Ascent to Port de Salau

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This is a round trip organised as part of the festival celebrating friendship between Occitans and Catalans. This gathering takes place on the first Sunday of every August. A unique opportunity to share, in a spirit of camaraderie, Occitan cheeses and Catalan wines in a fabulous setting high above the French-Spanish border. Traditional songs and dances are celebrated at the summit of the Pyrenees.

Details

n°1349349
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.79 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 3,307 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 3,284 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 6,847 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 3,573 ft
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Photos

Almost at the finish
The Spanish Pyrenees
Port de Salau
A moment of sharing

Description of the walk

Park near the Léziou waterfall.
The path is theGR®®T57, marked in red and white. It is also known as the Route du Port de Salau.

Please note! This route does not start from the village of Salau. See notes in the practical information section.

(S/E) Head up the wide track of earth and stones. At the last car park accessible to cars, continue along the path in front of the information board about Saint-Guillaume and the crossing of the Pyrenees.

The track winds its way up at a steady, gentle gradient. Further on, it descends in the same way towards the Ruisseau de la Bégé. The wide track ends at a Y-junction, one branch of which leads down towards the stream on the right. Signposts indicate the direction from Salau towards the stream.

(1) Head down the narrow path on the right. Cross the stream using the plank laid there for this purpose. Follow the path back up, which begins to wind to the right. Pass Plagnau Long and the Bois de la Crémade. Reach the junction with aPR®® path coming from the right, at an altitude of 1,350 metres.

(2) Continue the ascent to the left. The path is almost flat until you reach the edge of the woodland. Carry on to the small torrent.

(3) Ford the stream. The landscape begins to take on a rocky character. There are numerous tracks, but theGR®® signposts are still visible on rocks or large stones at ground level. It is very tempting to take shortcuts: stay on the well-marked paths. Approach the Pouill hut.

(4) The Pouill hut is accessible via other small tracks not shown on the IGN map. The waypoint is not located in front of the hut, as the author chose not to stop there.

Resume the ascent. The tracks are clearly marked and wind their way up in switchbacks through open countryside. Reach the Lannes hut.

(5) In front of the hut, the summit of Salau is just visible. Continue the climb over stones and boulders. Reach the Port Salau meadow. Enjoy the views on both sides of the Pyrenees.

(6) Follow the same route back to your chosen starting point (A/D).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 3,573 ft - At the edge of the track, near the waterfall
  2. 1 : mi 0.9 - alt. 4,058 ft - Descent along the path on the right
  3. 2 : mi 1.47 - alt. 4,449 ft - Encounter with the PR coming from the right
  4. 3 : mi 1.97 - alt. 4,892 ft - Ford
  5. 4 : mi 2.16 - alt. 5,171 ft - Pouill Hut
  6. 5 : mi 3.13 - alt. 6,060 ft - Lannes Hut
  7. 6 : mi 3.9 - alt. 6,847 ft - Port de Salau
  8. S/E : mi 7.79 - alt. 3,573 ft - At the edge of the track, near the waterfall

Notes

Drinking water and toilets halfway along the route, at the Pouill hut.

Please note
It is possible to set off on foot from the village of Salau. Follow theGR®®T57, marked in red and white.
Driving a little further up saves you part of the climb.
In this case, the author chose to drive up.
The start of the route is therefore at the waterfall.
A very small car park is also available further up, at the end of the clearing as you emerge from the woods.

Accommodation in the village of Salau at the La Fourque Mountain Centre.

The Pouill hut is a refuge that is still open.
The Lannes hut was closed when the author visited.
The Port de Salau refuge is practically in ruins.

Route completed by the author on 5 August 2018.

Worth a visit

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 6 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.2 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
JackFa
JackFa

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 04, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A challenging hike without prior training or suitable equipment. Please note that the start of the hike is signposted from the car park near the Léziou waterfall. The access road is only passable in a suitable vehicle (4x4) and, as I understand it, requires authorisation. In fact, it is the same route as the ‘Léziou and Bégé Waterfalls’ hike and is located at the car park for that waterfall hike mentioned above. The walk therefore starts at the beginning of the path known as Prat des Espis, which adds 2 x 1.5 km to the distance and increases the elevation gain by 200 m. The walk begins in the shade; halfway along the route, you reach the mountain pastures. During heatwaves, this can prove challenging, but fortunately there are water points along the way.

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madydou
madydou ★

La Pujada takes place on the first Sunday of August.
The 2025 event took place last Sunday, 3 August.
We will have to wait until August 2026.

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panyella
panyella

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Could you please let me know about the next Pujada?
danielpanyella@orange.fr
Thank you

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halentien
halentien

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I only came across one other person at the start of this journey. I set off from Salau, which really added to the distance. (Eighteen kilometres in total)
I stopped a kilometre from Port de Salau (!) It was a real challenge, but having just recovered from illness, I made rapid progress and arrived completely knackered, almost at the finish line! It’s quite possible that the hard-packed snow would have stopped me anyway (I was wearing low-cut trail shoes).
A sublime sense of solitude in a truly magical setting. And I loved running down the descent. I see my first steps on this site as a preview of my return very soon… it’s that beautiful. Take provisions with you because, objectively speaking, it’s still tough going. You need to take it as easy as possible (meaning taking your time). Thanks Visorando 🙌

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AT31
AT31

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 12, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike that takes you along a track, a woodland path, mountain pastures and finally a mountain pass.
At the final pass, there are remains of a timber-hauling facility and a memorial site (the Retirada of 1936 and the passage into the Free Zone between 1940 and 1945).
As it is certainly very busy in summer, it might be better to undertake this hike in autumn.
There are shelters at various points along the route in case of a storm.

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Pifou 42
Pifou 42

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 06, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A superb, quiet hike. Starting from the car park, the round trip took 8½ hours, including 2 hours’ breaks, with two children aged 8 and 12. The final stretch is quite steep; make sure you follow the red markings on the ground to avoid straying onto animal tracks and ending up in scree.
We met a very friendly police officer who was visiting the shepherds and told us about the presence of bears in the area and the tensions that arise as a result.
Crossed a flock of sheep (without a Patou )

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sophiepatrick.campe
sophiepatrick.campe

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 13, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

The track is closed to the public and there is a high risk of being fined if you use it
The track is in quite poor condition (4x4 or high-clearance vehicle recommended)
You must leave your car at the bend on the Route du Cirque d'Anglade
but there is some leeway on the day of the Pujada, the first Sunday in August

so you should allow for nearly an extra hour, making it 4 hours to reach Port de Salau

This also gives you the chance to admire the Léziou waterfall

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The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.