From L’Hospitalet-près-l’Andore to Mérens-les-Vals via Porteille des Bésines

Start from L’Hospitalet SNCF station (1,434 m).

(S) Walk up from the car park towards the village. Take care when crossing the RN22, which descends from the Col du Puymaurens.
Head down the main street and turn left immediately to reach the actual start of the path at the foot of the mountain.

(1) The^GR®107trail climbs to the left up the mountainside. Take care when crossing the RN22 again.
After two hairpin bends and crossing the first stream, you’ll reach a junction

(2) Continue straight on along the^GR®107C, still along the mountainside with a fine view of the Ariège valley, both upstream and downstream. At the Crête du Tos Bessateil, the path turns noticeably to the right, due east, and heads into the valley of the Ruisseau des Bésines.
Continue the gentler climb, following the ridge more or less straight ahead, to the Bésines dam.

(3) Walk round the Étang des Bésines on the right over relatively flat ground.
Cross several streams feeding into the pond, then a footbridge.

(4) As the path begins to climb again, turn left at a Fork in the road, moving away from the stream and continuing uphill. At the foot of the refuge, rejoin the^GR®10and follow it to the left for a short climb to the Refuge des Bésines.

(5) Set off again, following the^GR®10–^GRP® Tour de la Montage d’Ax towards Mérens (estimated walking time: 4 hours 10 minutes).

(6) The^GR®10route shown on the IGN map no longer exists. Turn left onto a path towards the Ruisseau des Bésines, which leads onto another path climbing up from the Étang des Bésines.

(7) Continue along the Ruisseau des Bésines. The gradient and altitude make the final stretch of the climb difficult, as it takes place over scree.

(8) A mandatory break at the Porteille (pass) des Bésines, with views over both valleys.
Begin the relatively stony descent to the charming Étang de l’Estagnas.

(9) Continue down the very rugged and steep path, running along a ledge 10 to 20 metres above the Estagnas torrent.

(10) Once you reach La Présasse, return to a less steep path that branches off to the left. Follow the path which runs very close to the Ruisseau du Nabre, first on the left, then on the right bank after crossing a footbridge.
Pass the Saut du Nabre waterfall on your left. Continue the descent, still on the^GR®10(and^GRP®).

(11) At a fork in the road, stay on the^GR®10–^GRP® to the left and pass close to a sulphurous spring. Follow the path down to the hamlet of Vives, where you’ll come to a stretch of road.

(12) At a wash house just past the bridge over the Ruisseau de Saint-Touret, turn left and carefully cross the Route de Vives (RD322) several times.

(13) At the foot of the church, cut across another bend in the D322 and continue along the path. Return to the right bank of the Nabre. Stay as close to the river as possible and follow the D322. Turn left then right to pass under the railway line. Reach the N20.

(14) Turn right, walk along the pavement beside the main road and, a few hundred metres further on, turn into Rue de la Gare, which leads to Mérens-les-Vals SNCF station (1,056 m) (E).

The Refuge des Bésines is en route, offering meals, drinks and a lodge if required.
Stopover lodge du Nabre farmhouse – Merens

There is a railway station at both the start and finish, making it easy to return to the starting point via a short train journey through a circular tunnel (quite rare in France), or to travel from further afield (Toulouse, Foix) without the hassle of driving to the starting point and back again.

Timetable for the Toulouse – Latour-de-Carol-Enveitg line
pdf

High-altitude hike: ensure you have the necessary equipment; avoid this hike in the event of thunderstorms.
Check snow conditions at the pass outside the summer season.

Étang des Bésines
Porteille des Bésines
Marmots
Mérens horses
The Saut du Nabre
Iron-rich spring
Nabre Mountain Hut