Piéjau and Barestet huts

A short circular loop between cabins and pastures.
More of a pleasant stroll than a real hike, this route has the advantage of being very accessible without compromising on the beauty of the landscape.
The ease of this route also makes it very interesting for snowshoeing.
GPS or Visorando app useful for certain sections.

Details

114337
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.06 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 527 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 526 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,545 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,129 m

Photos

Description of the walk

(S/E) The route starts from the car park, taking the wide track in front of you, heading south-west.
(The first six kilometres are on this wide, gravel forest track.) You will climb continuously, passing a series of bends and hairpin turns. An old barrier is no longer there.

(1) You will come to the first intersection of paths. Take the one that makes a hairpin bend to the left, where you will see a wooden sign indicating "Piste Forestière du Couos".

(2) Further on, on the left, you will see a path which will be the return route. Continue climbing along the track until you reach the next intersection, about 6 km from the start.

(3) A sign indicates Col du Piégau, which is the direction you should follow.
The path becomes grassy and narrower. In places, vegetation has invaded the path and you will have to step over branches or duck your head. This track leads to a clearing. Cross the clearing in the middle towards a wooden post marked in yellow. You have arrived at the Col de la Croisette.

(4) Another post indicates the direction of Col du Piéjau... another 10 minutes of effort.

(5) The cabin is there, well equipped and located in a little corner of paradise.
Continue straight ahead, heading south, and climb the Pic de Brignac hill. As you leave the forest, you will see the Cabane de Barestet on your left and perhaps also, higher up and to the right, the cromlechs that we discovered by chance. (However, I do not have their exact location. They are located in the grassy area.)

(6) Once at the top, you can walk along the ridge line towards the east, which marks the border between Ariège and Haute-Garonne. Head back down towards the second hut you saw, directly across the pastures.

(7) Then climb the small hill just next to it (northeast) to pass through the altitude of 1506m.
From there, you can see the Cabane de Piéjau hut among the trees. The rest of the route requires a little more attention as the paths on the map have been changed to make way for forestry tracks. Descend this small hill on the opposite side. You will then come to a perpendicular path.

(8) Follow it to the right. A yellow mark, which is almost faded, confirms that you are on the right path. The slope is moderate at first, then becomes steeper. The entrance to the forest is even steeper and, when we passed through, trees had blocked the path. You will have to make your way through the branches and rocks that have fallen down. Continuing eastwards, you will eventually come back to the wide forest track where you started.

(2) Follow the same route back to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,132 m - Car park
  2. 1 : km 1.55 - alt. 1,215 m - first crossroads
  3. 2 : km 2.96 - alt. 1,331 m - Intersection of the circular
  4. 3 : km 5.85 - alt. 1,398 m - Second intersection
  5. 4 : km 6.76 - alt. 1,464 m - Clearing
  6. 5 : km 7.1 - alt. 1,446 m - Cabane du Piejeau
  7. 6 : km 7.71 - alt. 1,532 m - There are cromlechs in this area.
  8. 7 : km 8.28 - alt. 1,494 m - Barestet hut
  9. 8 : km 8.45 - alt. 1,471 m - Return route
  10. S/E : km 12.06 - alt. 1,132 m - Car park

Notes

There is a large car park where you can leave your car.
You can park even higher up, as the starting track is passable by car up to the fork at 1400 m.
In addition, the barrier marked on the map was no longer there, making it possible to drive through.
But we came to walk, so we will stop at the first car park.

The Piéjeau hut is well equipped and open. There is a small fountain on site with a low flow rate.
The Barestet fountain was closed in April 2015.

There are few markings on the route, but the section before the first hut is obvious.
After the hut, there are still few markings and they are not very visible, so be careful.

The path that takes you back to the start, after the 1506 m point, is not marked and intersects with numerous forest tracks that are not shown on the map.
For those who are less familiar with the map, always head due east after this 1506 m point and you will inevitably come across the wide forest track at the start.

Numerous photos show you the various landmarks mentioned in the description.

Worth a visit

  1. The bird bar, 100 m after the start on the wide track.
  1. South of Pic de Brignac, you will arrive at a flat, grassy area that is very pleasant for setting up camp.

Still in this same area, explore the surroundings and, like us, discover some cromlechs.

  1. South of Pic de Brignac, go to point 1554 and walk along the ridge line, which is the border between

separates Haute-Garonne from Ariège.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 9 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.2 / 5
tegon
tegon

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike, but the forest road leading up to it is a bit monotonous, especially in winter.
However, I took the opportunity to climb Le Puech (beautiful views all around) after point 3 and return to point 4, the Col de la Croisette, and return to the car park via the Col de Consires after point 6, then through the forest and finally ending up between point 1 and the car park.
Note: there is a hike to these two huts from Saint Lary, Anos, mountainside, huts, then back to point 2 then 3, then Autrech, Les Illous, Anos and Saint Lary, with more elevation gain and longer.

