The first day is 3.5 hours (1,168m elevation gain).
The second day takes 4½ hours from refuge to refuge (800m elevation gain) and 7 hours to the car park (2000m elevation gain from the peak).
There is no water or shelter along the route. As usual, bring warm clothing (the wind can be very strong at the top) and light clothing if it is hot.
In case of fog, do not leave the trail from Prat Cabrera.
The Pic du Canigou from Los Masos
This is a 2- or 3-day hike, starting from Los Masos, the Cortalets Refuge, the Crêtes du Barbet, the Portella de Valmanya, the Brèche Durier, the Pic du Canigou, the Pic Joffre, and the Cortalets Refuge (where you can stop before descending to Los Masos).
Details
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
-
Activity: Walking -
Distance: 21.87 km -
Average duration: 2 days -
Difficulty: Difficult -
-
Back to start: Yes -
Ascent: + 1,957 m -
Descent: - 1,955 m -
-
Highest point: 2,782 m -
Lowest point: 1,034 m
-
Country:
France
-
Areas: Pyrénées, Massif du Canigou -
District:
Valmanya (66320) -
Start/End: N 42.531097° / E 2.519047° -
Hour-by-hour weather
Stages of the route
This route needs several days, find the details below:
Notes
This route passes through a protected area, which may be subject to special regulations:
Reviews and comments
4.7 / 5
Based on 7 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5
4.9 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
4.9 / 5
User 3831588
Overall rating : 4.3 / 5
Date of your route : Oct 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No
Hello everyone,
Two friends and I did this hike over two days on the first weekend of October, climbing to the Cortalets refuge on the first day and then up to Canigou before descending to the car park on the second day. We camped outside the refuge overnight.
I wanted to leave a comment to point out that it took us about 4.5 hours (not 3.5 hours) to climb to the refuge on the first day with our bags at a good pace (we are all in good physical condition) and we didn't really take any breaks. The distance indicated is also too short compared to the actual distance: the switchbacks are not counted, even though that's all there is (steep slope for a good part of the way, so lots of switchbacks), so it's not 6 km but probably 10 km.
On the second day, we left most of our gear (tents, sleeping bags, etc.) at the refuge to climb the peak, and it took us about three hours to reach the top via the chimney (if you're afraid of heights, don't plan this route, especially if you're carrying a heavy load). Then it took us a little over two hours to descend back to the refuge, so five hours in total.
All this before starting the descent to the car park, which took us about 3½ hours, putting a bit of strain on our knees (even with walking sticks). We didn't take any long meal breaks because we had a train to catch in the evening and were surprised by how much longer it took than expected.
So for us, the second day was more like 8.5 hours of walking than 7 hours, bearing in mind that we weren't carrying much weight for the first part of the day.
The route was therefore longer and more demanding than we thought, so I wanted to warn you that the time on this route is underestimated, in my opinion and based on my legs. Don't plan on catching a train afterwards, for example
However, this hike is obviously worth it, so thank you to the people who suggested it 
Machine-translated
micmac66
Overall rating : 4 / 5
Date of your route : Sep 17, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes
Just to clarify, this hike does not take the Durier breach but the chimney!
Machine-translated
EN RIVES
Overall rating : 5 / 5
Date of your route : Oct 13, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No
Hike with overnight stay in a stone hut, as the refuge was no longer accepting guests (last day before closing). We received a very warm welcome at the Cortalets refuge, where they helped us out with a pair of shoes (after the soles came off, even though the shoes had been made by a cobbler in Perpignan who clearly didn't know how to use glue very well 
....).
A very beautiful route. "La cheminée" had just been cleared and cleaned (very good work), so we were able to enjoy the entire route.
Machine-translated
vire
Overall rating : 4.7 / 5
Date of your route : Jul 04, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No
Day hike starting at dawn. No one else around until we reach the refuge.
After the 4x4s dropped off the athletes, who climbed Canigou at a brisk pace.
Crowded summit, a quick beer at the refuge and a very, very long descent to Los Masos.
Machine-translated
laurent perinel
Overall rating : 5 / 5
Date of your route : Jun 29, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No
Hike completed on 27/06/2020, starting from Roland's lodge and taking the forest road on the left: 1,100 metres of elevation gain remaining, which was enough for us. Perfect weather: slightly overcast with a light breeze, it quickly gets cool at the top. If you're hiking with a dog, watch out for the herd above the pilgrims' hut, where at least five dogs, including Patous, protect the sheep and do their job... At the top, you realise that Ventoux is for cyclists! That said, it's a very beautiful hike, but make sure you bring water as there is none along the way. You can buy cold drinks at the top.
