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To get to the starting point, a good idea is to park near the Sainte-Marie crossing to the west of the Gruissan lagoon. Once you have crossed the bridge, it is 250 metres to the start of the walk.
(S/E) The hike is signposted all the way. It starts with a flat section that runs along the marshes near the lake to the north-west, offering a pretty view of Île St-Martin and the nearby Conilhac rock. At the end of this flat section, an abandoned hamlet appears: the cabanes de Gruissan. These are small dwellings that have recently been squatted in on one side, but older, dilapidated dwellings can also be seen.
(1) The path, which becomes stony, then climbs to the right, running alongside the vineyards of the Bertheliés estate. In summer, the cicadas will sing you a welcome song all the way up the hill. After passing the vineyard, you will reach the highest point of the hike.
(2) However, the view is blocked by pine trees, and you have to go a little further to get the magical view of Île Saint-Martin with the Étang de Bages on one side and the Étang de Gruissan on the other. The path then winds its way through the small pine forest, with regular gaps on the right-hand side offering glimpses of the landscape provided by the two lagoons. This section is flat and the path narrows, eventually leading to a steep hiking staircase overlooking the Capoulade, which gives this hike its name. The view of Gruissan is breathtaking.
(3) The rest of the walk is very easy on flat ground (gravel or even tarmac) which branches off into the heathland and goes around the place called Saint-Laurent, offering a lovely stroll through old gardens where aromatic plants abound. The path narrows to a single track with a slight descent, but this is not particularly difficult. This section does not appear on the IGN map, but it is perfectly passable.
(4) The end of the route is very easy on the track that surrounds the Gruissan pond. Take the time to read the signs along the way, which provide information about the flora and fauna that inhabit this area. On your right, you will pass the Capoulade vineyards, followed by the hill of the same name. You will arrive at the starting point (S/E).
Visorando member
Moderate 
Difficult 
