Montgaillard walks

The village of Montgailhard is dominated by the famous Pic de Montgailhard or Pain de Sucre, rising proudly to an altitude of 627 m. But there is another, lesser-known peak called Carsabel, which is well worth a visit because, at 615 m above sea level, it has nothing to be ashamed of compared to its big brother. Less imposing and much less easily accessible, but without any major technical difficulties, you do, however, have to brave the complications of its winding and unclear paths to reach its summit in the middle of the forest. This is the domain of wild boars, roe deer and other mammals and birds of this region of the Pyrenean foothills, but also of foresters who (moderately) exploit its slopes.Part of the route follows the paths of the plain, in the municipal park or the old paths along the banks of the River Lios.An unusual route, reserved for hikers seeking a challenge or runners looking to diversify their routes.

Circular starting from the village of Montgailhard, near Foix, climbing up the Côtes, then to Saint-Genès. Hike through the woods during the ascent and descent. May be a little slippery if it is very wet. The passage along the ridge offers a beautiful view to the south over the Pyrenees, from Soularac in the east to Pique d'Endron, then to Roc de Batail in the west.

Circular starting from the hamlet of Prayols through the woods. Provides access to the three beautiful Cascades de la Piche waterfalls, as well as an orientation table describing the valley to the east that leads to Lavelanet. Beautiful view of Roquefixade and Mont Fourcat.

Starting from the village of Seignaux, which was once an old kaolin (white clay) mine used to make porcelain, you will reach the Col de Belvèze to discover a superb view of the Pyrenees mountain range. Back in the village, you can take a few minutes to learn a little more about kaolin, see the wagon used in the mine, and admire the view from the orientation table.

A very pleasant hike in the hills of Ariège, between forest and ridges.

A walk through the land of Gaston Fébus, former Count of Foix, along the Ariège. After an enjoyable climb “in the land of the elves” amongst the moss-covered rocks, you reach two rural hamlets, where time seems to have stood still, then the ridge and its viewpoints over the Pyrenees. (!) There appear to be restrictions on access. Message from a user on 28 February 2025. Hike not recommended.

This is an easy hike, although the last part is not marked. The first part is shaded. There is a pretty cabin and beautiful views of the region. At (5): you can extend the hike with a return trip along the ridges after Bout de Touron.

A pleasant hike above Foix (in Ariège), alternating between forest paths and ridge trails, with beautiful views of the plain to the north and the Pyrenees to the south.

An easy walk along the ridge between the Toulouse plain and the Pyrenees mountain range from Mont Valier to Saint-Barthélémy.

This is a short, easy, accessible and aerial hike offering views of the entire Ariège Pyrenees, from Mont Valier to the Orlu Reserve, as well as the plain.

From Saint-Pierre-de-Rivière, head for the Rocher de Batail via the Col Blanc. The first section follows the GRP® Tour de la Barguillère trail, through a fairly wild, mid-mountain landscape, whilst the second section leads back to Saint-Pierre via Brassac, along quiet tarmac roads towards the end of the route.

An easy hike with beautiful views of the Pyrenees. No difficulty apart from some old markings or sections overlapping local routes, and a section requiring GPS guidance at the point (8).

A short outing for an afternoon of snowshoeing in the woods with magnificent views of the Ariège Pyrenees towards Andorra.

At an altitude of 2,000 metres, Mont Fourcat is the northernmost peak of the Cirque des Monts d'Olmes. It offers a vast view of the plain to the north and a view of the entire Ariège mountain range to the south and west. Beyond that, on a clear day, you can even see the Maladetta glacier in the distance. To the east, the view plunges into the Cirque des Monts d'Olmes, dominated by the imposing Saint-Barthélemy. You first climb through a beautiful forest and as soon as you reach the open space among the ferns and heather, which then give way to rhododendrons, broom and gispet, you can enjoy a beautiful view as you walk along a ridge formed by continuous grassy hillocks leading to the summit. This outing is quite challenging (800 m elevation gain), but the route is entirely on very comfortable trails and tracks, hence its "medium" rating.

Most of the hike takes place in the forest on easy trails. At Les Brougues, and especially at the Cabane de Carmilles, you have a beautiful view of the Pyrenees. A beautiful hike for a very hot day! The starting point for this hike is not accessible in snowy conditions.

For the first twenty minutes, the trail climbs steadily and there are beautiful views between the bushes and trees, especially in winter. After that, you can enjoy fantastic views of the valley almost constantly.

For a change from the much more popular western and eastern routes.

Snowshoe hike starting from Ramon, depending on snow conditions. Be careful of road conditions; make sure you have good winter tyres (keep chains in the boot of your vehicle as a precaution). It is sometimes possible to drive to the small car park just next to the cattle grid. Fairly gentle slopes, mainly on tracks and trails, except before the summit of Bout du Touron. South-facing with a beautiful view, short section through the forest to see the Cabane des Gardes on the trail.

