From Perpignan, take the N 116 towards Andorra. At the Vinça reservoir, turn left onto the D 13 towards Baillestavy and Joch. At the Colomina junction, turn left towards Joch on the D 25.
At the entrance to the village, first turn left then right to climb up towards the viewpoint. There is a large car park on the right or further on at the town hall, or better still at the top of the viewpoint, at the start of the route description. Park carefully, leaving enough space for residents to pass.
Recent yellow markings and directional signs (observed in February 2023).
(S/E) From the viewpoint car park, climb up on the left towards the track to the left of the underground water tank. Continue along this track. You will come to a junction of three small tracks at an oratory. Directional signs (observed on 1 October 2023).
(1) Leave the oratory on your left and the track on your right. Cross No. I is on the right of this middle track. Follow it for 30 metres until you reach a yellow left turn on a tree to the left of the track.
(2) Keep completely to the left, following a well-marked path that climbs through the vegetation. Cross II is located at the start of the path, which climbs steadily, passing numerous iron crosses with numbers on them. You will come to a fork in the path.
(3) At an altitude of 510 m, there is a marker on the left and a cross on the right. There are two options:
Simply follow the yellow markings on the left. Further on, climb to the right and join the route on the ridge.
- Continue to the right, passing the yellow cross as indicated in this description and on the trail. The correct path turns south-east, following a ridge. Continue climbing until you reach Cross No. VI.
(4) A little further on, at the fork, continue straight ahead, now heading due south, climbing the correct ridge path, which is well marked on the ground, to reach Cross No. VII further on. Ignore any adjacent paths. Pass the altitude 751.
(5) At an altitude of 795 m, there is a magnificent view of the Têt valley and the Vinça reservoir. The Joch Cross is clearly visible opposite, perched on its wooded spur. The path heads south again to reach Cross No. XII. Continue straight ahead, still on the ridge. Pass the altitude of 853.
(6) You will arrive at a more open area where the ruins of Cortal de les Feixes (enclosure, Frênes hut) remain. The path heads southwest. The cross at the summit is clearly visible and serves as a landmark.
After 300 m, pass cross no. XIII, and at the fork that follows, the clearly visible path heads due south towards the cross. The path becomes much steeper with a steep passage through the rocks.
(7) At the top, on a flat section, the Joch Cross is accessible on the left via a return trip. Very beautiful 360° view. Then continue along the ridge, heading south towards Puig de les Feixes (Ash Tree Peak) at altitude 925.
(8) From the summit, continue along the ridge, heading south for about 400 m, passing another peak and descending slightly to reach a first fork, not very visible, at about 895 m. There is a cairn and two yellow markings on the rocks at this point.
Leave the path that descends completely to the right.
Continue opposite on the wooded ridge for 100 m until you reach another fork and a large cairn at the exact altitude of 903 on the Creu de les Fous (crossroads of gorges or ravines), which is in fact a crossroads of four paths.
Reversed directional sign
(9) Descend steeply to the right, following the clearly marked trail from the start. Follow this beautiful path through the forest, which is well marked, clean and clear. You will reach a large crossroads: one track and three paths. Directional posts and place name: Saïllà.
There is a bench made from a railway sleeper at altitude 697. You can take a break at this beautiful, open spot.
Yellow markings
(10) Cross the track and you will find a cairn. A yellow signpost indicates the start of the path on the far right under the same track. Head east for 100 m, then north.
This beautiful path through the woods, slightly downhill and balcony-like, offers many open spots from which to admire the valley floor and the mountains to the south. You will have to cross many small còrrecs (valley bottoms). When the path turns northeast, a beautiful viewpoint allows you to contemplate the landscape.
At around 630 m, a fork with a path ascending to the right has been uncovered. (Observation made in February 2023). However, continue straight ahead, descending gently.
(11) At an altitude of 575 m, another fork has also been uncovered. (Observed in February 2023).
Directional sign and place name: La Serrada.
There are two options from this point:
- continue straight ahead, and further on, descend via numerous hairpin bends, passing through a residential area, then a ravaged area. The path then turns left onto the right bank of the Còrrec de Sant Martí and continues with a right-hand bend, heading north-east on almost flat ground to the car park.
- Following the description, turn left towards Finestret, descending very steeply to the D13. Cross it, continue straight ahead, arrive at a magnificent canal and cross it. Directional sign: Joch.
(12) Turn right with the canal on your right (i.e. left bank).
(13) Further on, cross the D13 again. Pass the pumping station and continue to follow the canal to reach Joch near the town hall. Go up the road for 150 m and turn right along a wooden railing to climb up and reach the (S/E).
