The tour of the Caroux plateau

Park in the village square in the hamlet of Douch.

(S/E) Head towards Col de l'Airole, then turn left 100 m further on, heading south.

GR® marked in white and red and PR® in yellow

Climb up to the plateau via a path shaded by a deciduous forest. There is a steep 500 m climb before you reach the Caroux plateau at a fork in the path.

(1) Continue straight ahead. Follow a pleasant flat path that winds between small stilts, streams, peat bogs and moors. You will soon reach the edge of a forest, where several paths meet.

(2) Continue straight ahead, slightly to the right at the fork. Enter the shade of a deciduous forest and cross a log bridge. Exit the forest and come out onto a large clearing, with the Font Salesse Refuge in sight.

(3) Visit this unusual refuge. Turn 90° to the left and continue to the orientation table, which you will reach in 10 minutes.

(4) Enjoy the view over the Orb valley and, on clear days, the sea, Canigou and the Pyrenees! Then continue the route by taking the path that heads east (90° to the left of the orientation table). The path is flat and stony. After passing a large cairn in the middle of the path, you will reach an intersection between several well-marked tracks.

(5) Turn slightly to the right. The path is straight, passing through a coniferous forest and then through moorland and peat bogs. After a few stilt bridges, you will leave this area and arrive at a junction perpendicular to the path you have been following.

Yellow PR®

(6) Leave the GR® and turn left onto the track through the broom, which leads to a new intersection a few hundred metres further on. You will see an old sheepfold ("jasse" in Occitan) on your left. Do not go there.

(7) Turn right to descend via a wide, S-shaped track that leads back to the village. Enjoy the last views of the Rosis mountains on the right and the Espinouse on the left. After 1 km, the track leads to the Douch hikers' car park.

(8) Continue to the village to reach the village square (S/E).

Reminder: please comply with the regulations and park your vehicles only in the car park at the entrance to the hamlet.Parking on the small square near the bread oven and in the narrow streets is strictly reserved for permanent residents.

Water point in the hamlet of Douch, on the village square.

Route in full sun => be prepared before setting off.

Mobile phone coverage is available throughout the route, at higher altitudes.

Alternative route: if you feel like it, from the point (6), go straight up the small path that leads to the Tour du Caroux, the highest point on the plateau (1091 m). This single track will take you back a little further to the point (7).

Hamlet of Douch.

Caroux plateau.

Sainte-Marie de Douch Church.

Gorges d'Héric and Colombières.