From Notre-Dame des Bois to Clermont-le-Fort

This hike is based on the route published by SICOVAL "Circular walk from Notre-Dame des Bois", which I modified at the end.

Technical sheet

197768
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 14.39 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 290 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 286 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 286 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 154 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Leave from the car park in Clermont-le-Fort in the north of the village.

(S/E) Head towards the south slope of the village, where you will discover the architecture of the town hall, the church, the wells (in the church courtyard), the orientation table and the fortified gate.

(1) Take the small path (Yellow waymarking and posts) which goes down the peak just to the left of the marker, opposite the gate. This section is partially on the nature trail, leading you close to Rive d'Aygue.

(2) Take the road on the left and then join a path 100m on the right. From there, follow alongside the small river through the shady, but very wet section (sticks) until you reach the Notre-Dame des Bois chapel.

(3) Continue on the path between the two fields until you reach the D94 road. Follow the road to the left (a windy and sunny area) until you reach Lambert.

(4) Take the path on the left. Cross the D35 and go alongside a private property on the left. There is the option to take a break by the small river in Saint-Gélis (sheltered from the wind). Continue on the path which climbs slightly up to the D68 road, turn left onto it and continue on for 20m.

(5) Turn left onto the track heading towards some houses, then take the D68 again up to the crossroads which leads to "Les cabanes" (waymarking). Go in front of the 'Cabanes' (cabins).

(6) Take the perpendicular path on the right and go downhill between the trees. Climb up the small valley (option to picnic here in the shade, there are large tree trunks).

(7) Climb up again towards the D68 which you then cross in order to take the path opposite. After a 90° turn to the left, you join the D68 again. Follow the D68 (quite well used, with wide aisles on the right) for 300m up to the first crossroads. Turn right and locate a small, barely-visible, path on the left (Yellow marker on a street light).

(8) Cross the field heading in the direction of the small hill. From here, there is no longer any Yellow waymarking.

(9) Go around the small hill and almost reach the summit of the burial mound which offers a superb view of the Ariège valley (flat summit suitable for a picnic in the sun).

(9) Follow the small path which goes alongside the "Marcounat" property and then stay on the cliff ridge (during hunting season, there are posts), until you reach the small Rigautié river which can be bigger in the spring.

(10) Take the path on the left and re-join the road (Chemin de Clermont). Follow the road to the north for 50m where a very small, barely-visible, path begins on the left.

(11) Take it until your reach the right-hand bank of the Ariège. Follow this path which goes back into the shade of the trees, until you reach Clermont-le-Fort before Rive d'Aygue, this is the discovery (nature) trail.

(12) Undertake the rough, but short, climb up to the left which takes you back to the Fortified Gate.

(1) Take the path heading off to the left in order to return to the car park.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 226 m - Clermont-le-Fort car park to the north of the village
  2. 1 : km 0.18 - alt. 231 m - Fortified gate
  3. 2 : km 0.52 - alt. 169 m - Lieu-dit Rive d'Aygue
  4. 3 : km 3.33 - alt. 227 m - Notre-Dame des Bois chapel.
  5. 4 : km 5.38 - alt. 267 m - Lieu-dit Lambert
  6. 5 : km 7.22 - alt. 259 m - Junction D68
  7. 6 : km 8.17 - alt. 242 m - Lieu-dit les Cabanes
  8. 7 : km 8.37 - alt. 212 m - La Brègue
  9. 8 : km 9.75 - alt. 185 m - End of yellow marking
  10. 9 : km 10.09 - alt. 235 m - Tumulus
  11. 10 : km 11.19 - alt. 172 m - Rigautié stream
  12. 11 : km 11.46 - alt. 156 m - Crossroads to the - Ariège (rivière)
  13. 12 : km 13.8 - alt. 166 m - Discovery trail
  14. S/E : km 14.39 - alt. 226 m - Clermont-le-Fort car park to the north of the village

Practical information

If the ground is very wet, you will need sticks (especially for Infernet).

In the nearby area

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 61 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
chespeel
chespeel
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : May 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A pleasant hike, but very slippery and muddy after rain along the Ariège river, very relaxing for a lunch break.

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Doris31210
Doris31210

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : May 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Very nice walk with varied landscapes
Lots of shady stretches, which is very pleasant
Nature is very rich in a variety of plants - botanical path in places
Passage close to the Ariège
A few technical sections but no major difficulties
We finish with a nice climb of around 400m
All in all, a very nice day

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laurent.dupuis
laurent.dupuis

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

A pleasant and varied ride. However, some sections have to be shared with fast mountain bikers. Not much tarmac, but 2 short sections on busy roads where cars travel at high speed.

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Bea6431
Bea6431

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Mar 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Walked in fine weather, the description is accurate. A lovely walk that alternates between ridges and undergrowth and finishes along the Ariège, very pleasant.

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Emmmanuel
Emmmanuel

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Dec 23, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Done in winter in wet weather. Quite a lot of mud, I fell twice when I slipped in muddy places.

Interesting route, with climbs and descents. The first section climbs through the undergrowth to Notre-Dame, before finishing along the banks of the Ariège. In the middle you're on the windy heights with a view.
Very nice

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pierre1501
pierre1501

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 28, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Magnificent walk, beautiful scenery and pleasant trails.
A bit of road but not too boring.
Avoid after rain.

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pierreaureville
pierreaureville

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : May 28, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Very good but one part is slippery and muddy after the storms

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Sof du 31
Sof du 31

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of walk : Feb 18, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Busy trail : No

Nice walk but too much road on this route
The last part along the Ariege is the most pleasant
Lovely scenery!
Very well maintained route

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svrag
svrag

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jul 26, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Lovely walk starting with a visit to the beautiful village of Clermont le Fort.

A walk on the hillsides and along the banks of the Ariège.
In fine weather, we can see the Pyrenees for much of the way.
Most of the route is shaded, and we take a few minor roads, but these are reasonable.

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jugetdown
jugetdown
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jan 02, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

Lovely walk less than half an hour from Toulouse.
A bit muddy, as indicated in the description.
The route is varied and very pleasant!

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MichelRoss
MichelRoss
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 06, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A very pleasant walk, most of it shaded. Beautiful views of the countryside and the Pyrenees in the distance.

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Ludi
Ludi
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : May 04, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

very nice walk with superb views!

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Nono31300
Nono31300

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : May 01, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Thanks to the person who posted the walk and thanks also to the people who help maintain this route.
Very nice walk, beautiful views, varied environment, little tarmac, in short a change of scenery. I did this walk the day after it rained, so be careful as there were some slippery sections.

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JérômeSel
JérômeSel

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 24, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : No

A very pleasant little walk, not difficult in dry weather.
If the ground is wet, you'll need good shoes, as the woods are slippery and very muddy.
Just a few kilometres from Toulouse, a complete change of scenery and a lovely setting.

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Bernard CONDAMINES
Bernard CONDAMINES

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : Apr 07, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

A very nice walk. A varied route, with undergrowth, ridge paths, a bit of tarmac and some steep slopes.
The first part can be difficult in wet weather.
Beautiful views of the Pyrenees

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