Refuge des Fornells and Roca de la Serp

There is a slight climb to the Refuge des Fornells, followed by a lovely descent through the forest, including an off-trail section at the Roca de la Serp.

Details

857701
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Mountain biking
    Activity: Mountain biking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.14 mi
  • ◔
    Duration according to the author: 45 mins 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 761 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 758 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 6,161 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 5,400 ft

Description of the route

Park in the car park at the bottom of Rue du Canigou in Font Romeu.

(S/E) Walk up Rue du Canigou and turn right onto Rue des Biches. Continue along Rue des Biches, then turn right onto Rue des Chevreuils, until you reach Boulevard du Campredon.

(1) Turn right onto it and follow it until you reach Route de l’Ermitage.

(2) Turn right onto this road and head towards the Rond-Point des Biches.

::3:: Turn left towards the Airelles ski resort. Reach the highest point of the circular route at the Refuge des Fornells.

(4) Go through the barrier and, at the first junction, head down the path that veers slightly to the left. This is a smooth, easy-going path that takes you back down to the Pyrénées 2000 slopes. You’ll reach the D618.

(5) Cross the road and continue along the path directly opposite. The descent is a little more technical but still easy going. You’ll reach the wide, roughly level path linking Super Bolquère to Font Romeu, just below the Calvaire.

(6) Turn right onto it and you’ll soon reach the junction where three paths meet.

(7) Head south-south-east, off-trail through the forest. This off-trail section is more technical and fun, and fairly easy to follow as you ride along the tracks clearly marked by animal passage. Join the path linking the village of Bolquère to Odeillo.

(8) Turn right onto it and continue to the starting car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 5,400 ft - Car park at the bottom of Rue du Canigou
  2. 1 : mi 0.53 - alt. 5,587 ft - Boulevard de Campredon
  3. 2 : mi 1.26 - alt. 5,856 ft - Route de l’Ermitage
  4. 3 : mi 1.81 - alt. 6,017 ft - Col du Calvaire (1856 m)
  5. 4 : mi 2.34 - alt. 6,161 ft - Refuge des Fornells
  6. 5 : mi 3.57 - alt. 5,915 ft - Junction with the D618
  7. 6 : mi 3.96 - alt. 5,748 ft - Super Bolquère to Font Romeu Trail
  8. 7 : mi 4.12 - alt. 5,764 ft - Start of the off-piste descent
  9. 8 : mi 4.63 - alt. 5,446 ft - Bolquère / Odeillo Trail
  10. S/E : mi 5.14 - alt. 5,404 ft - Car park at the bottom of Rue du Canigou

Worth a visit

As you head up the Route de l’Ermitage, you may wish to take a few minutes to walk up to the wayside shrine to enjoy a breathtaking view of the Cerdagne valley.

Reviews and comments

4.3 / 5
Based on 1 review

Reliability of the description
4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
Thaddée-A
Thaddée-A

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 30, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely circular route for mountain bikers. We did it on foot, and it’s less interesting that way as a good bit of it is on the road, but it’s brilliant – especially for us, as we didn’t know the area at all.

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