The Orlu Valley
The Orlu National Wildlife Reserve
Mérens-les-Vals is accessible by SNCF TER train and bus from Toulouse.
This is a mountain and high mountain area.
So you will need: warm clothing, rain gear, water, snacks, route maps, descriptions, a map, GPS or Visorando app, a camera, good hiking boots and possibly a walking stick.
You will need a lightweight sleeping bag (or sleeping bag liner), toiletries and a change of clothes.
Remember to book your accommodation in the mountain huts.
This four-day circuit requires a minimum level of fitness. You will feel the weight of your rucksack.
It can be extended by two additional days. See below.
Four days in the Orlu Reserve and the Montagne d'Ax
Beautiful mountain stages are on the programme. Comfortable accommodation and meals await you every evening.
Two departments, different types of landscapes, crossing a nature reserve, a long descent along a torrent, mountain ponds and lakes, wide open spaces await you...
Note: this trip is accessible by public transport and can start from Mérens-les-Vals. See Practical Information.
Another note: users have complained about the descent at the end of the four days. This trip can be done in the opposite direction to the description. But in this case, remember to save the four stages (base maps and gpx track) to help you find your way.
Details
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
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Activity: Walking -
Distance: 51.65 km -
Average duration: 4 days -
Difficulty: Difficult -
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Back to start: Yes -
Ascent: + 3,672 m -
Descent: - 3,673 m -
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Highest point: 2,621 m -
Lowest point: 838 m
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Country:
France
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Areas: Pyrenees, Massif du Carlit -
District:
Orlu (09110) -
Start/End: N 42.701545° / E 1.888328° -
Hour-by-hour weather
Photos
Stages of the route
This route needs several days, find the details below:
Notes
Worth a visit
With an overnight stay in Orlu, it is possible to climb Pic de Braseil, known as Dent d'Orlu.
With an extra night at the Bésines refuge, you can climb Puig de la Coma d'Or (2826).
Details are provided on each stage's information sheet.
This trip was made at the end of July 2015 with two extra nights as suggested above.
Almost the entire route is on maintainedGR®® orPR®® trails. The refuges still exist.
That year, we gave up on the final ascent of the Dent d'Orlu because of a hailstorm.
When we returned to the car park, the car was white with hail and it was very cold.
So remember to bring warm clothing and rain gear, in addition to everything else.
Reviews and comments
5 / 5
Based on 1 review
Reliability of the description
5 / 5
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
5 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
5 / 5
Philoo82
Overall rating : 5 / 5
Date of your route : Jul 14, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No
Thank you for this superb itinerary, which we completed in three days camping (Lake Estagnas, Faury Pond), cutting across the paths to the refuges without any difficulty.
Stage 1 is not particularly interesting unless you go for a swim in the sulphurous springs above Soula.
But everything else is truly magnificent.
Note that to descend from Porteilla d'Orlu to Faury Pond, there are large rocks that are not easy to navigate, but fortunately they were not wet...
We met very few hikers except at Soula (hot springs and 14 July...) and on stage 4 (hikers doing a loop from Forge d'Olu via En Beys, and the 14 July bridge...).
In my opinion, it's better to park at Forge d'Orlu, because there's more space than in the village of Orlu and because it allows you to walk along the river for 3 km to warm up on the way there rather than having to do it on the way back when the long descent has already been quite challenging (1650 m elevation loss from Couillade d'En Beys, and even in my case 769m elevation gain, 2244m elevation loss, having bivouacked at the Faury pond).
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Other walks in the area
Pic de Brasseil, known as Dent d'Orlu, starting from La Forge
Visorando member 
15.59 km
+1,117 m
-1,126 m
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Ascent of Pic de Brasseil, known as Dent d'Orlu, starting from La Forge.
The Dent d'Orlu is usually accessed from the Poêle à Frire car park at Jasse de Cabane Longue. It is a half-day hike.
This itinerary suggests using the access track to this car park as an approach walk. This allows for a day's hiking and, what's more, a good warm-up before thefirst climb in the forest, which is quite steep.
Forges d'Orlu - Refuge d'en Beys via Naguille and La Couillade d'en Beys
Visorando member 
12.04 km
+1,513 m
-460 m
7 hrs
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Departure from Orlu (Ariège)
Significant elevation gain over a relatively short distance. Magnificent landscapes in a very wild mountain setting. Numerous ponds along the way. A magnificent view from the Couillade d'en Beys. The effort is rewarded throughout the day.
⚠️ Stay on the marked trails: GRP® Tour de la Montagne d'Ax, as you are on the edge of or within the National Reserve.
Étang de Naguille
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10.21 km
+1,022 m
-1,022 m
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A hike starting from Orlu to discover the largest lake in the Ariège Pyrenees!
The Dent d'Orlu
Visorando member 
4.57 km
+688 m
-688 m
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Departure from Ascou (Ariège)
The Dent d'Orlu or Pic de Brasseil is known to climbers for its south-east and south faces, the latter offering a vertical wall of over 1,000 metres. However, its north face, although very steep, is accessible for hiking, as described here. It offers an interesting viewpoint over the Ariège mountains as a whole due to its central position.
Lac d'Aygue Longue and Pic de l'Homme
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9.39 km
+1,039 m
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Departure from Orgeix (Ariège)
In the Orgeix Valley, this very varied hike on a well-marked trail to a beautiful glacial lake can be divided into three parts: a beech forest where you walk not far from the stream and its small waterfalls, meadows at the edge of the forest, and finally a series of small glacial locks leading to the lake's spillway.
You can then climb the Pic de l'Homme, which is easily accessible via the ridge from the Lac d'Aygue Longue, passing through the Col de la Parade.
Via Roc de l'Orri d'Ignaux
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13.65 km
+702 m
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This circular hike above Ax-les-Thermes, towards the summit of Roc de l'Orri d'Ignaux, will take you to a 360° viewpoint over the western part of the Ariège Pyrenees.
For more walks, use our search engine .
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