Les Bouillouses - lower lakes

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Beautiful views of the Carlit. Three-quarters of the route is shaded near the lakes.
Rhododendrons, blueberries, etc.

Details

n°1075
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.14 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 113 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 112 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,027 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,935 m
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Photos

View of Estany Llarg
Fisherman at Estany Sec
Sunrise over Les Bouillouses
The Black Lake in mid-June

Description of the walk

Moderator update on 10/08/2020: Please note that reviews of this hike indicate that the access road to the dam is closed every summer.

The path is well marked.

(S/E) Below the dam, take the southbound path (GRP® du Tour du Carlit - yellow and red markings).

(1) Turn left (east) after 500m. Go around the "sagnas" (marsh lake) and reach an intersection about 50 metres from the access road to Lac des Bouillouses.

(2) Turn right and climb into the woods. Follow the signs. Climb for about 10 minutes, walk alongside another "sagnas" and then, after a flat section, descend to Estany Llarg.

(3) Walk along the lake for a short distance, then turn left onto the path to reach Estany Negre.

(4) Walk along the lake, then turn right away from it and climb up to Estany de la Pradella.

(5) From here, the return journey follows a very busy route. Join theGR®10(white and red markings) and follow it to the right for about 400m.

(6) At the shelter, leave theGR®10, which branches off to the right, and continue straight ahead to reach a wide track. Follow this track to the right and continue until you reach the junction with theGRP® du Tour du Carlit.

(7) Continue straight ahead.

(1) Leave the path you took on the way up on your right and continue straight ahead to return to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 2,003 m - Lac des Bouillouses
  2. 1 : km 0.51 - alt. 1,990 m - Crossroads of the loop
  3. 2 : km 1.07 - alt. 1,984 m - At the intersection, turn right before the - Têt (fleuve)
  4. 3 : km 2.02 - alt. 2,003 m - Estany Llarg
  5. 4 : km 2.67 - alt. 1,935 m - Estany Negre
  6. 5 : km 3.7 - alt. 1,959 m - Estany de la Pradella
  7. 6 : km 4.29 - alt. 1,956 m - Steps, leave the GR10
  8. 7 : km 5.08 - alt. 1,973 m - Junction with the GRP Tour du Carlit, straight ahead
  9. S/E : km 6.14 - alt. 2,004 m - Lac des Bouillouses

Notes

Good walking shoes are recommended as, although the elevation gain is not significant, the path along the shore of the second lake is rocky.

Shelter built at the third lake, Estany de la Pradella.

Worth a visit

Restaurants and bars at the start of the hike.
Horses roaming free.
The three lakes are stocked with rainbow trout. See the "fishing 66" website.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

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Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 54 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
Eric-66
Eric-66

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 08, 2025
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, magical landscapes, a few challenging sections on rocky scree but nothing too difficult.
I loved it, thank you for this hike.

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Luigi M.
Luigi M.

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Beautiful and very popular because it is easy.

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Luigi M.
Luigi M.

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Remarkable site redesigned for the umpteenth time
I used to go on all these hikes in the foothills of Carlit 30 years ago.
Back then, there was no Internet, Visorando or social media, and it was much less crowded.
The only complaint today is that it's too crowded!
That didn't stop us from having a wonderful day.
Reliable description by Visorando

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User 6735818

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Tour suitable for a small group
There were 42 of us, too large a group for this type of hike, and the slippery ground should be avoided.
Nice route all the same

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LOUIS2
LOUIS2

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

hike rated easy. The trail starts across alpine pastures and leads to a wood near the car parks. From there, the path is signposted.
The route is quite difficult at the first and second lakes, with some large rocks to negotiate.
Overall, a very beautiful hike.

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FE
FE

Overall rating : 2 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 23, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

difficulty mentioned = easy. Very uneven and even dangerous in places (points 2 to 4), not recommended for hikers with young children.
Very disappointed

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Brett
Brett
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The "lower lakes" hot springs

it's a 2½-hour drive, but the last few kilometres are magical, through a forest of fir trees dotted with snow-capped peaks rising up from the Pyrenees. Stop off at Les Bones Hores, a stone mountain hotel at the foot of Les Bouillouses.
Coniferous trees and meadows stretch as far as the eye can see, where herds of cattle and horses graze freely, their bells ringing in the air.
A short 7 km warm-up with a 130-metre elevation gain, magnificent lakes in the middle of lush forests filled with birdsong, and a well-deserved nickname of "Little Canada". There are a few very steep sections with large rocks, but the rest is pure bucolic bliss with the Carlit in sight (for tomorrow...)

A nice little walk where you still come across quite a few people, including families with children. Be careful on the few tricky sections, though.

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bernard coulomb
bernard coulomb

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant first glimpse of this lake district after a gentle climb through the forest.
What's more, it's very easy to get to the starting point at Font Romeu station, which is a considerable advantage.
No problems with GPS tracking
Beautiful buttercups along the streams and numerous gentians.

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sosomamie66
sosomamie66

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 04, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Magnificent

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FIORUCCI Alain
FIORUCCI Alain
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 15, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The passage upon arrival and departure from the first lake is still a bit difficult (passing over rocks), as are some passages before arriving at the second lake. Nothing insurmountable, of course, but not always very easy.
We saw people with children in baby carriers, one on the front and one on the back!
I don't think they were able to get through the rocky sections.
But it's well worth the detour!

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bsg
bsg

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 01, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Be careful of the rocky area along the Estany Llarg.

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CRZ
CRZ

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 07, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Very pretty

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smashdc
smashdc
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 25, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

-

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JLC30
JLC30

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 28, 2023
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike with varied landscapes. At this time of year, the rhododendrons are in bloom and magnificent. I agree with those who say that the hike is doable but not that easy, as it is a bit "challenging" between 3 and 5 (rocks and uneven terrain).
To avoid a return trip between S/E and 1, we crossed the dam from the start, followed the GR to the road and crossed the wooden bridge to arrive at 2 (well signposted).
The Pradella lake at points 5 and 6 is worth spending some time at, perhaps for a picnic, which is what we did. There are beautiful herds of cows and horses after point 7.
Thank you for this hike, which is a must if you are in the area.

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kama5284
kama5284

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Very well explained, magnificent hike.

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