Pic du Canigou - From the Cortalets Refuge to Los Masos

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This is the continuation of the Pic du Canigou - Los Masos hike from the Refuge des Cortalets. It passes through the Crêtes du Barbet, the Portella de Vallmanya, the Brèche Durier, the Pic del Canigó, the Refuge des Cortalets and ends at Los Masos.
Pass through the chimney as the yellow markings have been erased - path closed (not recommended).
See practical information below.

This walk is part of a multi-day hike: The Pic du Canigou from Los Masos

Details

n°1532042
Creation:
Last update:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.58 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: No
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 2,595 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 6,257 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 9,127 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 3,392 ft
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Description of the walk

(S/E) Leave the refuge following theGRP® (yellow and red markings) towards the south-east.

(1) Bear slightly right towards Portella de Vallmanya and Crête du Barbet. Follow the ridge path.
At Portella, descend south-west.

(2) Turn right and climb towards Brèche Durier, the chimney and Pic du Canigou.

(3) Arrive at Pic du Canigou with a magnificent view. Descend north towards Chalet des Cortalets via Pic Joffre.

(4) Go around Pic Joffre on the right, then turn right.

(5) At the fork, continue straight ahead; you will see the refuge below.GR®10-GR®36-GR® T83 andGRP® Tour du Canigou.

(S/E) Refuge for a well-deserved break. Then turn left, north-east, following theGR®10®, red and white markings, towards Ras dels Cortalets via a path that leads to a track. Continue on the right.

(6) At Ras dels Cortalets, follow the track to the right to Ras de Prat Cabrera via theGR®10-GR®36.

(7) Leave the track and take a path on the left that cuts across a bend.GR®36.

(8) Return to the track and follow it to the right.GR®36.

(9) Leave the track and follow a path on the right that climbs at the beginning.GR®36®. Then continue downhill to the El Masos car park.

Waypoints

  1. S : mi 0 - alt. 7,054 ft - Refuge des Cortalets
  2. 1 : mi 0.16 - alt. 7,113 ft - Fork to the right.
  3. 2 : mi 2.21 - alt. 8,389 ft - Below Portella de Vallmanya, on the right.
  4. 3 : mi 2.69 - alt. 9,127 ft - (Pic del Canigó) - Pic du Canigou
  5. 4 : mi 4 - alt. 7,746 ft - Pic Joffre
  6. 5 : mi 4.29 - alt. 7,418 ft - Straight ahead
  7. 6 : mi 5.44 - alt. 6,726 ft - Col des Cortalets (Ras dels Cortalets)
  8. 7 : mi 7.7 - alt. 5,705 ft - Path on the left
  9. 8 : mi 7.91 - alt. 5,469 ft - Track, on the right
  10. 9 : mi 8.2 - alt. 5,469 ft - Path on the right
  11. E : mi 9.58 - alt. 3,392 ft - Els Masos - Lentillà (rivière) à finaliser

Notes

No water except at the refuge. Very long descent from the peak (2000m elevation gain, approx. 4 hours). Please note that the Brèche Durier passage must be climbed; you will need to put away your walking sticks and use your hands. However, there are no particular difficulties.
Spring at (2) 100 m on the left. Intermittent Perdiu fountain before (5) on the left.

This route passes through a protected area, which may be subject to special regulations:

Worth a visit

Info 2023:

The route linking the Pic du Canigó and passing through the chimney is no longer marked. The Conflent Canigó Tourist Office cannot provide information on its accessibility. It is strongly recommended that you take the Barbet ridges (PR®8) or the GR®10 if you are coming from the Mariailles refuge to reach the Cortalets refuge.

Access to Canigou (Canigó) 2023

The landscapes, the Mediterranean, the Eastern Pyrenees mountain range with Carlit in the background and, on a clear day, you can see Ventoux and Aigoual (the legendary peak of the Gard region!).

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

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Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 2 reviews
Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
User 7881319

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

The route is straightforward and well marked.
I did this route in good weather conditions in June, so there was no danger.
I met lots of people along the way.

Machine-translated

Axeas
Axeas

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hike undertaken on the day of the new survey of the peak by surveyors, which explains why there were so many of us at 2784.66m (awaiting the new height).
The ascent or descent of the chimney remains an untried adventure.
Returning to the refuge is a good plan but insufficient in terms of rest to tackle the return to Los Masos.
As indicated, this hike is made very difficult by the total distance, the elevation gain and the elevation loss (especially the latter).
At a certain age, it's unforgiving! The result was a fall at the end of the route (ankle) and a very difficult return to the car park. Suggestion: descend from the refuge via the mule track, even if it makes the journey longer.
Try again over 3 days.

Machine-translated

micmac66
micmac66

Hello

This does not involve going through the Durier breach, which requires climbing, but simply ascending the Canigou chimney.
Best regards

Machine-translated

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