Pic de la Socarrada and Caudiès-de-Conflent Lake

Park in the car park on the edge of the D4f, south of the village.

(S/E) Head towards the village, walking carefully along the road. Turn left to cross the bridge over the River Caudiès and you will come out in front of the town hall. Turn right, walk past the town hall and then the church and stay on the road until you reach a sign indicating several hiking trails.

(1) Turn right towards Pic de la Socarrade. A few metres further on, turn left and take a small wooden footbridge. Climb gently before walking quietly through the forest to reach a crossroads.

(2) Continue left towards the desired peak. The track turns into a path near a water source. Walk along the right-hand side of the source and, a few metres further on, you will see an unmarked intersection with a path leading up to the right.

(4) Turn right and join a track. Follow it to the left until you reach an intersection.

(5) Turn right at the hairpin bend to join the track and ignore the yellow cross. From here, the route is very poorly marked, which may seem surprising given that there is an official sign for Pic de la Socarrade at the start of the hike. Follow the track, pass a cattle grid and look for a sign for "Soccarade" indicating that the path climbs to the right.

(6) Go up to the right and follow the fence on the left. Keep an eye out for the scattered markings (which could do with a good refresh as some of them are almost completely worn away) and then look for the markings indicating that you should go up to the right.

(7) Leave the fence and climb to the right until you reach a mini track. Go a few metres to the left and look for a cairn indicating that the trail continues uphill to the right. Leave the track and climb steeply towards Pic de la Socarrada to reach the summit.

(8) Enjoy the fantastic panorama before returning to the starting point using the same route you took to ascend.

(S/E) Continue along the road away from the village until you reach the sign for the lake.

(9) Leave the road on the right and continue through the forest towards the lake.

(10) Enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of the place. Walk around the lake in the direction you wish and return to the fork in the road.

(10) Turn right towards the road.

(9) Follow the road to the left to return to the car park (S/E).

Video of the hike at this link

Picnic table and barbecue areas at Lake Caudiès-de-Conflent.

After point (5), take extreme care as the markings are very scattered and irregular.

Caudiès-de-Conflent Lake.

Other villages in Les Garrotxes nearby: Sansa, Railleu, Ayguatébia.