Lac des Bouillouses as seen from the Col del Pam

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This walk starts at Coll del Palm, an ideal starting point for exploring the landscapes of the Pyrénées-Orientales. Here is the detailed route to Lac des Bouillouses.

Details

n°58663901
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.18 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,027 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,001 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 6,631 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 6,178 ft
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Photos

Lac des Bouillouses
Etang de la Pradelle
Espany de la Pradella

Description of the walk

Park at Coll del Pam, where you’ll find ample parking.

(S/E) Leave the car park and take the well-marked track to the left, which offers panoramic views from the very start. You’ll reach the junction with a ski run just before the Avellans chairlift.

(1) Head down this track, turning off to the right. Pass under two chairlifts and reach a three-way junction.

(2) Turn left and begin a gradual, more winding ascent. You’ll reach the junction with the path coming from the Pla des Avellans car park.

(3) Carry on to the left to reach Estany de la Pradella. This is a good spot for a quick break and to enjoy the scenery.

(4) Carry on straight ahead along the signposted path, pass the Cabane de l’Estany de la Pradella and reach a triangular junction of tracks.

(5) Head straight on and, after a climb with no shade, you’ll finally reach Lac des Bouillouses. Keep the dam on your right and continue along the lake’s shores.

(6) Follow the ascent route in the opposite direction to return to the Coll del Pam car park (S/E). 

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 6,555 ft - Coll del Pam
  2. 1 : mi 0.43 - alt. 6,572 ft - Junction. Round trip. Les Avellans chairlift
  3. 2 : mi 0.64 - alt. 6,450 ft - Junction. Out and back
  4. 3 : mi 1.29 - alt. 6,230 ft - Junction. Out and back
  5. 4 : mi 1.8 - alt. 6,427 ft - Etang de Pradeilles (Estany de la Pradella)
  6. 5 : mi 2.14 - alt. 6,407 ft - Trail junction. Hut
  7. 6 : mi 3.59 - alt. 6,614 ft - Shores of the - Lac des Bouillouses
  8. S/E : mi 7.18 - alt. 6,555 ft - Coll del Pam

Notes

Flora and fauna: respect nature and take your rubbish away with you.

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 8 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
Nico las
Nico las

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 10, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely walk combining woodland, a lake and wide open mountain spaces shared with cows and horses roaming freely.
The first section is easy, consisting mainly of a descent to the Estany de la Pradella.
From here onwards, you’ll come across more people.
Then, the path climbs gradually up to Lac des Bouillouses.
The return follows the same route and is therefore less interesting; as a result, the climb back up to the Col de la Pam is quite steep.
We were lucky enough to spot a beautiful doe.

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User 29813879

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 04, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely spot with the lakes, but too crowded. You need to set off early.
Depending on the weather, you could follow this on with a walk around Lac des Bouillouses, and for the more adventurous, the Carlitos trail.

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Nad03
Nad03
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 27, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Done on 25–26 July. A superb hike; at the finish, near the lake, it’s either very cold or very hot, and the return journey was in thick fog with visibility down to 2 metres, so do check the weather forecast before setting off. The start isn’t clearly marked; you need to head towards the climb on the right, leaving the finish at the car park on your left and the chairlift behind you. A short climb, keeping well to the right, followed by a long descent which you’ll have to climb back up on the return journey :-)
Otherwise, as usual – and without wanting to sound biased – the Pyrénées-Orientales are always magnificent.

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User 9561160

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 19, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

It’s perfect for our first hike in the Pyrenees.
The scenery is varied and always lovely
We walk through pine forests, come across horses in the pastures, pass some beautiful ponds and finally arrive at Lac des Bouillouses, where we’re treated to a magnificent view of the surrounding mountains.
Stunning.

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User 8306980

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 10, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A stony descent

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DGer
DGer

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful round trip hike, easy to follow as it is well signposted. Not too crowded on this July day as it was early in the morning and there was a storm forecast for late morning.

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Christian DUVIC
Christian DUVIC

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 21, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hike through forests and pastures, well marked, very pleasant; you can extend the walk by going around Lake Bouillouses before returning.

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Benjack
Benjack

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We went on this hike on 7 January 2025, in glorious sunshine, through the snow and without snowshoes because the conditions allowed it. A varied route, alternating between woodland and ski runs, leading to the frozen Pradelles pond and then Lake Bouillouses, which was completely deserted that day and absolutely stunning.
The only slight drawback or area for improvement: at point no. 2, the forest path you need to follow when leaving the ski run first descends for quite a while before the ‘gradual, more winding ascent’ mentioned in the description.
Apart from that, it’s a magnificent walk, particularly in winter conditions.

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