The Refuge and the Estany de Malniu

Park in the large car park at the Guils Fontanera Nordic ski resort.

(S/E) From the car park, head west to join the forest track, which you’ll follow for just under 5 km. Ignore all side paths. Further on, about a hundred metres after two hairpin bends, you’ll reach the Refuge de Feixa.
Stunning views of the peaks of the Pyrénées-Orientales (Carlit, Canigó, Puigmal d’Err, etc.).

(1) Continue along the track for another kilometre or so until you reach some signposts (you can park here and avoid the forest track).

(2) Leave the track and head west onto the yellow-marked route number 120 towards the Refuge de Malniu.
Take care with the markings on this section (as they are not very visible and are sometimes almost worn away on the trees); use the cairns instead, which are very common.
You will be following the^GR®11on this stretch (though it is not very well signposted either).
After one kilometre, you’ll begin a descent leading to a junction.

(3) Treat yourself to a short 10-minute detour by turning left towards the Malniu Refuge (numbered 119).

::4: A magnificent, unusual refuge with a style of architecture we’re not used to seeing. Continue for a few metres towards the small Estany de Tarteres.

(5) Retrace your steps and return to the previous junction.

(3) This time, head towards Estany de Malniu (marked 119).
At the start of this section, follow the cairns as well, as the yellow markings numbered 119 are quite sparse. Don’t worry, however – as you continue along the route, they’ll become more frequent until you reach the lake.
You’ll climb a little, but there are no steep sections until you reach level ground again before coming to another junction.

(6) There are no signposts here (except for: Refugi Malniu 20 mins). Turn left onto the flat path which leads you, after about ten metres, to the magnificent spot where Estany de Malniu is situated.

(7) Enjoy this beautiful, unspoilt spot before retracing your steps back to the previous junction.

(6) Take the uphill path opposite, marked in yellow (numbered 120b).
You’ll walk through the forest for about 2 km before rejoining the trail you started on.

(2) All you have to do now is follow the route you took on the way there in the opposite direction to return to the car park (S/E).

You can watch a video of this walk via the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjrPdvJs...

There are few shaded sections, so remember to drink plenty of water and bring a hat or cap.

The two ponds provide a welcome chance to cool off.

You can shorten the route by parking at point (2).

Guils Fontanera Nordic ski resort.

The Malniu Refuge is one of the stops on^{the GR®11}(Spanish^GR®10). You can continue on towards the Engorgs Refuge.