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Park in the small car park, which has around twenty spaces, on the edge of the D8F on the Coumebière Plateau. If the car park is full, you can park on the grassy verge by the roadside.
Signposting:GR®® white and red +PR®® yellow
(S/E) Cross the road and take theGR®®, which starts opposite, near an enclosure. Walk on virtually level ground until you reach a junction marked by a signpost.
Markings: YellowPR®®
(1) Turn right, following the sign for “Étang de Labant”. Shortly after the first yellow marker, turn right to cross the ravine where a stream flows; there are no further markers, but the path is clearly visible after the stream. After a stretch through mountain pastures, the path enters a wood and emerges again about a hundred metres further on. Further up, don’t miss the old, rusty sign on the right indicating the presence of a former silver-lead mine. Turn right at the next junction (wooden signpost) and continue to Étang de Labant.
(2) Continue along the very well-marked path, which levels out before emerging onto a ridge offering a stunning view of Aulus-Les-Bains and the Garbet Valley. Carry on to the left, following the markings. The slope, which is gentle at first, becomes much steeper before levelling out again, about 200 metres before the Col de las Fouzès.
(3) The view over the Étangs de Bassiès and the refuge of the same name is magnificent, and the pass makes an excellent spot for a picnic. Turn left, walk past a small ‘orri’ in excellent condition, and continue for about a hundred metres.
(4) Just before a yellow mark on a rock on the ground, turn left. Take great care as the start of the path is difficult to spot and it is easy to miss it. Climb straight ahead (north) along the ridge to quickly reach the Pic de Cabanatous (2,053m), the highest point of the walk.
(5) Exceptional 360° views. In the foreground, the Bassiès lakes, the Pique Rouge de Bassiès, the Pic de Belcaire and, beyond, the great peaks of the Ariège. Head back down to the previous junction.
(4) Take the path on the left and continue along the hillside to the Port de Bassiès.
GR®® white and red markings
(6) Turn left and head for the Étang d’Alate, nestled in a very pretty spot at the foot of Mont Garias.
(8) Continue along theGR®® which climbs steeply just before crossing a rocky spur. A few stone steps and a steel cable provide safety along this section.
Then begin the descent, which is very steep and made difficult by the presence of numerous loose stones that roll underfoot, to reach the Port de Saleix.
(8) Turn left onto theGR®®, which winds through a series of very wide hairpin bends before beginning a much steeper descent, eventually leading to a junction marked by a large signpost.
(9) Walk a few metres to the left, then take the hairpin bend to the right. At the next junction (another large signpost), continue to the left, cross a small copse and emerge onto the lovely Coumebière meadow, where the path widens into a track.
Signposting:GR®® white and red +PR®® yellow
(1) Continue straight on until you reach the road. Cross the road and head for the car park (S/E).
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