Dosses Nature Reserve

Take a stroll through the Natura 2000 area in the Parc des Dosses. Take the opportunity to discover the flora and fauna of this unspoilt area.

Details

359123
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.85 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 2 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 0 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ District: Le Barcarès (66420)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 42.838229° / E 3.035115°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 2547OT, 2548OT
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Please note! Many reviews of this hike indicate that the trails are not easy to find. The Visorando app (or a GPS) is therefore highly recommended.

At the start of this hike, there is a car park where you can leave your bike or car.

(S/E) Enter Parc des Dosses by following the shore, keeping the lake on your right. You should encounter quite a few different species of birds. Keep your senses alert!

(1) At the end, turn right, then continue straight ahead for a few metres.

(2) Turn right to return to the shore, then turn left to follow it. Follow the path and go around the strip of land to return to the crossroads you passed on the way there.

(2) At this point, turn right to reach a pond, which may be there if it is not dry.

(3) Continue straight ahead to return to the first crossroads.

(1) Then turn right for the second part of the hike. On this part, the vegetation is much less dense, allowing you to navigate as you wish.

(4) Leave a path on your left and head towards the shore. Go around the shore, passing between it and the small pond, and continue.

(5) Turn left and continue until you reach the junction with another path.

(6) Turn left and then right to return to the outward route.

(4) Turn right and continue to the first crossroads.

(1) Retrace your steps in the opposite direction to enjoy the pleasant shoreline and return to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1 m - Entrance to the park
  2. 1 : km 0.99 - alt. 1 m - Start of the two loops
  3. 2 : km 1.4 - alt. 1 m - Intersection
  4. 3 : km 3.24 - alt. 0 m - Small lake
  5. 4 : km 3.99 - alt. 1 m - Junction of the second loop
  6. 5 : km 4.69 - alt. 1 m - On the left
  7. 6 : km 5.23 - alt. 1 m - On the left
  8. S/E : km 6.85 - alt. 1 m - Park entrance

Notes

- Good shoes because the ground is sandy throughout
- No water sources
- Wear trousers for hiking as the vegetation is quite prickly

Worth a visit

- Le Barcarès
- Sales-Leucate Lake

Reviews and comments

3.8 / 5
Based on 35 reviews

Reliability of the description
3.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
3.8 / 5
Route interest
3.8 / 5
User 13124727

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful hike, but you need to follow the route carefully as there are no signs along the way.

Machine-translated

Frédériko59
Frédériko59

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely little walk that is very easy physically. Follow the route as there are no signs along the way. If you are lucky like me, you will see some flamingos (not pink at all and not very shy) waiting for you in a small pond.

Machine-translated

lannequin
lannequin

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

More of a stroll than a hike. Protected area. Done in October in good weather. Not much autumn flora and fauna

Machine-translated

User 13124727

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

To be done with the app because there are multiple paths.

Machine-translated

Lyne7
Lyne7

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

We went hiking during the week, so there weren't many people around. We really enjoyed the section on Mediterranean flora at the very beginning, as we were then able to identify it along the route. Some people say that the trail isn't always easy to follow, but overall we managed to find it thanks to the app.

Machine-translated

Pocky
Pocky

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

An easy and pleasant hike that allows you to discover the contours of Leucate and the salt marshes in the midst of nature and in complete tranquillity. Indeed, wearing shorts can sting your legs

Machine-translated

MAMISS
MAMISS

Overall rating : 2.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Unable to locate the route!

Machine-translated

lauriers
lauriers

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

No encounters on this easy route, which is easy to follow with the Visorando app. Lots of flowers native to this sandy environment. The section near the ski lift is much less interesting.

Machine-translated

alische
alische

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 31, 2023
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We went on All Saints' Day with our two children aged 6 and 10. It's completely flat, but be aware that you're walking on sand, so it's still a bit tiring.
It's in full sun. Perfect for us at this time of year because it wasn't very hot (a little windy)! Not many people there that day.
From the start to number 1, it's very pretty, with lots of information boards about the flora and fauna. The walk will take longer if you stop to read all the boards.
We couldn't do loops 1, 2 and 3 because that part of the peninsula was inaccessible (flooded).
We almost didn't do sections 4 and 5 for the same reason, but in the end we got our feet slightly wet to get through and found ourselves walking on a small strip between the ponds, which was nice.
As the walk was cut short, we decided after 5 to continue to the end of the peninsula, which was a good decision because it was very pretty, with a view of Canigou, and we were able to admire the kitesurfers, which added an original touch to the walk and was enjoyed by the children as well as us. Between 5 and 6, the walk was interesting because it was in the middle of the island's flora. However, we had to keep our eyes on our mobile phones because there wasn't really a path.
To sum up, it's a walk in the heart of nature, very rejuvenating, with magnificent landscapes.
Thank you for the route!

Machine-translated

gyp
gyp

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 16, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

hike to be done if it's not too hot, with views of the ponds and Corbières in the distance
best done with the app as there are many paths and watch out for mosquitoes, even in October

Machine-translated

corsirando
corsirando

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 13, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Easy hike, beautiful route. Best done with the app as there are multiple paths.
Best done on a cloudy day as it is mostly in the sun. The terrain is partly sandy.

Machine-translated

Cypriella
Cypriella

I couldn't go on this hike because dogs weren't allowed!

Machine-translated

Cypriella
Cypriella

I downloaded this route but couldn't do it because dogs are not allowed. What a shame!

Machine-translated

Thesee
Thesee

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 20, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Beware: no dogs allowed

Machine-translated

claudekiko
claudekiko

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 02, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant route around the different contours of the lake. As already mentioned, bring a GPS or the app with you to avoid getting lost among the many paths that appear along the route, especially towards the end of the circuit.

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.