Machine-translated
Jean-Bernard
You started from Los Masos, then Les Cortalets, Crête du Barbet, La Breche Durié, and you did all that in one day? Well done, because that's 2 x 2000 metres of elevation gain! But you shouldn't have taken the road for just one kilometre, then turned right along a fence.
Machine-translated
martinbouchez
Overall rating : 5 / 5
Date of your route : Jul 11, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Hello,
Day hike. The chimney at the end of the climb is a bit tough. The return trip along the road after the refuge is long, very long...
No issues with the route (just a moment of inattention ;-))
Be careful when leaving the refuge on the way down, it's below the refuge on the left.
The weather was quite good that day, cool at the top.
A very beautiful, varied hike with a splendid view at the top.
One small regret: it was cloudy towards the sea -
Thank you for this perfect route.
Best regards
Machine-translated
Other walks in the area
Pic du Canigou - Los Masos at the Refuge des Cortalets
Visorando member 6.45 km
+1,166 m
-48 m
5h 10
Difficult
Departure from Valmanya (Pyrénées-Orientales)
First stage of this two-day route around Pic du Canigou.
Los Masos loop via three refuges
Visorando member 
19.41 km
+1,194 m
-1,190 m
8h 55
Difficult
Departure from Valmanya (Pyrénées-Orientales)
This loop takes you to the Refuge des Cortalets (manned) at the foot of Canigou, passing by the Abri du Pinatell on the way there and the Refuge de Prat-Cabrera on the way back. This less frequented route is longer but gentler. The magnificent landscapes along the way are full of charm. The return, which is steeper, offers fewer views of the Canigou massif. We really enjoyed this version. From the Refuge des Cortalets, you can make a round trip to the summit of Canigou.
Canigou from Los Masos de Valmanya and the Crête du Barbet
Visorando member 
21.66 km
+1,890 m
-1,885 m
10 hrs
Very difficult
Departure from Valmanya (Pyrénées-Orientales)
A very beautiful hike, the difficulty lies in its length.
Passage through the chimney is visible as the yellow markings have been erased - path closed (not recommended).
See practical information below.
The Balcony of Canigou from Los Masos de Valmanya
Visorando member 
11.82 km
+795 m
-786 m
5h 40
Moderate
Departure from Valmanya (Pyrénées-Orientales)
From Los Masos de Valmanya, a pleasant, continuous climb leads to the Pinatell shelter.
Then the famous Canigou Trail leads to Ras de Prat Cabrera.
This path is passable when there is no snow or ice (¹).
From this beautiful spot, after the track, the steep descent into Bosc de Patriques takes you back to Los Masos.
The Batère Tower
Visorando member 9.10 km
+497 m
-501 m
4h 00
Moderate
Departure from La Bastide (Pyrénées-Orientales)
A superb heritage trail starting from Coll Palomeres, plunging into the heart of the industrial golden age of the Pyrénées-Orientales. The route passes through ancient mining ruins, evidence of a rich past, before reaching the imposing Tour de Batère, offering spectacular views of the surrounding mountains.
Pic de l'Estelle from Coll Palomeres via the Pinosa mining site
Visorando member 
14.33 km
+854 m
-853 m
6h 30
Moderate
Departure from La Bastide (Pyrénées-Orientales)
A very beautiful hike with views of the eastern slope of the Canigou Massif and a visit to the Pinosa mining site (a listed historic monument) which bears witness to the work and living conditions of miners in the 19th and 20th centuries. A beautiful 360° panorama at the summit of Pic de l'Estelle over the Corbières to the north, the sea and the Albères to the east, Spain to the south and the slopes of Canigou to the west. The Batère Tower on the descent from the peak is reminiscent of the system of signal towers erected in the Middle Ages, which formed a communication network: at night using fires and during the day using smoke.
From Baillestavy to Valmanya via beautiful paths
Visorando member 
11.34 km
+646 m
-646 m
5h 05
Moderate
Departure from Baillestavy (Pyrénées-Orientales)
From La Farga de Baillestavy (Vallestàvia), almost the entire climb to Valmanya (Vallmanya) is on theGR®36. The return journey is partly on aPR® and then on theGRP® Ronde du Canigou (Ronda del Canigó).
The return journey has a few ascents and descents. Don't hesitate to visit these two typical Catalan villages with their rich history.
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.
