The Étang de Balbonne

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A superb getaway in the ‘Little Quebec’ of the Ariège, taking you to one of the countless ponds in the Donezan region, namely the Étang de Balbonne.

Details

n°3903087
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 3.33 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,073 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,056 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 6,181 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 5,164 ft
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Photos

Path on the left at the small bridge
A pond like a natural mirror
The Balbonne Pond

Description of the walk

From Mijanès, take the D25 towards Ax-les-Thermes. 1 km further on, at a hairpin bend, take the road opposite to follow the Route Forestière de la Bruyante and reach the Restanque car park, the starting point of your walk.

(S/E) From the car park, head west along the forest track and turn right at the junction to reach a crossroads.

(1) Turn left towards Balbonne. Cross the "Bruyante" via a footbridge and follow the yellow markings, which will lead you to another junction.

(2) Follow the yellow-marked path to the right and walk alongside the Balbonne stream before starting a climb that gets steeper as you go, until you reach a flat section at a hairpin bend.

(3) Take a short break before tackling another climb (much gentler than the previous one) which leads you to the wild Balbonne pond.

(4) Follow the same path back in the opposite direction to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 5,164 ft - Car park on Route Forestière de la Restanque
  2. 1 : mi 0.37 - alt. 5,299 ft - Balbonne junction - Bruyante (rivière)
  3. 2 : mi 0.68 - alt. 5,315 ft - Junction
  4. 3 : mi 1.5 - alt. 6,109 ft - Flat section
  5. 4 : mi 1.66 - alt. 6,115 ft - Balbonne Pond
  6. S/E : mi 3.33 - alt. 5,164 ft - Car park on Route Forestière de la Restanque

Notes

Worth a visit

Option to visit the Rabassoles Ponds near point (1)

The Petit Pond near point (3)

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 4 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
Claora
Claora

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 06, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

2 adults, 2 children aged 6 and 4. It took us less than 3 hours; the route is very well signposted if you follow the yellow markings, with no particular difficulties. Make sure you pack warm clothes for when you reach the lake. Unfortunately, it was foggy, so we quickly headed back down. However, the access via the forest track is a bit of a slog, and you can avoid it by continuing along the tarmac road until you reach the sign where you can buy trout.

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denis174
denis174

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 30, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk we went on in late October, with hardly anyone else around from start to finish.
No major difficulties apart from the section with the ladder, which is quite steep.
Note that at around 1,650m, the yellow markings on the ground lead you off the route shown on the map to turn right and follow a parallel path alongside the stream, rejoining the intended route just before the ladder.
A magnificent spot, completely deserted, with beautiful autumn colours.
The access track is passable in a standard vehicle, but some sections require caution.

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pams11
pams11

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 21, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A superb hike; the lake is magnificent. Yellow markings run the length of the trail; make sure to turn left at the bridge near the picnic tables. The Balbonne ladder is the most challenging part.
Dogs are welcome on the trail but must be kept on a lead.

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bauti
bauti

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 13, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A hike at the end of summer in mid-September, with stunning, wild scenery.
The lake is magnificent, but on that day, a mist rolled in very quickly.
The path is signposted, of course, but sometimes you can’t see the markings at first glance, so you need to stay alert.
Otherwise, there are no major difficulties; it’s a lovely walk
(be careful during the hunting season, as you may come across a hunt).

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