Las Illas in Amélie-les-Bains

(S) The departure point from Las Illas (The Islands) is to the left of the Trabucayres hostel, at the end of the village, not far from the lodge. The departure time will depend on your arrival time in Amélie-les-Bains, as you will need to catch the bus back to Perpignan. Personally, I left at 6 a.m.

(1) Cross the forest path for a few metres and take the path on the left.

(2) Information boards. Go through the gate on the left. Further down, you will come to a track suitable for vehicles. There is a fully restored forest house on the left. Turn right onto the track and head uphill.

(3) At the sign, leave the HRP path and take the trail on the right. It runs parallel to the HRP but is much more pleasant through the forest. Lots of damp vegetation. Reach the Refuge des Salines. This is an annual pilgrimage site. Water refill available. The spring, just before the building, is abundant.
informative signs.

(4) Continue along the track until you reach the left-hand bend. Below, there is another fountain.

(5) Turn right and climb steeply into the forest.
Reach Coll del Pou de la Neu (Col du Puits à Neige).

(6) Climb the rock on the right to reach the viewpoint.
There are two options for continuing this stage:
- you can descend opposite via the^GR®®10and reach the fork after the Old Ice Well.
- or you can follow the suggested route to Le Moixer and Roc de France (Roca de Frausa). To do this, take the HRP trail that branches off to the left and climbs into the forest. The trail follows the border ridge.
Reach Le Moixer, at an altitude of 1,443 metres, with the relay antenna.

(7) As promised, there is a beautiful view of the Roussillon valley. To the left is the Canigou massif. Opposite is Bugarach. To the right, on a clear day, you can see the Mediterranean.
Continue along the ridge, which forms the border with Spain. Arrive at Roc de France (Roca de Frausa) at an altitude of 1450 metres.

(8) Continue along a very steep and difficult path to a barely noticeable fork.

(9) Take the path on the right to begin the descent. At the next fork at the Ancien Puits à neige, turn right onto the^GR®®10for about 150 m.

(10) Leave the^GR®®10and rejoin the HRP on the left, heading towards Amélie.

(11) Turn left at Coll del Ric.

turn right after the old sheepfold in the heath (Cortal de la Garriga) and arrive at the outskirts of Can Fèlix (Chez Fèlix). This is a residential area. Please respect the locality. Thank you.

(13) Do not rely on the water source marked on the map. It is located in a monastery. Access is prohibited.
Follow the markings carefully and stay on the path that goes around this inhabited farmhouse.
Leave the access path to the monastery fairly quickly and follow a path on the left that starts above this track. Much further on, you will reach a crossroads with four paths.

(14) Turn right and descend quickly. The path deteriorates as you approach Amélie.

(15) When you reach Amélie-les-Bains on the tarmac road, turn left and descend to the roundabout. Take the main street on the left.

(E) The bus station is on the left. The €1 bus to Perpignan runs every hour. The last one leaves around 5.30pm.

There are few water sources along the route. You can refill your water bottles at the Refuge des Salines (Spain).

Viewpoints from several high points and the Moixer.
Between (3) and (6), the trail enters a forest that is very pleasant to walk through.