Mount Helena

Starting from the town hall in Caixas, the ascent of Mont Helena, the highest point in the area, offers a few surprises in terms of heritage and botany. And above all, an extraordinary panorama of the Roussillon.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.81 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 413 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 413 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 775 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 362 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Leave the D2 and head towards Caixas via the D2b (Route de la Mairie). Pass the church; the large car park is at the end of the road, below the town hall of Caixas.

(S/E) From the car park, head back up the D2b, Route de la Mairie. Pass the cemetery and rejoin the D2.

(1) Turn left towards Mas Can Ser Na and continue to a fork in the road.

(2) Leave the D2 and turn right onto the tarmac Chemin de Saint-Marc until you reach the gate of the last house. Continue along a wide track, ignoring the adjacent tracks on your left. Continue climbing along the main track for 1.2 km until you reach a track branching off to the left at a 90° angle to the south.

(3) Take the path opposite, towards the Chapelle Sant Marc, which is on the right in the vegetation at the end of the track.

(4) Turn back to the previous fork.

(3) Turn right and head uphill to the south, passing a track on your right, and you will soon come to a Y-junction.

(5) Take the right-hand track uphill, heading due west, and you will come to an intersection in a sharp left-hand bend.

(6) Leave the track and climb steeply up the small path (north) towards Mount Helena. The path turns left (west) when it reaches the ridge. You will eventually reach a track suitable for vehicles (elevation 768).

(7) Continue straight ahead to Mount Helena, where there is a fire lookout tower.

(8) Turn around.

(7) Continue right along the track and reach Coll de Prunet de Baix (elevation 618) at a multiple junction (road-track).

(9) Turn left onto the road and continue for 50 metres.

(10) Leave the road and follow a path on the right (south-east) through the forest.

(10) Take the path on the right for 200 m until you reach a fork.

(11) Take the path on the left (east) and rejoin the road to the pass.

(12) Cross it diagonally to the left, then, at the fork immediately after, take the path on the right (east). Join the road again.

(13) Follow it to the left (north) for a long time. Pass Can Malet, Mas d'en Figuera, and arrive at an intersection of two roads (elevation 389).

(14) Take the D2 opposite and return to a fork you passed on the way there.

(2) Continue straight ahead along the road and, following the same route as on the way there, you will arrive at the car park below the town hall (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 362 m - Church - Town hall of Caixas
  2. 1 : km 0.36 - alt. 399 m - Common fork. Return trip
  3. 2 : km 0.69 - alt. 396 m - Crossroads of the circular
  4. 3 : km 1.85 - alt. 528 m - Fork in the road. Return trip to the chapel.
  5. 4 : km 2.09 - alt. 526 m - Sant Marc Chapel
  6. 5 : km 2.72 - alt. 560 m - Intersection
  7. 6 : km 3.21 - alt. 618 m - Path
  8. 7 : km 3.79 - alt. 767 m - Fork in the road. Return trip to the mountain
  9. 8 : km 4.01 - alt. 775 m - Mount Helena
  10. 9 : km 5.71 - alt. 618 m - Col Prunet de Baix
  11. 10 : km 5.76 - alt. 615 m - Fork
  12. 11 : km 5.97 - alt. 579 m - Intersection
  13. 12 : km 6.24 - alt. 573 m - Route
  14. 13 : km 7.1 - alt. 494 m - Route
  15. 14 : km 8.92 - alt. 390 m - D2
  16. S/E : km 9.81 - alt. 362 m - Church - Town hall of Caixas

Notes

Bring a fleece, a windbreaker, good shoes and a water bottle.
The .gpx track may prove very useful.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 11 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
VALMON G
VALMON G

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant, easy hike. Only the climb up Mount Helena is steep. Beautiful views of the Roussillon plain and Canigou.

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parmene
parmene

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very easy route, perfect for walkers of all ages.

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Fanfandeperpignan
Fanfandeperpignan

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Too many tracks and, above all, too much tarmac

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Emilie66
Emilie66

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike with magnificent views. There is a steep climb to reach Mont Helena. On the advice of other hikers, we had a picnic at the Nostra Senyora del Coll chapel. It was very enjoyable.

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Emilie66
Emilie66

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike with magnificent views. There is a steep climb to reach Mount Helena. On the advice of other hikers, we had a picnic at the Nostra Senyora chapel. It was very enjoyable.

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bonheurenmarche
bonheurenmarche

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Alone in the world, surrounded by nature and a 360° view on this hike. I recommend also stopping by the Nostra Senyora del Coll chapel where we had lunch.

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Bärble
Bärble

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 21, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike on a sunny, windless day. Along the climb, which is quite steep and rocky, there are superb views of the Roussillon plain and, at the top, of Canigou. As there are no markings, we frequently referred to the description and map. The descent is gentle and easy to find, first on a track, then a charming path through the woods and finally on a small road where we only encountered one car.

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Renny
Renny

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 03, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Discovered during reconnaissance, we will explore it as a group in a few days. But we are very satisfied with the information we have gathered.

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Frédéric66
Frédéric66

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 23, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A short hike that's ideal for getting back into walking. The elevation gain is concentrated at the start: a 1½-hour climb. Beautiful views over the Roussillon plain to the sea. An app is essential, as there are quite a few junctions and no signposts. Beautiful mimosa flowers in bloom at this time of year.

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Lamon Jennifer
Lamon Jennifer

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

easy hike

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