The Heights of Puyvalador

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Here is a lovely hiking route open to all that will immerse you in the Hauts de Puyvalador amidst the stunning Capcinoise vegetation.

Details

n°167360
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.32 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,230 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,230 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 6,207 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 4,977 ft
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Photos

Rieutort
Reservoir

Description of the walk

Start at Riutor, at the stopover lodge.

(S/E) Cross the bridge over the Rec Del Cirerol and follow the yellow markings until you reach the road.

(1) Follow the road uphill for a few decametres until you reach the hairpin bend.

(2) Leave the road and take the track opposite. At the junction, leave the track and head up to the left to rejoin the road leading to the housing estates at the Puyvalador ski resort.

(3) Continue along this road for about a hundred metres.

(4) Turn right at the sign for the Sentier des Rhododendrons. Follow the markings until the next junction.

(5) Turn right (you’ll come back via the left on the return journey) and carry on straight ahead until you reach a track a few hectometres further on.

(6) Before turning left, head up the slope opposite to see the small lake. Then, head back down to the track and follow it to the right until you reach the second hairpin bend. Leave the track and turn left.
Return to the junction you passed on the way out.

(5) Follow the same route as on the way out, but in the opposite direction, to get back to your car (S/E).

See you very, very soon on the Catalan trails...

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 4,977 ft - Stopover lodge
  2. 1 : mi 0.91 - alt. 5,499 ft - Road junction
  3. 2 : mi 1.04 - alt. 5,545 ft - Trail junction
  4. 3 : mi 1.38 - alt. 5,728 ft - Residential estates at the resort
  5. 4 : mi 1.49 - alt. 5,791 ft - Hiking sign: Rhododendron Trail
  6. 5 : mi 1.62 - alt. 5,915 ft - Junction
  7. 6 : mi 2.18 - alt. 6,207 ft - Track; head over to the lake directly opposite
  8. S/E : mi 4.32 - alt. 4,977 ft - Stopover lodge

Notes

Part of this walk can be viewed via the following link: Hike on video

A reservoir at point (6).

Worth a visit

Puyvalador ski resort, reservoir.

Reviews and comments

3.9 / 5
Based on 5 reviews
Reliability of the description
4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4 / 5
Route interest
3.8 / 5
mira66
mira66

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Short walk in the shade without much of a view

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lolinette
lolinette

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We set off from Puyvalador station at the start of the rhododendron trail. The trail is well signposted. A very beautiful and enjoyable walk.

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natur66
natur66

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 07, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A lovely walk
The signposting has been redone, so we followed it from start to finish

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grandin
grandin ★

Thanks, cocofaz, for your feedback. Between (2) and (3), there are two Forks in the road on the map, and the second one isn’t mentioned in the description. If you went right, it’s no surprise you ended up in the middle of a field... Perhaps the path on the left is indeed blocked...

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cocofaz
cocofaz

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 28, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : Not used / Not applicable
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average

Hello, at the end of stage 3 we found ourselves in the middle of fields, unable to go any further. Perhaps it varies depending on the season (are some access points blocked off?)
So we turned back and followed the yellow markings, which were very reliable, by the way. It’s an almost constant climb, and I did the final stretch to the lake (1 hour 15 mins round trip) on my own with one of my sons because my mother (70 years old but still quite fit) was starting to tire. A bit of a let-down at the lake, which was almost empty and so not very pretty...
We returned via the same markings. In the end, it was a 5-hour walk, including breaks for a picnic, which I’d rate as moderately difficult rather than easy. But on the plus side, it was very peaceful, shaded, and we picked quite a few raspberries.
So that’s my feedback; I hope you find it useful. Let me know if you spot anything I’ve missed... Have a good evening

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fagni
fagni

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 15, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A lovely, pleasant walk, but the signposting had been completely destroyed on part of the way back due to forestry work!! We’d been following the signs properly, but then suddenly there was nothing left! So we turned back and did a round trip between the lake and Puyvalador station

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