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Babée
Babée

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 06, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike without any difficulties, but which still offers beautiful views. A long stretch on a stony track suitable for vehicles. I took a group including an 83-year-old who completed the hike without difficulty. We stopped for a snack at the Piejau hut before continuing higher up to admire the view of our beautiful Pyrenees and descending to the second hut where we enjoyed a good meal in the sunshine and a lovely atmosphere.
Thank you for sharing this experience.

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Lyricm
Lyricm

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Snowshoe hike, with overnight stay at the Piéjau (or Piéjeau) hut.
The landscape must be magnificent when the view is clear: snow and fog blocked our view a little :-) . The forest is splendid: huge fir trees!
A very pleasant way to get back into shape for this first winter outing.

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Desfit
Desfit

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 28, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant walk without any difficulties, but which still offers beautiful views. A long section on a stony track that nature lovers may find boring, but it's a good warm-up and didn't spoil our enjoyment of the view from the top. Recommended for those who want to ease themselves back into walking.

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Roroboubou
Roroboubou

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 09, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Recognition for snowshoes, as advised, but how far can you get with the car in winter?

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LPh
LPh

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 05, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

More of a stroll than a hike, but still enjoyable, especially if you are with people who are not used to walking.
Special mention for the condition and cleanliness of the Piéjau cabin. It made me want to revisit some of my longer hikes. Once the restrictions are lifted, of course...
Be careful on the way back along the forest road; there is a yellow cross to guide you back to the car park. If you head towards Autrech, it will significantly increase the time it takes to get back!
Best regards, Lph

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PATRICE31800
PATRICE31800

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 27, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

Hello, everyone
Today's hike took place in beautiful weather. The first 6 km of forest track are monotonous, but after that it gets more interesting, with beautiful views at the Col de la Croisette and the Barestet hut. For the return trip from the hut, I think it's best to follow the directions in the description, as there are some yellow markings and the track is in good condition.

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bibi
bibi ★

At the end of the practical information section, there is a link that provides directions to the starting point...
Kind regards

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labradornoir
labradornoir
• Edited:

Hello,

Where is the starting point? There is mention of a large car park, but that is all.

Thank you.

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denis174
denis174

In fact, if I summarise your opinion, everything is disappointing.
But fortunately, all the other hikers managed to find the starting point...

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gazok54
gazok54 ★

Thank you, Roroboubou
I must admit that just reading the description, it's impossible to locate the car park. The author will definitely need to improve on this point.
However, I do not share your point of view at all. Hiking requires preparation and you have to spend a little time on it. Visorando gives you several ways to pinpoint the starting point, but this also takes a little time.
Furthermore, there is a good reason why we recommend printing the PDF document, which includes the description and the IGN map. One cannot be without the other.

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Roroboubou
Roroboubou
• Edited:

The only indication of location is "town: St Lary 09800", then "departure is from the car park"..... How can you find a car park 4, 5 or 6 km or more from St Lary if St Lary isn't even on the map... Even the best compass in the world won't be able to show you the right direction if you don't know where you're starting from...
If you absolutely must have an IGN map, if you absolutely must have a GPS, if you absolutely must spend hours poring over the problem before setting off, what is the point of going to Visorando to go hiking?
Very disappointed, even though on paper everything seemed easy: St Lary, car park and then a walk to discover the snowshoe trails...

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foufrix
foufrix

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 15, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Nice hike, but only from the wooded section onwards. The first 6 km are on a forest road.

As for the end, the marked trail no longer exists due to forestry work. It is possible to return via a path that runs alongside the Barestet cabin to descend. In terms of interest, it starts to get interesting at the end of the forest road, with superb views!

The walk took just under 4 hours.

Thank you for the walk!

Mushrooms at the starting car park!

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denis174
denis174

Hello
Indeed, as stated in the description, it is more of a walk than a real hike.
That is also why I recommend doing it with snowshoes.
The duration is not provided by the author but calculated automatically by the software.
We often find that the times are underestimated or overestimated.
I have already reported this issue to the moderators.
How long did it take you?
It would have been interesting to know.

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bigrette
bigrette

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 12, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

More of a pleasant stroll than a hike.
Overestimated duration, even for an "average" hiker.
On the way back, at the bottom of the meadow below the Barestet hut, there are two paths but no markings (or at least none that are visible) to indicate which one to follow.

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