The Orris Trail

This high-altitude walk through a high-mountain landscape can also be turned into a short educational outing. The short journey back in time takes you to the orris at the bottom of the Soulcem valley on the border with Andorra and Spain. The numerous small dry-stone summer dwellings bear witness to the intense pastoral activity in the valley.

Details

59217
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.15 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 705 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 706 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,322 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,616 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Access: From Tarascon, take the D8 towards Vicdessos - Auzat (16 km). Follow the D108 (24 km). Follow signs for Étang de Soulcem until you reach Pla de l'Isard. A track suitable for vehicles follows the path to Orris du Carla. Parking at Orris du Carla.

(S/E) Start from the Orris du Carla car park. Take the yellow-marked path that goes around the shepherd's hut. It follows the Soulcem stream on the right bank and reaches a footbridge at the foot of the Labinas waterfalls.

(1) Turn right, cross the footbridge and turn left to follow the left bank.
You can admire the recently restored Orris du Labinas. After 800m, you will reach a crossroads.

(2) Follow the path on the right that crosses the Roumazet stream. It climbs steeply at first and then levels out as it reaches the Étang de Roumazet.

(3) Go around it on the left and continue along the Orris path, following the GRT62 to reach a pass at 2,300 metres. There is a beautiful view of the Pic de la Rouge (2,902 metres). Reach the Étang de la Soucarrane.

(4) Go around it on the left until you reach its spillway. Descend to the left to the Pla de la Croutz, passing in front of the Orris des Estrets.

(5) Continue downhill to the left and rejoin the outward route.

(2) Continue along the same path that leads back to the bottom of the valley, to the Orris du Carla (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,617 m - Orris du Carla car park
  2. 1 : km 2.01 - alt. 1,803 m - Footbridge over the - Vicdessos (rivière) - Affluent de l'Ariège
  3. 2 : km 2.93 - alt. 1,816 m - Junction of the loop
  4. 3 : km 4.67 - alt. 2,160 m - Étang de Roumazet
  5. 4 : km 5.51 - alt. 2,297 m - Etang de la Soucarrane
  6. 5 : km 7.64 - alt. 1,839 m - To the left
  7. S/E : km 11.15 - alt. 1,616 m - Orris du Carla car park

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 46 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
User 9927013

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 26, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

nothing but happiness, especially during the week in the off-season

Machine-translated

palatrinquet
palatrinquet

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 23, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike that begins in the Soulcem valley and continues with climbs to the Roumazet and Soucarrane lakes. The landscapes are truly beautiful. There is a lot of water along the route, including the beautiful Labinas waterfall. The climbs are a little steep but not too difficult for hikers. However, be very careful in wet weather. As several people have already noted, the only tricky section is at the end of the Soucarrane lake, but you can easily avoid it by going a little higher or going around the lake on the other side. We saw sheep, cows, Mérens horses... and lots of hikers on this beautiful August day.

Machine-translated

CH/MY
CH/MY

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 25, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike, a little challenging towards the end, with magnificent scenery far from civilisation, starting from Soulcem. Definitely worth doing again and again.

Machine-translated

User 26228675
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 30, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful trail run.
Alone with my dog, the hike was accessible with a dog, on a leash at times due to herds of animals (horses, cows) on the first few kilometres. I took 500 ml for the dog, which I didn't use (he drank from streams and ponds).
The hike was quite busy for the first 2/3 of the way.
There is a slightly technical section on the path along the Soucarrane pond (easily manageable for people in good shape).
Walking quickly uphill and running downhill, my watch showed 10.8 km, 700 m of elevation gain and 3 hours 15 minutes (including a lunch break at the Soucarrane pond).
Please note: I had no mobile phone reception for several kilometres before reaching the Soulcem pond.
If you are going alone, plan to stop and let your loved ones know when you arrive!
A superb hike with stunning views!

Machine-translated

Guibo85
Guibo85

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A popular hike (on a Sunday in early August) that is well worth doing. Superb scenery right from the start, moderate difficulty with one challenging (but short) section between points 3 and 4.
a total of 3 hours of walking at a steady pace with two children aged 13 and 16 (sporty family).
A very good memory!

Machine-translated

fptdm17
fptdm17
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello. As average hikers, we found this hike more "difficult" than "average". The two steepest sections of the climb require good physical condition. The descent is also challenging. Furthermore, on the path along the Soucarrane pond, at one point, to find the trail below, you have to literally slide down the rock face, face first. If a more experienced hiker hadn't been there to guide us, we would certainly have turned back. That said, the break by the pond was a very nice moment! It's a very beautiful hike. Thank you.

Machine-translated

Papacitron
Papacitron

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 01, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent hike on a very sunny autumn day. The landscapes are truly fantastic. Be careful, however, as the elevation gain can be quite steep in places for those expecting a moderately difficult hike. The descent is also quite rough.

Machine-translated

Louloup
Louloup

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike of moderate difficulty.

Machine-translated

francri0230
francri0230

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 18, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely route with a steep climb before the lakes and a fast descent afterwards.
You'd better be in good shape to do this hike.

Machine-translated

domirofi
domirofi

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful hike. Too bad the weather wasn't on our side. We took shelter in the orris, which were perfect! Great scenery despite the rain.

Machine-translated

Sylvain5931
Sylvain5931

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 25, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike on a beautiful September day with magnificent scenery. Definitely the best time of year to do this hike

Some sections are quite rough (you sometimes need to use your hands), but not too vertiginous. It can be tricky in wet weather (rocky sections that are slippery in places).

You need to be a reasonably experienced hiker, and walking sticks may be useful. I wouldn't recommend it for beginners or families with young children.

At the end of the Soucarrane lake, a tricky section can be bypassed by going slightly above the markings.

Machine-translated

Jomon
Jomon

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 13, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike completed on 13/08/23. A few people around but it remained relatively quiet for a weekend around 15 August.
The route was fairly easy for two 61-year-olds who are fairly fit and used to the mountains.
We didn't find the descent particularly challenging (in fact, we found it quite pleasant), but I can see how it might seem long. In any case, the scenery is magnificent and we'll be back to do the other hikes mentioned in the same area... Thank you for this lovely walk!

Machine-translated

Oco31
Oco31
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 31, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike completed on 28/10/2022 in fairly mild weather.
The landscapes are magnificent and the route is well marked.
the climb to the Soucarrane lake is quite steep and rocky.
The descent is quite long and uneven.
We saw some Merens horses and a few vultures.
We had an excellent day.

Machine-translated

boama31
boama31
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 07, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Tour completed with a group of seniors.
No major difficulties*, although the descent is quite "rough".
The Soucarrane pond is ideal for a midday break.

Almost at the end of the lake, there is a break in the trail (steep rock) which can be avoided by going higher up.

Saw lots of vultures.

Machine-translated

yoyo78visiorando
yoyo78visiorando

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 20, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The road is paved all the way to the Carla parking lot (which is quite large)
It was really lovely that day, with cloud cover on the way up, then clearing to reveal a stunning view...

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.