Mont Llaret and Roc d'Aude

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A breathtaking hike with stunning landscapes and uninterrupted views, in the heart of the Catalan Pyrenees Regional Nature Park, starting from the Les Angles ski resort.

Details

n°22998669
Creation:
Last update:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 13.04 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 536 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 536 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,367 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,838 m
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Photos

Carlit Massif

Description of the walk

Park in the car park located on Rue de La Piste Verte, at the top of the resort.

Yellow markings

(S/E) From the car park, head west to take the forest track and find the sign for the Refuge de la Balmette. Follow this track continuously. Pass the Font de Grossa intersection and arrive at the end of the track. There are some beautiful views of Lake Balcère (Estany de Vallsera).

(1) Follow the path and after a few climbs, you will reach the Étang de la Balmette (Estany de la Balmetta) after 1.5 km, with a magnificent view of the Pérics.

(2) Walk along the left side of the lake. Continue up a fairly steep climb to reach the immense plateau of Cabane de la Balmette and its magnificent views of the surrounding peaks, particularly Carlit.

Red and yellow markings forthe GRP® Tour du Capcir and Tour des Pérics.

(3) Continue on theGRP® towards Les Bouillouses until you reach the intersection of the two GRP®trails.

(4) Leave the CapcirGRP® trail on your right, heading towards Les Bouillouses, and take the PéricsGRP® trail, which heads south-east towards Mont Llaret.
Enjoysome pleasant views of Lac des Bouillouses.
You will reach an intersection with directional signs.

Yellow markings

(5) Leave the PéricsGRP® trail, which heads right towards Lac d'Aude, and take the path opposite towards Mont Llaret.
The slope is quite steep at the start, for a few hundred metres, before levelling out to reach the foot of Mont Llaret.

(6) Head towards the Croix de Mont Llaret by taking the south-west route (not marked but obvious).

(7) Enjoy the exceptional 360° views of Bouillouses, Lac d'Aude, Carlit, Pérics, etc. before returning to the intersection at the foot of Mont Llaret.

(6) Continue right south-east on the yellow marked trail and reach Roc d'Aude at the top of the ski lifts and chairlifts.

Off the marked trail

(8) Once again, a magnificent panorama.
Descend to the left, taking the track along the Roc d'Aude chairlift to the junction with another track.

(9) At around 2180 m, leave the chairlift track and take the track on the right until you reach a reservoir.

Yellow markings

(10) Go around the reservoir on the left. Cross two tracks (beware of mountain bike tracks) and continue on the path until you reach the top of the Jacetes slopes.

(11) Take the marked trail heading northeast (parallel to a trail) to reach the Rue de la Piste Verte car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,840 m - Car park on Rue de la Piste Verte.
  2. 1 : km 2.86 - alt. 1,917 m - End of trail
  3. 2 : km 4.16 - alt. 2,054 m - Étang de la Balmette
  4. 3 : km 5.19 - alt. 2,116 m - Refuge de la Balmetta
  5. 4 : km 6.03 - alt. 2,090 m - Fork in the road
  6. 5 : km 6.75 - alt. 2,182 m - Fork in the road
  7. 6 : km 8.56 - alt. 2,367 m - Foot of Mount Llaret
  8. 7 : km 8.64 - alt. 2,367 m - Mont Llaret
  9. 8 : km 9.76 - alt. 2,322 m - Roc d'Aude
  10. 9 : km 10.29 - alt. 2,178 m - Abandon the ski lift track.
  11. 10 : km 10.85 - alt. 2,103 m - Water reservoir
  12. 11 : km 11.72 - alt. 2,002 m - Les Jacetes
  13. S/E : km 13.04 - alt. 1,840 m - Car park on Rue de la Piste Verte.

Notes

You can find a video of this hike at the following link : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-mXE4jw...

At the point (2): take advantage of the pond to cool off.

At the point (3): Refuge de la Balmette open and unmanned.

Sunscreen and a cap/hat are essential.

Hike early in the morning to avoid the midday heat.

Hiking is strongly discouraged in winter when the ski resort is open.

Worth a visit

At point (3), you can reach the Camporells lakes by following the CapcirGRP®.

At the point (5), you can reach Lake Aude (source of the river) by following theGRP® des Pérics.

Les Angles Animal Park at Pla del Mir.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 9 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
User 3974239

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 30, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Superb hike!!!
Magnificent scenery and very well-marked trails.
Except for the last part, which involves descending the ski slopes. Not pleasant for your knees and ankles...and watch out for mountain bikes coming downhill.

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Fournols
Fournols

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent hike starting from Les Angles, crossing pastures with cows and horses. A feeling of peace and tranquillity. Splendid views of Les Peric and the Carlit massif. Only the final section on the ski slopes is less pleasant, but it is fairly short.

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Scalp66
Scalp66

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike, the view is magnificent and the route is very varied.
The descent down the ski slopes is a bit monotonous but ends well with a fun single track through the forest!
Worth doing again... for the scenery.

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User 12551274
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

Hello, the route is interesting because after Roc d'Aude, the descent alongside the chairlift is monotonous, as is the section up to the small reservoir. Then you cross a mountain bike trail twice, and you need to be careful there (it was very busy that day).
However, the first part is stunning and the views are breathtaking all the way to Mont Llaret.
Be careful if you plan to stop for lunch at Mont Llaret... there's no shade.
Route completed on 16/07/25

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bernard coulomb
bernard coulomb

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A wide variety of landscapes and highly photogenic views, not to mention those that colour the meadows: pedicules, gentians, vergerettes and other silenes...
No problem following the GPS
Easy paths.
A must-do, especially if you're based in the region.

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bemer82
bemer82

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike that allows you to discover some stunning landscapes.

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faroldi
faroldi

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 28, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk with superb views of magnificent lakes (Bouillouses, Lac d'Aude, Lac de Balcère, etc.).

Be careful with signpost 8, as there are no indications (no signposting). You have to go down the track along the Roc d'Aude chairlift to the junction with another track to pick up signpost 9 again.

I recommend it.

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danielfr40
danielfr40

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 06, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Nice walk, not too difficult
Nice Balmettes Lake
Lovely views of Lac de Bouillouses and from the rocky hillock of Mont Laret, on the edge of the plateau, covering about 270°
The view at Roc d'Aude is smaller but still pretty, though not quite as impressive
At 8, I preferred to take the marked trail along the ski lift without a father, which was nicer than the red trail along the Roc d'Aude ski lift. You rejoin your route at 10 with roughly the same distance
Thank you for this route.

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