Ascent to Port de Salau

de fr

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: 12.54 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,008 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,001 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,087 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,089 m
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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.

(S/E) Follow the wide track of earth and stones uphill. 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 a gentle, steady incline. Further on, it descends in the same manner towards the Ruisseau de la Bégé. The wide track ends at a Y-junction, one branch of which heads down towards the stream on the right. Signposts indicate the direction from Salau towards the stream.

(1) Head down the small path on the right. Cross the stream using the log placed 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® coming from the right, at an elevation of 1350 metres.

(2) Continue the ascent to the left. The path is almost flat until you reach the edge of the woods. Continue to the small stream.

(3) Ford the stream. The landscape begins to take on a rocky character. There are numerous tracks, but theGR® markings are still visible on rocks or large stones at ground level. It is 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 crossing point is not in front of the hut as the author chose not to stop there.

Resume the ascent. The tracks are clearly marked and wind upwards through open countryside. Reach the Lannes hut.

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

(6) Retrace your steps to return to your chosen starting point (A/D).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,089 m - At the edge of the track, near the waterfall
  2. 1 : km 1.44 - alt. 1,237 m - Descent via the path on the right
  3. 2 : km 2.37 - alt. 1,356 m - Encounter with the PR coming from the right
  4. 3 : km 3.17 - alt. 1,491 m - Ford
  5. 4 : km 3.48 - alt. 1,576 m - Pouill Hut
  6. 5 : km 5.03 - alt. 1,847 m - Lannes Hut
  7. 6 : km 6.27 - alt. 2,087 m - Port de Salau
  8. S/E : km 12.54 - alt. 1,089 m - At the edge of the track, near the waterfall

Notes

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

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 suggested at the waterfall.
A very small car park is also available further up, at the end of the clearing as you leave 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 Cabane des Lannes 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 5 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
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.