The Galbe Valley

This route takes you through one of the most beautiful valleys in the Eastern Pyrenees, namely the Galbe Valley and its breathtaking landscapes in Capcir, starting from the typical and authentic village of Fontrabiouse.
Point S/E moved - Route modified on 02/03/2023.

Details

3116437
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.95 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 269 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 262 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,641 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,489 m

Photos

Description of the walk

(S/E) From the Espousouille car park just before the bridge over the Galbe.

(1) At the Espousouille (Esposolla) bridge, turn right towards Fontrabiouse. Follow theGRP® for a few hundred metres before leaving it at the Galbe bridge.

(2) From this point onwards, follow the yellow markings, taking the road on the left for 200 metres. Leave this road and follow the route that branches off to the right. Cross the Col de la Creu pass with its beautiful cross (superb view of Puyvalador) before descending gently to Fontrabiouse via Rue de la Creu.

(3) At the intersection, turn left onto Rue du Bacquet. Continue south, passing two paths on your right until you reach a trail.

(4) Leave the track and head towards Espousouille (hamlet of Fontrabiouse) on the left, heading due south.
At the Caussina junction, turn left downhill to reach the next junction.

(5) This time, ignore the descent to the left and leave the yellow markings to take the red and yellow markings ofthe GRP® du Capcir opposite.
Follow the long forest track to the Pont dels Plans junction.

(6) Continue along theGRP® to the Jaceta refuge, where you can warm up as it is open to everyone all year round.
As with any other refuge, please leave it clean before you leave.

(7) After your well-deserved break at the refuge, return to the Pont dels Plans junction.

(6) Cross the Galbe via this bridge, then turn right onto the Nordic trail and leave the GRP®.
Continue along this path until you reach the Espousouille bridge.

(1) Cross this bridge to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,522 m - Espousouille car park
  2. 1 : km 0.15 - alt. 1,522 m - Espousouille Bridge
  3. 2 : km 1.18 - alt. 1,496 m - Pont du Galbe/Abandon GRP
  4. 3 : km 2.51 - alt. 1,495 m - Intersection of Rues Creu and Bacquet
  5. 4 : km 2.95 - alt. 1,554 m - Intersection/Abandoned Track
  6. 5 : km 3.94 - alt. 1,548 m - GRP Capcir intersection
  7. 6 : km 7.3 - alt. 1,625 m - Pont dels Plans on the - Galbe ou El Galba (rivière)
  8. 7 : km 7.96 - alt. 1,639 m - Refuge de la Jaceta
  9. S/E : km 12.95 - alt. 1,522 m - Espousouille car park

Notes

The Jaceta Refuge.

Worth a visit

Reviews and comments

4.2 / 5
Based on 12 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.2 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
4.1 / 5
Wanderer du Gard
Wanderer du Gard ★

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Pleasant family hike. Between 2 and 3, no access (aggressive cows, according to a local resident) from the RD32d road to the village of Fontrabiouse. You must take the RD32, which adds 1 km. Between 4 and 5, the marked route has been changed to follow the DFCI track, which adds another +/- 1 km.

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Philippe_34
Philippe_34

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk in this beautiful valley

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Vejapi
Vejapi

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Pretty valley, partly shaded and bucolic, relaxing landscape along the Galbe.

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sosomamie66
sosomamie66

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hiking with magnificent views

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Roberte
Roberte

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Very little difficulty
Follow the route carefully and not always the markings along the way.

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StephiJack25
StephiJack25

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant hike. Please note that during the summer months, there are some exposed sections and it can get extremely hot.
Thank you for the hike, which is a good way to stretch your legs.

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Marco66
Marco66

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 12, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Actually, it was my daughter and son-in-law who went on this trip.
According to my daughter, there was a section that was a bit exposed at one point.
She preferred to turn back.
That's understandable.

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Toots
Toots

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 13, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We thoroughly enjoyed this hike. We walked through the forest to the Llose refuge, which was a pleasure, with the hillside as our companion.
We plan to visit Lake Camporeils in the future.

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Nathcazenave
Nathcazenave

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 02, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The return journey was very sunny and uninteresting... the most beautiful part of this walk is after this circular, heading towards the two mountain huts, after the stream... quiet spots for swimming...

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phidet
phidet

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 13, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A pleasant and easy route. Highlights: the picnic area in a stunning landscape and the Saut du Galbe waterfall.

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randonneurs bessierains
randonneurs bessierains

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 07, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : No

One could philosophise about the words "most beautiful valleys". Apart from the walk through the forest to the village of Espousouille and the return from the same village to the finish, this circular offers nothing of interest. It's a shame because you rarely see the stream "le Galbe".

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Montpiton
Montpiton

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 24, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The route description is written with full knowledge of the area. It may not always be easy to understand for those who are discovering it for the first time.

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