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Parking at the Entounadou picnic area (car park) in Laroque d'Olmes.
(S/E) Follow theGR® de Pays d'Olmes marked in red and yellow on the left to go up the D625 towards Lavelanet on a wide pavement. After about 300 m, cross the road and the Touyre river on a small bridge. Then turn right to reach a crossroads and the Dreuilhe Cave
(1). TheGRP® trail branches off to the right, passing under the greenway before rejoining it. Continue to the Dreuilhe trail junction and its picnic area.
(2) Continue along the greenway, without markings, towards Lavelanet (south-west) and arrive at Lavelanet station.
(3) Walk up the streets parallel to Avenue Alsace Lorraine to reach the small Place Jeanne d'Arc at the end of Rue Sébilé. Cross at the traffic lights and then the Esplanade de la Concorde to descend a few steps to Rue Sainte-Ruffine and reach the foot of the climb.
(4) Although the start is marked very discreetly, the route is signposted in yellow as far as Laroque. The climb is steep, but a cross at the top encourages you to continue. After a few hairpin bends, you will arrive at Sainte-Ruffine.
(5) The view from the oratory is magnificent! Check out the orientation table to locate Montségur, the Monts d'Olmes, Lavelanet, Laroque d'Olmes... Note the yellow-marked trail at the bottom left, which allows you to "return to Lavelanet".
Continue along the path that climbs steadily northwest along the ridge, offering increasingly expansive views. This will take you to a pass
(6). The pass is clearly marked by a short descent and a "terrible" climb. The path then resumes its gentle upward slope and reveals a few rocky promontories with superb views. In the distance, the blue waters of Lake Montbel invite contemplation. Continue on to reach Cap de la Coume.
(7) This is a gentle summit in the limestone undergrowth that the route passes almost without notice. Shortly afterwards, you will come to a crossroads with a sign.
(8) Descend to the right, pass near a pidgeon hunting hut and reach a bend in the Route de Gréoulou at a place called Cazenave à la Fajane.
(9) Cross over and take the grassy track on the right, which descends gently before turning into a path, turning right just before a field. Follow the ridge and reach the end of the field (693 m) to find a track.
(10) Leave it immediately to turn left and climb back up the ridge. Higher up, the path becomes a track again and the slope levels out as it heads east. The ridge offers views of the route from Saint-Ruffine with the snow-capped Monts d'Olmes in the background. The track becomes a path to make it easier to navigate the ridge and descend sharply to the water towers of Laroque d'Olmes. From there, a track leads back to the starting point and the Entounadou picnic area (S/E).
Visorando member
Easy 
