Col Darques - 730m d'altitude walks

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.

First challenging stage of discovery in a preserved environment. Basic map reading and orienteering skills are required. The GPX track on Visorando or on a GPS device is very useful from the start and at the numerous junctions. It is entirely possible to shorten the route if necessary: see practical information.

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.

This beautiful Pyrenean hike takes five days; it is intended for hikers accustomed to high-altitude mountain terrain and confident in navigating. It does not present any major difficulties – the route is straightforward – but you do need to be comfortable in high-altitude mountain terrain. The idea behind this hike is to set off from one railway station and head to another, thus completing a circular route easily without needing a car.

This hike forms the first stage of a five-day route between Ax-les-Thermes and La Tour-de-Carol. This first stage presents no difficulty unless weather conditions are poor. The start is at Ax railway station, where you follow the road and then a very pretty path that climbs up into the mountains to reach an unstaffed but very comfortable refuge. This walk is only suitable for hikers accustomed to high-altitude mountain terrain and confident in navigating.

A long hike in Haute Ariège to admire the lakes, ridges and magical landscapes with a stop at the ideally located Refuge de Rulhe, an opportunity to taste the local rataf'. On the second day, you can admire the whole area from the ridges.

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).

Montségur, the main stronghold where the Cathars took refuge whilst being hunted down by the Crusaders and the Inquisition, was besieged in 1244, and 225 Cathars who refused to renounce their faith were burnt right here, at the foot of the rocky peak. From there, networks were organised not only for escape but also for the spread of Cathar ideology, in order to evade the Inquisition.

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.

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.