Country:
District:
From Perpignan, head towards Le Boulou, Céret, Amélie-les-Bains, Arles-sur-Tech, Prats-de-Mollo, La Preste-les-Bains via the D 115.
Follow the one-way road through La Preste-les-Bains and park in the large car park at the end of the village and the road (D115a).
Yellow and redGRP®® Ronde du Canigó markings
(S/E) From the car park, head east, in the opposite direction to the road used to reach the start, until you reach the fork in the road.
Off the marked trail
(1) Cross the D115A and immediately find a path that descends to the right behind the low wall. You will arrive at the wash house on your right. Cross the Tech river on the footbridge. Turn left and continue for 20 m.
Yellow and redGRP®® Ronde du Canigó markings
Climb up to the right between the houses, still following the markings.
There is a sign explaining the origin of these paths. Please respect them. Thank you.
At the top of the concrete steps, turn right onto the beautiful, well-maintained path. Follow the signs for Coll Pregon. Ford a stream and go through an iron gate.
(3) The IGN paper maps, app and website are inaccurate here. There is no direct link to the south on the ground. Follow the description and route attached.
Follow the correct path up through the forest until the next fork in the path.
(4) Recent directional signs. Enter the forest, turn left towards Coll Pregon, climbing up two large hairpin bends.
Stay on the path, do not cut the corners as indicated at the start of the climb at the top of the steps. Thank you.
(5) The path turns completely south at around 1,250 m, at a point where there is no fork despite what is shown on the IGN map.
Follow the path and all the hairpin bends carefully so as not to contribute to erosion in this fragile environment. Thank you.
(6) Wooden chicane at a fence. The path then climbs south/south-west, rising steeply to reach Coll Pregon, a vast grazing area on the France-Spain border.
Directional signs of all kinds. Border marker 515 with inscriptions. GRT 79. Red and white, yellow, red and blue markings.
Very beautiful spot with a 360° view. The Costabona is visible to the north-west, for example.
Off the marked trail
(7) At border marker 515, turn right heading due west.
There are two possible routes to reach the Coll de Siern:
- on the Spanish side via the more or less flat track (white and red markings), which joins the Coll de Siern. OSM and IGN Spain map.
Alternatively, as described: on the Spanish side, follow the border ridge, keeping the fence on your right. This increases the elevation gain by 150 m.
Following this fence, the landscape is much prettier. This was actually a formerPR®® trail, but the markings have disappeared.
This route passes through several small peaks and the Coll de Maçanells before reaching a forest.
(8) "Leave the fence and head east." Continue west, following the forest on your right, still on the border. A geodetic marker at altitude 1687 confirms that you are going in the right direction. Much further on, a descent after altitude 1681 leads to the vast flat area of Coll de Siern.
(9) New directional post (2025) in place.
Boundary marker 514 as a reference point. Turn right, northwest, into the forest for 100 m.
(10) Very soon at the fork, continue straight ahead, on flat ground in the forest. A new sign for Refuge Las Conques is in place; follow this direction. The path is well marked on the ground and descends slightly in the forest. Then, at around 1550 m, in an open area, the path descends rapidly, still in the forest, to a forest track at altitude 1510. In this area, there are several signs for Coll de Siern.
The yellow markings are very damaged and sparse.
(11) Turn left onto this track, which climbs slightly but continuously. There is a new Refuge Las Conques signpost; follow this direction. Pass two còrrecs. You will come out onto a flat grazing area. On the right, you will see a huge rock, a bench and a beautiful landscape. A few metres further on, cross the enclosure and continue on flat ground until you reach the fork at the altitude of 1660.
(12) Continue to the right, into the forest, along a well-marked but damaged path that remains flat until you reach Còrrec de l'Ortiga, at around 1,650 m, where the path turns east and climbs steadily to another grazing area at Coll de la Serra de l'Ullat, at around 1,715 m. The directional signs are in poor condition.
Yellow markings on small wooden posts.
(13) Descend north-northeast towards the Ullat huts. Here too, time has taken its toll: the steel stove, recently installed in the orri, is outside, completely rusted and unusable...
(14) Head east towards La Preste, descending and following the yellow markings on small wooden posts.
Pass the fountain, which is flowing abundantly. Then go through an iron gate and close it behind you. Thank you.
You will come out into an open pasture area.
Please pay attention: follow the cairns that I reinforced when I passed through.
(15) At the end of this area, turn completely right, heading south, at the last cairn.
The path is less obvious and narrows a little. You will arrive at the renovated and abandoned farmhouse known as Mas de la Grevodella.
Continue along the track that descends. There is a yellow signpost in very poor condition.
At around 1,300 m, pass above a house below on your left. When you reach the fork on the left, blocked by a chain, be careful: you will need to leave the track quickly. Look for an old wooden post with a yellow turn signal painted on it, on your right in the left-hand bend of the track.
(16) At this post, turn right to climb the embankment and continue along a poor path that descends the left bank of the Còrrec de la Barragana. Cross a difficult section before reaching the footbridge and a forest road suitable for vehicles.
If you miss this post, descend to the left along the track to reach the forest road suitable for vehicles.
(17) Continue along this Coll de Siern forest road. Pass a signpost on your right, a water catchment on your left and you will return to the car park (S/E).
Visorando member
Moderate 
