to Pas de la Case
9.19 mi
+1,762 ft
-2,421 ft
5h 45
Moderate
Departure from Canillo (Andorra)
This third stage of the route linking Ax-les-Thermes to Latour de Carol takes you to Pas de la Case… and its hotels and refreshment stops; it is an easy, somewhat long stage that takes place at altitude, mainly along the gentle, grassy ridges of Andorra, but without any difficulty. It is best to tackle this stage in good weather, as landmarks can be misleading, especially if fog sets in.
El Serrat - Pic de Tristagne - Refuge de l'Étang Fourcat
6.14 mi
+4,327 ft
-1,476 ft
6h 35
Very difficult
Departure from Ordino (Andorra)
The fifth and final stage of the high-mountain route passes by the iconic Pic de Tristagne, which towers over the many lakes in the surrounding area, and its short, fairly exposed ridge route, before returning to France via the magnificent Étangs Fourcat site.
From the Pra Redoun Refuge to the Juclar Refuge
5.47 mi
+2,884 ft
-1,168 ft
5h 00
Moderate
Departure from Savignac-les-Ormeaux (Ariège)
The second stage of the “Ax-les-Thermes to Latour-de-Carol” route; this is a beautiful high-mountain stage with magnificent scenery. Favourable weather is recommended.
This route follows a path which is initially very poorly signposted, climbing steeply towards the first pass, the Col de Behl, before reaching the Refuge de Ruhle, then the beautiful ascent to the Col de Juclar and finally the descent into Andorra towards the manned refuge of the same name.
Étang Fourcat - Port de Caraussans
3.04 mi
+889 ft
-1,411 ft
2h 10
Moderate
Departure from Auzat (Ariège)
More magnificent lakes are on the agenda, with the added bonus of a short chairlift ride on the Andorran side to rest your legs before the descent to L'Étang de Soulcem, which is very challenging in the last section.
Refuge Fourcat - Marc's lodge
9.76 mi
+1,247 ft
-5,958 ft
5h 35
Difficult
Departure from Auzat (Ariège)
This is the sixth and final stage of the Tour des Géants des Trois Nations, which has a steep descent (1,800 m of elevation loss, which will hurt your joints) to return to the starting point of this journey. This stage passes by the Fourcat Waterfall, the beautiful Izourt Pond and the forests of Goulier-Auzat and Montcalm.
Ax 3 Domaines Plateau du Saquet - Rulhe Refuge
6.69 mi
+2,293 ft
-1,677 ft
5h 05
Difficult
Departure from Ax-les-Thermes (Ariège)
This is a magnificent hike that starts from the Plateau du Saquet, and therefore the Ax 3 Domaines ski slopes, and ends at the Refuge de Rulhe, where a good local rataf will do you good. Once you reach the top of the resort, long desert plateaus await you before you descend into the austere scree slopes at the foot of Rulhe and finish sliding down to the Refuge de Rulhe. This first stage is wild and challenging, in the scree slopes. Be careful on the descent from the Col de Lhasse, which is very steep (but the GR® is well marked).