A walk suitable for all year round (provided there is no snow in winter), mostly through woodland. The first section is very accessible and family-friendly, on wide, well-maintained paths. The section after L'Herm is a well-marked climb, marked in yellow, but the path is not always obvious on the ground, with quite a few steep sections, though never dangerous (you can have lunch at the highest point).

This loop takes you from the village of Arnave up to the Col d'Ijou, where you can see the village of Croquié before starting the descent via the village of Serres. You can also admire the beautiful view of the Pyrenees at various points along the walk.

This varied hike around the village of Arnave takes you over four mountain passes in a landscape dominated by the lofty silhouette of the Teste de Cuing. Alternating between woodland trails, forest tracks and balcony paths, it offers beautiful views of the Ariège Pyrenees and the Tarascon-sur-Ariège basin. There are a few sections on roads that are generally quiet outside the summer season.

This route, which circles the village of Arnave, is particularly dedicated to visiting the Romanesque chapel of Saint-Paul, a jewel of tranquillity in a rural setting. From its promontory, it invites you to take your time and enjoy the peace and quiet.

This route (actually walked, not copied) follows the one published by Grenouille09, but shortens the return leg. A route of around 2 hours. The route along the ridge is slightly different from that of the hike mentioned above, but this doesn’t make much difference; it’s impossible to get lost. We’ve simply added a few extra details below.

A beautiful hike, mostly through woods and without difficulty. Various routes are listed in a booklet available at the stopover lodge. At the start, our route is marked as No. 6.

A pleasant walk in the hills above Roquefixade, near Foix. Passing by its Cathar castle and the Grotte de l'Église Catholique, used to celebrate Mass during the French Revolution. A varied route: heath, woods and clearings. Suitable for families, but caution is advised along the cliff ridge.

This hike is located in the hills above Serres-sur-Arget. It leads to the Fautils pastures and Cap de la Grésale, the highest point of this loop, at 1,112 metres. Most of the route is through forest with wide views of the Séronais, the Pays de Foix, the Massif de Tabe and the Massif de l'Arize. Marked in yellow and very well signposted.

This hike will allow you to discover two remarkable sites, the Sommet du Mont and the Roche Ronde, for the views they offer over the Tarascon valley and some of the peaks of the Pyrenees: Saint-Barthélémy and Pic des Trois Seigneurs.

An easy hike between Rabat-les-Trois-Seigneurs and Bédeilhac offering a beautiful view of the valley from the Roche Ronde.

A walk starting from Tarascon-sur-Ariège that will take you to Junac, passing through the small village of Alliat and overlooking the village of Niaux.

A family hike accessible to all, including children, in an area rich in pastoral history. This hike gives pride of place to wooded trails and highlights the waters of the Torrent de la Courbière. Beautiful mountain views and magnificent undergrowth.

Starting from the Contrac car park in Rabat-les-Trois-Seigneurs, this is an accessible circular route with beautiful sights along the way.After the first climb, you will reach the architectural structure "Le Monolithe", created by students from the Toulouse School of Architecture: an unusual seat with a view over the valley. Then enjoy the panorama from the ruins of the ancient Cathar castle of La Roche Ronde, before finally descending past the Calamès Cave and its climbing site.

This gentle peak is not notable for its modest altitude but nevertheless offers a superb vantage point over the Trois Seigneurs massif, the Montagne de Tabe and far beyond. After an initial section through a beautiful beech forest, the long climb up the broad grassy ridge allows you to fully enjoy the scenery. However, you’ll need patience and perseverance, as the slope is steep from start to finish with very little respite, except at the Col de Carlong.

A beautiful circular starting from the small village of Gourbit. You will pass through Artax, then Pic de Bassibié and Pic de Pioulou, before descending to the Étangs Bleus de la Courbière via the Col de la Couillate. Finally, the hike ends at the Cirque d'Embans, the Cabane d'Embanels and then a climb back up to the village of Gourbit.

Snowshoe hike from the Monts d'Olmes resort. We did this hike on a Friday in January, outside of school holidays, which was great. It's likely to be a bit busier during school holidays or at weekends! If possible, choose a day with clear weather. It would be a shame to miss the view.

Circular starting from the Monts d'Olmes resort, passing through the Pics de Girabal and Galinat via the Col de Girabal, the Col de l'Étang d'Appy (with a beautiful view of the lake) and finally the Col de Cadène. Some sections require the use of your hands but are not particularly dangerous (in the absence of snow). You can also make a round trip to Pic du Han (from Col de Cadène) or Saint-Barthélémy (from Col de Girabal), but the additional elevation gains are not included in this technical data sheet.

A beautiful loop starting from the village of Gourbit.Passing by the Étang d'Artax (Artats), the Roc de Querquéou and the Col de Lastris.The viewpoint, at an altitude of almost 1,900 metres, is a feast for the eyes.

A magnificent hike with no major difficulties. A majestic lake and wonderful views of the Ariège Pyrenees and Andorra from Pic de Bassibié.