Pic du Perthus Oriental, the Gourin, Infernet and Gratadis ravines

The car park is located near the Col de Belle-Barbe, past the Gratadis forest house. Drive past the Col de Belle-Barbe and park 300 m further on at the Pont du Gratadis (barrier).

(S/E) Go through the barrier and over the bridge, then take the path immediately on the left without going near the beehives. After 50 m, turn right onto the path that climbs up to the plateau.

(1) Turn right, then keep to the right about a hundred metres further on to descend directly to the Col du Mistral. Follow the track eastwards for about 500 m.

(2) Look out for and take a small, rocky path that starts on the left in the heath (lightly marked in blue). It climbs gently at first, then more steeply towards the rocky ridge of the Pic du Perthus Oriental. Enjoy the view at the summit before descending the small, zigzagging path on the northern slope to the bottom of the ravine.

(3) Ford the stream and head back up the track, turning right towards the north-east to the Pont des Cantines.

(4) Immediately afterwards, leave the track and take the path on the right (heading north-northeast) to enter the pleasant Ravin du Gabre de Gourin and follow it up until you come out at a hairpin bend on a track.

(5) Follow the track to the right for a few metres and take a small path through the vegetation on the left. After 200 m, you’ll reach a lovely, tranquil little lake, dotted with patches of water lilies and teeming with birds and amphibians.

(6) Cross the stream at the end of the lake, following the cairns to the right, then climb the path as it ascends, keeping an east-northeast direction until you reach the Col des Suvières (crossroads of tracks).

(7) Take the track on the right which descends towards the south-west and continue for 700 m until you pass a culvert.

(8) Turn left onto a small descending path (Croupe Baptiston) marked by a sign saying “no motor vehicles or bicycles”. Descend until you reach a bend in the track.

(9) Continue along the small path descending to the left towards the north-east (sign: motor vehicles and bicycles prohibited) towards the bottom of the Ravin des Trois Termes (elevation 106).

(10) Cross the stream and follow the path southwards through beautiful vegetation for over a kilometre.

(11) At the edge of the dry bed of Lac de l’Écureuil, take the track that continues southwards opposite on the right. Continue for about 1.5 km, until the track bends to the left.

(12) Descend to the right between two trees into the pebble-filled stream bed (light blue markings). Cross the pebbles and look for a path on the opposite bank amongst the vegetation next to a small waterfall. It winds its way upwards through the undergrowth.

(13) On reaching the Col du Baladou (bench and track to the right), take the path that descends to the left towards the south to the Col d’Aubert (cairn).

(14) Take the path that descends to the right into the Ravin du Gratadis. Walk down this pleasant valley, following the stream all the way until you reach the Pont du Gratadis and the car park (S/E).

The landscape is very dry in this area. Streams can generally be crossed without getting wet. Only the Ruisseau du Perthus might pose a problem. The lakes are always full. It is a pity that Lac de l’Écureuil has not yet been refilled (but with what water?).
Between mid-May and the end of September, it is very hot, even in the undergrowth.