From Ax Trois Domaines/Le Saquet to Castelet via the Refuge de Rhule

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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.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 28.46 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2 days 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: No
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 991 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 2,327 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,433 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 663 m

Stages of the route

This route needs several days, find the details below:

  1. S

    Ax 3 Domaines Plateau du Saquet - Rulhe Refuge

    ↔10.77 km ↗699 m ↘511 m
    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).
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  2. E

    Refuge du Rulhe - Castelet

    ↔17.70 km ↗292 m ↘1,816 m
    This second day is exceptional. Most of it takes place on ridges from which you can see the Ax 3 Domaines resort on one side and the Plateau de Beille on the other. And everywhere, there are lakes and breathtaking landscapes. This stage is long (nearly 18 km), but you'll never want it to end before you descend into the valley through the forest. It's best to have someone waiting for you in the valley, or else you can reach Ax-les-Thermes on foot or by bus. Be aware that as you will be taking photos and spending time admiring the landscape, you should allow 6½ to 7 hours for the whole trip.
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Notes

Please note that there are no water sources between Le Saquet and the Refuge de Rulhe! Take a good supply with you. In the second part, water sources are very limited (only at some huts, and not all of them).

The Lièvre Blanc chairlift in Ax 3 Domaines, which climbs to 2,000 metres, only operates in summer (July-August) and on the first weekend of September for the summer season.

Avoid this hike in poor visibility.

The main difficulties are aerial passages on certain ridges and numerous scree slopes.

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.

Other walks in the area

Walking Ax 3 Domaines Plateau du Saquet - Rulhe Refuge

Visorando member
↔10.77 km ↗+699 m ↘-511 m ◔5h 05 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Ax-les-Thermes (Ariège)
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).

Walking The Étang de Comte loop

Visorando member
L'Étang de Comte en boucle
↔6.18 km ↗+293 m ↘-296 m ◔2h 35 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Mérens-les-Vals (Ariège)
A lovely half-day family walk to the Étang de Comte via the Jasse du Mourguillou.

Walking The Col de Joux

Visorando member
Le Col de Joux
↔11.59 km ↗+671 m ↘-670 m ◔5h 15 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Mérens-les-Vals (Ariège)
The Col de Joux is the only crossing point between the Ariège and Orgeix valleys. This mid-mountain route starts in open terrain and then enters the Ax-les-Thermes communal forest. The ridge passages offer beautiful views of the surrounding peaks, the most iconic of which is undoubtedly the Dent d'Orlu, whose south face is clearly visible. Herds of cows and horses complete the picture.

Walking From Ax-les-Thermes to Orgeix

Visorando member
D'Ax-les-Thermes à Orgeix
↔8.52 km ↗+318 m ↘-312 m ◔3h 20 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Ax-les-Thermes (Ariège)
This pleasant hike will take you to the charming village of Orgeix, where you can explore its castle on the shores of Lake Campauleil.

Walking Ascou and Sorgeat from Ax-les-Thermes

Visorando member
Ascou et Sorgeat depuis Ax-les-Thermes
↔8.33 km ↗+377 m ↘-372 m ◔3h 25 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Ax-les-Thermes (Ariège)
Short circular loop passing through Ascou and Sorgeat.

Walking Ax-les-Thermes - Mérens via the Chemin de Llatta

Visorando member
Ax-les-Thermes - Mérens par le Chemin de Llatta
↔13.56 km ↗+1,086 m ↘-636 m ◔7h 00 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Ax-les-Thermes (Ariège)
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.

Walking Lac d'Aygue Longue and Pic de l'Homme

Visorando member
Lac d'Aygue Longue et Pic de l'Homme
↔9.39 km ↗+1,039 m ↘-1,039 m ◔5h 40 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Orgeix (Ariège)
In the Orgeix Valley, this very varied hike on a well-marked trail to a beautiful glacial lake can be divided into three parts: a beech forest where you walk not far from the stream and its small waterfalls, meadows at the edge of the forest, and finally a series of small glacial locks leading to the lake's spillway. You can then climb the Pic de l'Homme, which is easily accessible via the ridge from the Lac d'Aygue Longue, passing through the Col de la Parade.

Walking Via Roc de l'Orri d'Ignaux

Visorando member
Par le Roc de l'Orri d'Ignaux
↔13.65 km ↗+702 m ↘-701 m ◔5h 55 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Sorgeat (Ariège)
This circular hike above Ax-les-Thermes, towards the summit of Roc de l'Orri d'Ignaux, will take you to a 360° viewpoint over the western part of the Ariège Pyrenees.

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The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.