From Puyvalador to the Quérigut Pond

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A beautiful border getaway between the Pyrénées Orientales and Ariège that will take you to the wild Étang de Quérigut in Donezan.

Details

n°3190107
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 17.18 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 503 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 496 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,878 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,451 m
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Photos

Querigut Pond

Description of the walk

Park in the car park of the Puyvalador holiday village.

(S/E) From the car park, head east and take the yellow signposted route on the left at the intersection. You are now on the Chemin Vauban.
Stay on the track, which becomes a path, and follow it to the Col des Ares (border between the Pyrénées Orientales and Ariège departments).

(1) Continue along the yellow-marked trail, ignoring the side paths, until you reach a trail junction.

(2) Turn left to join a forest track and the red and yellow markings forthe GRP®®Tourdu Pays du Donezan.

(3) Take theGRP®® on the left. Pass a first car park and join a second car park where you will find the junction leading to the much sought-after Quérigut lake.

(4) Leave theGRP® and follow the yellow markings towards the Étang de Quérigut.
Cross the Prat de l'Étang stream to reach your destination.

(5) Return to your starting point by the same route (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,452 m - Holiday village car park - Lac de Puyvalador (1421 m)
  2. 1 : km 2.56 - alt. 1,600 m - Col de les Ares (1608m)
  3. 2 : km 3.41 - alt. 1,568 m - Trail intersection
  4. 3 : km 3.56 - alt. 1,553 m - Forest track / GRP Donezan
  5. 4 : km 7.64 - alt. 1,711 m - Intersection of the trail and the abandoned GRP. Towards the - Étang de Quérigut (1876 m)
  6. 5 : km 8.59 - alt. 1,878 m - Étang de Quérigut - Rivière de Quérigut (Rivière) - Affluent de la Bruyante
  7. S/E : km 17.18 - alt. 1,452 m - Holiday village car park - Lac de Puyvalador (1421 m)

Worth a visit

The Puyvalador Pond.
The Fontrabiouse Cave.
The village of Quérigut and Donezan Castle.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 2 reviews
Reliability of the description
4 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
lolinette
lolinette

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

This route is very busy from the second car park to the Quérigut pond; otherwise, there are very few people. The forest track is very busy with cars as it leads to the pond car park. The track is wide, so it is easy to pull over to the side.

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Picton79
Picton79

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 18, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very popular hike after the second car park on the way up to the lake. After point 3, when you rejoin the forest track, there are numerous votive offerings. Quite a lot of dust. A good hike that can be enjoyed with the family.

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