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Coming from Le Boulou, at the Saint-Jean-Pla-de-Corts roundabout, turn right and cross the railway line. Immediately turn left to follow the line and park 200 m further on the left. Be careful not to obstruct the manoeuvres of coaches. Otherwise, cross the railway line and park in the other large car park.
This hike is also accessible by public transport.
Yellow markings and directional signs: Chemin de Vivès.
(S/E) Continue along this small road for 200 metres and turn right at the signpost: Chemin de Vivès. Simply follow the markings and you will arrive at a crossroads.
(1) Pay attention. Leave the track on the left and the concrete cycle path opposite.
Turn right at a 90° angle, following the small road which ends and becomes a narrow, tree-lined path.
Pass under the power line and you will arrive in a residential area.
(2) Cross the ford and, at the next fork, continue to the right, heading north.
(3) Keep right again at the next fork (signpost). You will reach an open area at a crossroads (elevation 209). Signpost.
(4) Continue straight ahead along a wide, enclosed path that descends. Pass a water reservoir. You will reach the start of a road at the entrance to Vivès. Ignore the yellow right turn.
- If you wish to shorten the hike, follow the yellow right turn and rejoin the Sentier du Liège du Retour.
White and yellow markings
(5) Continue along the road, which quickly becomes paved, and cross the beautiful, restored and well-maintained village via the narrow street leading to the church. Descend the pretty steps and rejoin the road. Follow it westwards uphill.
(6) At the right-hand bend, climb steeply to the left along a good path alongside a wire fence and rejoin the road higher up. A quick left/right turn will take you to a wide firebreak track. Directional sign and indicator: Sentier du liège.
(7) Continue climbing steadily along this track through a beautiful cork oak forest. Pass a water tank on your right and you will come to a left-hand bend in the track. Please note: there are no markings.
(8) Leave the track to climb up opposite, cut across higher up, rejoin it further on and follow it to the left, north-west. Pass a fire hydrant on your right, then under a power line.
(9) 50 m further on, you can climb up to the left into the forest to see the ruins of a dolmen. There is an information panel about it.
Return to the track and continue along the wide DFCI track until you reach a junction with a cross track. Turn left onto this track and continue to a large crossroads (elevation 378). There is an information panel about the cork oak.
(10) Turn right, heading due north, and after 500 metres you will reach a large triangular area with a fire cistern in the middle.
(1) Turn left, leaving the cistern on your right, heading north. Directional signpost. Follow the road that you can see below on your left. Pass the village water tanks and you will arrive at the D615, which is not very busy.
(12) You can make a round trip to the Fontaine des Écureuils fountain by heading straight ahead. *
Follow it to the right. Pass the town hall and the welcoming local bistro. *
Continue for about 50 metres until you reach a crossroads with a bus shelter on the right.
Yellow markings. Directional signs
(13) Just after this, climb steeply to the right along the road, following the markings, and at the top of the hill, you will arrive at the cemetery on the left-hand side of the road. Go around it and you will come to a fork. Directional sign: Sentier du liège. Turn left and continue for about 150 m.
(14) Pay attention. Continue straight ahead, heading south. Sign: Vivès, in the tree on the right. Begin a descent on a wide track: permanent and magnificent landscape. Reach a crossroads of tracks.
(15) Continue straight ahead, then turn right at the next fork. Directly below the power line, take the path on the right, heading south-east, and you will come to an ambiguous fork. Directional signs.
(16) Pay attention. Leave the track that descends (Chemin du Liège) opposite, which leads to Vivès.
=> Follow the track on the left that goes uphill (Chemin de Vivès). This is strange, because we are returning to Saint-Jean.
So follow this track south-east, pass a forest initiation centre and come out onto a road. Cross it and follow it to the right for about thirty metres until you reach a large area with an underground fire cistern on the left.
(17) Pay attention. Leave the road and turn left, at a 90° angle, heading south-east, walking along the right-hand side of the tank. Look for the yellow markings to confirm you are going in the right direction. After a sharp left/right turn on the DFCI track, you will come to a fork.
(18) Continue straight ahead, still heading south-east. The DFCI track then turns east and arrives at the next large crossroads (elevation 223).
(19) Continue straight ahead, heading north-east, and you will reach another fire tank at a fork (direction sign). The building on the right is undergoing renovation (as of January 2025).
(20) Turn right, south-east onto the DFCI. In the left-hand bend that follows, at a dilapidated building, climb up to the left to the orientation table to enjoy the full view of the landscape. Beautiful spot.
Return to the track and continue to a new fork and an abandoned shed with a covered courtyard (elevation 193).
(21) Turn right, heading south, rejoin the tarmac road and continue downhill.
(22) Join Route de Vivès and follow it straight ahead. Cross at the pedestrian crossing and follow the footpath on the right-hand side. Just before the railway line, turn right and head for the car park opposite the coach station (S/E).
very beautiful hike. Easy. Beautiful scenery
Association / Club / Walk leader
Easy 
Visorando member
Very difficult 
