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Coming from Perpignan via the N116, at the Vinça reservoir, turn left onto the D13 towards Valmanya. On leaving the village, at the junction of the three roads (D13, La Bastide, Los Masos), park on the left in a gravel area. There is a sculpture, a bus stop and an information sign. Further on, on the La Bastide road, there is parking available on the left-hand side of the road.
Yellow markings
(S/E) From the car park (sculpture), continue along the D13 towards La Bastide. There is a wooden signpost on the right-hand side of the road. Follow signs for Estanyol – Pinosa.
(1) Pass Estanyol on your right (return route). Continue along the roadside for about 60 metres. Wooden signpost.
(2) On the right-hand side of the road, take a small wooden bridge made of two logs and climb steeply up into the forest. Note: the general direction is consistently south. You will reach afirst galvanised gate at a track suitable for vehicles.
(3) Go through it, cross the track and continue straight ahead. Climb steeply through the forest via numerous hairpin bends. You’ll come out onto the rest of the track and follow it to the right for a few metres until halfway round the left-hand bend.
(4) Leave the track and head up the slope opposite, southwards, along an old stony track that remains very steep. Much higher up, follow a fence and a white marker on your right until you reach a junction of four grassy tracks. I have placed cairns here: the markings are very basic. The steep slope ends here.
(5) Cross over and continue southwards for about twenty metres along a grassy track. At the junction of three grassy tracks (not shown on the maps), look for a marker on the tree. Take the track on the left, which is almost flat. Continue along this track until you reach the end of the grassy track. Continue along the path which climbs into the forest, then descends slightly to reach a second, recently installed galvanised gate.
(6) Go through it, turning right onto an open, flat grassy path for 50 m. Continue along the path through the forest. After a slight climb, you’ll reach a track suitable for vehicles.
(7) Follow it to the right, uphill. Leave the climb to l’Estanyol on your right. There arerecent signposts and an old wooden sign indicating: Pinosa. Cross a ford. Keep a close eye out for the yellow markings in the forest. Resume the steep climb and arrive at a third galvanised gate giving access to the site of the Old Mines of Pinosa, restored in 2023.
(8) Go through it to enter the site.It is interesting to wander around the site, steeped in the history of iron ore mining at these altitudes. Then head up towards the reinforced buildings and, in particular, the old electrical transformer (a fairly tall square tower). A yellow arrow is visible on this vertical structure.
(9) The steep gradient resumes at this point. Head up towards the forest. You’ll still see the remains of human activity from the iron ore mining. Go through a fourth gate. Much higher up, after this steep climb, you’ll emerge from the forest into an area of pasture and rocks. A very beautiful spot. Continue the gentler climb and look out for yellow markings on the right, directly on the rocks just before the small pass of Pei.
Yellow markingsareveryscarce
(10) Turn right and look for the grassy ridge to follow towards the small peaks facing south and south-west. You’ll soon find a good path, clearly marked on the ground on the Pla de la Pilota (a very large pasture still in use). Then, heading towards the first and second peaks, the Puig de Sant Pere at an elevation of 1,791 metres.A very beautiful spot with a 360° view, and a good place to stop when the wind isn’t blowing.
(11) Head down towards the south-west, look out for a yellow-marked post stuck in a rock, then follow the cairns to find a good path. This will take you to the Coll de la Cirera.
Red and white markings of the GR®10 replace those of the GRP® Tour du Canigou
(12) Head right, on level ground, north-west, along the GR®10 (Chemin du Balcon du Canigou). Much further on, the path deteriorates and descends steeply. Cross the Còrrec de Gallinassa with care, continue downwards and, further on, the path becomes easier and flatter.
(13) Pass the entrance to the Anciennes Mines de La Pinosa on the right (old wooden sign), continue straight ahead and immediately come to a bend in a track that is partly overgrown with grass. Signpost. Keep left on the small grassy track and head for the Estanyol Forest House. Area where fires are permitted, picnic table, and intermittent fountain. The refuge is usually clean. Partial view of the wooded massif from the table in front of the refuge. A very beautiful spot.
Yellow markingsare scarce
(14) Turn back for about twenty metres and descend steeply to the left along a forest path, which joins the track leading to the refuge.Two cairns at this point. Head right along the track for about a hundred metres and look out for a cairn on the left.
(15) Descend steeply to the left along a very good path through the forest. Emerge further down onto an old grassy track.
(16) Head right along this track. Further down, the track gives way to a path, then back to a track. You’ll reach a junction of four grassy tracks.
(17) Continue the steep descent straight ahead; the track quickly becomes a path and leads to a track suitable for vehicles.
(18) Turn left onto this track for about twenty metres and descend steeply to the right along a good path through the forest. Cut across a path and continue the descent in the same direction. Much further down, rejoin a grassy track. (Old wooden sign on the left indicating: Estanyol). Turn right and you will soon reach the D13.
(1) Turn left onto this road and you will very quickly reach the car park (sculpture) (S/E).
Visorando Member
Moderate 
Very difficult 
