Chalabre: Greenway and Montbel Lake

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This moderately difficult route starts at the old Chalabre railway station on the line that used to connect Mirepoix to Lavelanet, now a greenway. It follows the Hers river, which feeds the Lac de Montbel, crossing two dams before returning to the old Chalabre station after passing through some woodland. It offers views of the Pyrenees and the Lac de Montbel.

Details

n°180090
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 16.05 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 195 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 199 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 492 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 368 m
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Photos

Montbel Lake
Montbel Lake

Description of the walk

Start opposite the old Chalabre station.

(S/E) Take the Voie Verte towards the south. On leaving Chalabre, cross the old railway bridge over the Hers.

(1) Follow the Voie Verte.

(2) Cross the small bridge over the Hers and continue on the Voie Verte.

(3) At La Forge, leave the Voie Verte and turn right towards the Centre d'Art Contemporain. After reaching the Hers, go under the bridge through the small tunnel and follow the Hers to the bridge over the river at Sainte-Colombe-sur-l'Hers.

(4) Cross the bridge over the Hers and then turn right, continue for about 20 metres and then turn left. Climb up to Campoulhariès and turn left towards En Sarrat.

(5) Once you reach theGR®7B(white and red markings) at the hairpin bend, turn right and follow theGR® to the D28a. Follow this departmental road on the left (north-west) for about 200 metres.

(6) Turn right towards Hameau des Baylards.

(7) At the exit of the hamlet, turn right onto theGR®7B.

(8) Cross thefirst dyke on Lac de Montbel, then thesecond dyke and continue on theGR® until you reach the D28b.

(9) Turn left, follow the departmental road for about 20 metres, then turn right towards Montbel. Follow theGR®7Band cross the hamlet.

(10) At the fork, turn right and pass the entrance to the holiday centre on your left and continue for about 80 metres.

(11) Leave theGR® by taking the path on the right and follow it to a fork.

(12) Take the right-hand branch. Less than 100 m further on, at the new fork, take the right-hand branch again. Continue straight ahead to reach the place called Le Bourdil.

(13) Cross the village, continue straight ahead at the crossroads and join the bridge over the Hers. Turn left, go up the bridge and return to the old Chalabre station (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 372 m - Former Chalabre railway station
  2. 1 : km 0.49 - alt. 369 m - Old railway bridge over the Hers
  3. 2 : km 4.05 - alt. 389 m - Small bridge over the - Hers (rivière) à finaliser
  4. 3 : km 5.5 - alt. 402 m - Fork towards La Forge
  5. 4 : km 6.58 - alt. 402 m - Sainte-Colombe Bridge
  6. 5 : km 7.61 - alt. 483 m - GR 7B junction
  7. 6 : km 8.88 - alt. 403 m - Leave the road and turn right towards Les Baylards
  8. 7 : km 9.22 - alt. 414 m - Les Baylards
  9. 8 : km 10.05 - alt. 401 m - 1st dyke - Lac de Montbel
  10. 9 : km 11.3 - alt. 415 m - D28b
  11. 10 : km 11.76 - alt. 424 m - Hameau de Montbel, turn right
  12. 11 : km 12.81 - alt. 492 m - Leave the GR 7B. Take the path on the right
  13. 12 : km 13.26 - alt. 464 m - At the crossroads, take the second path on the right
  14. 13 : km 14.65 - alt. 408 m - Place called Le Bourdil
  15. S/E : km 16.05 - alt. 372 m - Former Chalabre railway station

Notes

No special equipment required.

Worth a visit

 Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

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Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 22 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
Biboune 65
Biboune 65

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Nice hike, partly on the greenway (potentially busy with bikes and pedestrians)
No difficulty. Very pretty views of the lake

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fred09300
fred09300

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 07, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hike done in the cool of the morning as there is little shade on the route. Given the early start, we encountered few people along the way.
Beautiful views of the hills when arriving above the lake. Can also be done by mountain bike.

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Janouka
Janouka

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 18, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely walk along the greenway with magnificent views of Lake Montbel. There are quite a few walkers with dogs and cyclists on the greenway, so please be careful.

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georgevelyne@gmail ;com
georgevelyne@gmail ;com

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 07, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful hike with a splendid view of Lake Montbel, which you cross twice on a dam. Unfortunately, at this time of year, it was a little dry. Towards the end of the route, at the holiday centre, turn right onto the path on your left. You will pass a small wild boar reserve. Well done again to Visorando for enabling us to enjoy this beautiful walk, and also to the author who took the time to write it up.
Evelyne and Georges
Senior hikers

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iSenior
iSenior

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 06, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Beautiful scenery and lovely views of the lake, but too much tarmac for my liking, route not really suitable for cycling.
Not much shade along the route, so be careful in hot weather!

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guagua
guagua

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 29, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

After leaving the GR trail, there was some hesitation, but the paths eventually converged. Despite the beautiful weather, there was still mud in the forest section.
This hike is best done in spring to see the snow-capped peaks, the beautiful view of the turquoise lake, the rapeseed fields and the cherry blossoms

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WE Gibson
WE Gibson

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 29, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

There is a slight ambiguity in the description between 11 and 12 (unmarked forest path); more details would be helpful

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martaisne
martaisne

Unfortunately, the hike did not take place because the trail is blocked by a landslide (work in progress and greenway closed).

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Mamizouli
Mamizouli

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 27, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

we did this route at the very beginning of lockdown easing, during the week. The two or three people we encountered were close to the lake; otherwise, we were alone. This hike is recommended, but bring a GPS to ensure you stay on track, as the signs are not very visible and not 100% reliable (forge and holiday centre?)

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JOADIE
JOADIE

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 12, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Do not rely on signposts: there are no signs for La Forge or the Contemporary Art Centre. The greenway is currently under construction, so the signs may have disappeared. Only the GR7 is reliable.

The holiday centre is not very visible out of season (only a sign in Dutch). The path on the right that follows it at km 12.81 immediately splits in two; take the left-hand path. The right-hand path leads into a field, but you can still rejoin the path on the left. This area is very muddy at the moment.

It's a beautiful hike, with views of the Pyrenees, the lake and passages through the woods.

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Skwirel's
Skwirel's

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 14, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Very good hike. Magnificent view over the pond. End of the route difficult to understand.

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franma
franma

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 07, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A beautiful, easy and pleasant walk

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eigelthy
eigelthy

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 14, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A beautiful hike whose main attractions are the old railway stations and the lake.

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jacquestéo
jacquestéo

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 04, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A very pleasant walk to do in late autumn when the sun is shining, which was the case for us. Easy. Beautiful views of the Massif de Tabe and breathtaking views of Lake Montbel. A family hike with no difficulties to report. A real treat...
A bit muddy at the end in the woods... But still passable. We even found some tables for lunch (marked on the map), which added about 500 metres to the walk. But it's comfortable.

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sogeco
sogeco
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 06, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A beautiful walk to do not too early in the season, as the path down to Chalabre can turn into a real quagmire towards the end!

The route is easy to follow, with signs that are generally clear enough to avoid taking the wrong path when there are several options.

The route is long and may seem boring if you don't like walking on flat ground for several kilometres, which is the case at the beginning, but shortly after La Forge, the terrain becomes a little more rugged, making up for the (relative) monotony of the first part.

I have written a report with photos (https://sogeco31.blogspot.com/2018/05/le...)

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