From Labruguière to the Montagne Noire via the Carbonéral

This walk allows you to explore the hills of Labruguière, comprising small limestone plateaus to the north and wooded countryside to the south. You climb towards the Montagne Noire, which often dominates the southern backdrop of the landscapes in this department. This is the realm of the forest, composed of both deciduous and coniferous trees. Its peaks are gentle and varied: moors, forests and meadows share the view of the sky.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 18.24 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 519 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 514 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 714 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 200 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the car park at the Domaine d’en Laure park in Labruguière.

(S/E) Head south, keeping the small lake on your left. Follow the Ruisseau des Gaux, which you cross to the right, shortly after the lake, via a small wooden bridge, to join a small road leading into Les Auriols on your right. 200 m further on, turn left onto a tree-lined path which leads to Les Margaridous after a bend to your left.

(1) Turn south onto a small road and follow it to your left at the 272m mark. Further on, take a grassy path.

(2) Continue in the same direction along the Chemin de Montplaisir. Enter the Montagne Noire National Forest.

(3) After the Métairie des Prés, turn left towards Les Granjols and start a wide circular route to your right (leaving a path on the left). You’ll wind your way southwards through several bends before joining the D56.

(4) First turn right then left on this road to join a forest track that branches off clearly to the south-west.

(5) Take a track on the left (Pan Fabre) that crosses the Ruisseau de Montaud.

(6) After the 713m mark, follow the sign on your left (DFCI 300m) to reach the Carbonéral (water reservoir for firefighting). Climb the grassy slope to enjoy the peaceful tranquillity of this small lake. Head east again along the wide forest track, through a superb beech forest, which winds its way down a gentle slope.

(7) At elevation 584, turn left onto a small tarmac road leading to the Col.

(8) Head due north along a narrower path. At La Roque, it joins a small road.

(9) Immediately leave this road on your right via a path descending gently towards La Tuilerie, then turn off to the east-northeast to rejoin the D53.

(10) Turn left, leaving the direction of Les Bruzes straight ahead.

(11) After 400 m on this road, take a track heading north on your right. This narrow path, lined with trees on either side, takes you to Saint-Félix.

(12) Cross over and continue straight ahead along this tree-lined path. It will lead you to the first houses in Labruguière.

(13) Turn left onto Avenue d’en Thibaut, cross the D56 and continue straight ahead, then turn left onto Rue Manet and right onto Rue Odilon Redon.

(14) At the end of the cul-de-sac, turn left onto a small path leading to the Domaine d'en Laure, via the opposite shore of the lake, back up to the starting car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 201 m - Domaine d'en Laure Leisure Centre
  2. 1 : km 1.88 - alt. 265 m - Les Margaridoux
  3. 2 : km 2.7 - alt. 289 m - Les Tissous
  4. 3 : km 4.02 - alt. 401 m - The Dairy Farm of the Prés
  5. 4 : km 6.19 - alt. 591 m - D56
  6. 5 : km 7.54 - alt. 687 m - Pan Fabre
  7. 6 : km 8.48 - alt. 708 m - DFCI
  8. 7 : km 11.41 - alt. 585 m - Elevation 584
  9. 8 : km 11.94 - alt. 534 m - The Pass
  10. 9 : km 13.67 - alt. 386 m - La Roque
  11. 10 : km 14.79 - alt. 252 m - D53
  12. 11 : km 15.15 - alt. 260 m - Exit D53
  13. 12 : km 16.12 - alt. 216 m - Saint-Félix
  14. 13 : km 16.98 - alt. 200 m - Avenue d'en Thibaut
  15. 14 : km 17.58 - alt. 203 m - Impasse Odilon Redon
  16. S/E : km 18.24 - alt. 201 m - Base d'en Laure

Notes

- A path marked in yellow and regularly signposted along its entire route with wooden signs reading: Sentier du Carbonéral.
- Picnic table at Lac du Carbonéral.

Worth a visit

Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 6 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
3.8 / 5
Hachail
Hachail

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 08, 2026
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful forests with the pleasant scent of conifers and gorse. When the Douglas firs are felled, logging is likely to cause significant damage to the course (and this could happen soon, given the size and age of the firs in certain plots).
The small lake (DFCI reserve) shortly after the highest point 6 is perfect for a picnic, with a small arboretum to explore.
Much of the walk is on wide, clean forest tracks, but the final sunken path is very muddy and slippery (after a period of rain).
Thanks to the author.

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Marie-therese arsuffi
Marie-therese arsuffi

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk
Beautiful view of the lake and arboretum

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Xbt
Xbt

Hello
I went on this walk to check out the route
for a club
The information is very accurate – well done to the writer!
As for the distance covered, there are over 2 km more than the 18 km stated.
This is likely due to the initial settings
In the settings, you need to reduce the distance between two points
There you go
a lovely walk with no difficulties at all
Varied and shaded paths

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BERNI.81
BERNI.81

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
A lovely walk, a bit muddy but an interesting route. Be careful at point four – it’s easy to miss the turn-off to the right and carry on straight ahead. The section through the remarkable rock formations makes for an exciting walk.

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petitbob
petitbob

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 08, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Good evening, fellow hikers.
Here’s a superb hike. A true classic in our region and well known to local walkers. On this hike, we discover the magnificent forested massif of Labruguière. Huge Douglas firs and deciduous trees grow side by side. Superb, wide and peaceful paths. Between points 8 and 9, there’s a 380° panorama over the Sorèze plain, Labruguière and Mazamet. And let’s not forget, 800 m from point 6, at 720 m, a lovely, tranquil lake. Then we head back down. A brilliant hike. Thanks, Visorando.petitbob

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Frala
Frala

Hello, and thank you for your feedback.

I do agree with you to some extent. This hike is very popular in the Tarn, but I find other routes in the Montagne Noire to be more varied.

Kind regards

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VIMABA
VIMABA

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 16, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

The start and end of the route were pleasant, but most of it runs through a pine forest, which made it a bit monotonous. However, the sun wasn’t out, which no doubt added to the monotony.

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Frala
Frala

Hello and thank you for your feedback.

I published this walk based on my photos and my route. Indeed, this walk is featured on page 28 of the Tarn guide to which you refer. It will no doubt not have escaped your notice that the suspension footbridge at the start of the lake (point 1) no longer exists and that you must cross further up. My route and my instructions take this into account.

Yours respectfully, without any particular merit

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jeanmarieeliane
jeanmarieeliane

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

No credit, transcription of Tarn hike sheet no. 28

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