The Pic de Mortiers from the Calmasella car park

Head to the Formiguères ski resort. Keep to the right above the resort to locate and follow the signposted track: Camporells for twenty minutes to reach the designated Calmasella car park (altitude 2095).
It is possible to start the hike lower down by parking at La Collada (altitude 1989). Then follow the yellow markings to the car park further up.

The yellow markings are fairly sparse.

(S/E) Go through the barrier. Turn immediately right into the forest onto a path heading north-west.
Climb parallel to the track on your left, then join it and follow it to the right, climbing for about 300 m.

(1) Look out for a wide, overgrown path that climbs steeply to the left. There is a sign on a tree indicating a left turn.
Continue simply by following the signposts.

(2) Leave the path on your left – which you’ll take on the way back – and carry on straight ahead. The view opens up, revealing a beautiful landscape. Join the track leading to the refuge at a large cairn.

(3) Turn left onto this track and, 800 m further on, look out for another junction with a signpost and reminders regarding the Camporells protected area.

(4) Turn left, leaving the track, then right after 40 m at the next fork, continuing to follow the yellow markings. The path continues to climb. Further on, you’ll reach another fork.

(5) Head down to the right to rejoin the track leading to the refuge and follow it to the left until you reach the sharp left-hand bend, about 300 m further on.

Off the marked trail

(6) Leave the track and the markings by heading straight ahead into the forest. The well-marked path descends steeply to a poorly marked crossroads near the 2312 high point.

(7) Continue on level ground heading north-west along an unmarked path that is clearly marked on the ground. You’ll reach a junction of marked paths at elevation 2322, where the^GR® de Pays Tour du Capcir and Tour des Pérics routes meet.

Yellow and red markings

(8) Set off straight ahead onto the^GR® de Pays Tour des Pérics (signposted). Small painted wooden posts help guide you steadily onwards to the Pic de Mortiers at an elevation of 2605.
Enjoy a magnificent 360° panorama from here. It is easy to get your bearings. This is the ridge marking the boundary between the Pyrénées-Orientales and Ariège.

(9) Continue along the south-west to south ridge, following a well-trodden path (unmarked) to reach a pass. Turn left to rejoin the marked path from the ascent further down. Continue to the right to reach the junction of^{the GR®} de Pays Tour du Capcir and Tour des Pérics routes.

(8) Continue to the right^, following the^GRP® markings^. You’ll arrive at the Camporells Refuge and its ponds.
Note: at this point, it is perfectly possible to follow the path in the opposite direction to the outward journey in order to shorten the walk.

(10) Leave the^GRP®. From the refuge, head due east along the track, which is grassy at the start. Follow the yellow markings. You’ll very quickly reach a junction where the track meets a footpath.

(11) Here you have two options:
- simply continue along the track, which has a gentle gradient, following the yellow markings to rejoin the route taken on the way out and return to the Calmasella car park.
- follow the unmarked path, which is very clearly marked on the ground but has a steep gradient, to reach the track leading to the refuge.

(12) Please note: from this point onwards, do not attempt this section of the route if there is any snow, however light.
Otherwise, turn left for a final steep climb followed by a long descent along a very good, sloping path through the Serra de Dellà. You will then reach the junction of the circular route you passed on the way out.

Yellow markings

(4) Continue straight ahead along the path you took on the way out. You’ll reach the large cairn from the outward journey.

(3) Then turn right, still following the path in the opposite direction to the outward journey.
Leave the track leading to the refuge.

(2) At this poorly marked junction, there are two options:
- simply continue along the path you took on the way out, following the yellow markings back to the car park.
- turn right into the forest onto the path beneath the Serra de Mauri ridge; this is not always easy to follow. This will take you back to the track leading to the Calmasella car park (S/E).
Note regarding this final section: although the path is not shown on the IGN map, it is marked on OpenStreetMap and can be found on the ground; bear in mind that, if in doubt, you can rejoin the outbound path below on the left at any time.

This is a mountainous area. You will need: rainwear, water, a packed lunch, a GPX track, route description, a map, a GPS or the Visorando app, a camera, good walking boots and a walking stick.
(10) Camporells mountain hut, with a winter section at the rear of the hut. No heating, no running water, no toilet.
Hike completed on 11/10/2021. -3°C at the start around 9 am. It was freezing and a cold wind was blowing in gusts.
Specific regulations: dogs must be kept on a lead; no swimming in the ponds; no fires; camping permitted in the designated area around the refuge, etc.
This hike can be undertaken almost all year round, though special precautions are required during periods of extreme cold and heavy snowfall. Access to the car park is only possible when there is no snow on the ground. The Calmasella chairlift provides access to the car park (S/E) in winter.

Camporells Mountain Hut
Formiguères resort
Formiguères municipality