Pic Carlit and tour of the 12 lakes

Leave the RN113 at the Mont-Louis citadel, turning right onto the D118. Shortly after the exit, take the D60 for 13 km to reach the Bouillouses dam. Turn left downhill towards the car park indicated below the dam. (From 1 July to 31 August and on weekends in September, this destination can only be reached by shuttle bus from the large car park at Plat de Barrès, opposite the Bouillouses campsite). When we arrived at 8.30 a.m. that day, there were about a hundred cars in the car park!

(S/E) From the car park below the dam, walk along the dam towards the west, in the direction of the large stone building (Hôtel des Bones Hores).

Yellow markings

(1) Go through a metal cattle gate (the red and white GR®10 trail on the right will be used on the way back) and walk under the large hotel. The route now follows a rough path strewn with granite boulders, then through pine undergrowth and across meadows to pass between the first two lakes of the hike, Estany Negre on the left and Estany del Viver on the right.

(2) Take the path on the left, heading west, ignoring the one that passes by the edge of Estany del Viver. The path, still marked in yellow, passes between Estany de la Comassea (below on the right) and Estany Sec, on the left.

(3) Ignore the path that heads south and turn right onto the path that heads north, crossing the footbridge (elevation 2222) that allows you to cross the Estany de Vallell spillway.

(4) Continue left towards the west, still on the marked path.

(5) At the three-way junction, which marks the intersection that you will use on the way back to go around the lakes, continue straight ahead towards the west to begin the actual ascent of Pic de Carlit. A very mineral world opens up before you. Pass by a small lake that clearly marks the foot of the peak you are about to climb.

(6) Intersection of the ascending and descending trails. The one-way ascent starts on the right and heads towards a pass where you must turn left to reach the summit.

(7) Pic du Carlit (altitude 2921 m). This is the highest peak in the Pyrénées Orientales. Lots of people! The ideal weather allows us to have lunch on site beforestarting the descent following the one-way trail. Some passages are quite exposed and can be slippery, so caution is required.

(6) The descent is then made on the same path to return to the small lake.

(5) Take the marked trail that branches off to the left at this three-way junction. Walk along the Estany de Sobirans and Estany de Trebens on the right, cross a footbridge near a green tin hut, walk along the Estany d'en Gombau on the left and the Estany del Castellar on the right, below. There is another footbridge at Estany de les Dugues, which you go around on the right. Continue a little beyond this lake.

No markings

(8) A vague path branches off to the left and crosses the lake's overflow stream. Walk along the lake on the right and two small ponds (elevation 2244) to reach a small stream, which you will follow more or less, sometimes on the right bank, sometimes on the left bank. This will take you to the banks of Lac des Bouillouses.

White and red markings

(9) Turn right to follow a PR®, the GR® 10, and the three GRP® trails of the Tour des Pérics, Tour du Carlit and Tour du Capcir. This multi-purpose trail runs along the right bank of Lac des Bouillouses to the dam.

(1) Follow the same route back to the car park (S/E).

(8) Marked alternative route: continue straight ahead, south-east, along the marked path and return to (2) passed on the way there.

Visit the Mont-Louis fortress. Visit the Odeillo solar furnace and the Font-Romeu ski resort.