Below the Col de Jau, Sentier des 5 Sens

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Inspired by a Visorandonneur hike called "Le Sentier des 5 Sens depuis la route du Col de Jau" (The 5 Senses Trail from the Col de Jau road), the idea of doing it on snowshoes was made possible by the exceptional snowfall of the previous days. There was enough good snow to avoid having to climb up and start from the Col de Jau as we did in other winters. Apart from the track leading from the road to the car park, the entire hike took place in virgin snow, allowing us to see animal tracks in all directions. It was a real treat!

Details

n°90304917
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  • Snowshoeing
    Activity: Snowshoeing
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.75 km
  • ◔
    Duration according to the author: 4h 39 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 406 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 406 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,498 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,159 m
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Photos

Return between points 3 and 4
Trail beyond the car park
Footbridge over the Correc de Canrec
Sea of clouds

Description of the walk

From Prades, head towards Molitg-les-Bains (D14). Pass the spa resort and then the village of Mosset towards the Col de Jau. 4 km before the pass, in a right-hand bend, a green sign announces "le Sentier des 5 Sens" (altitude 1159). Park in this bend (not easy because of the snow).

(S/E) Take the track heading south-west. The snow is deep enough to start with snowshoes on your feet that day. Cross the Castellane stream and ignore the track that branches off to the left a little further on.

(1) Leave the return path on your right and continue straight ahead on the track.

(2) Ignore the path that branches off to the left and continue along the trail, which is visible despite the snow. This will take you to an esplanade (car park). Continue along the trail heading south-southwest. Cross the Còrrec de Canrec and, a few metres further on (sign indicating the 5 senses trail), leave the trail.

(3) Continue on the right, following the right bank of the stream. As the path is not visible, follow the Visorando trail and a few yellow markers on the trees.

(4) Cross the Còrrec de Canrec on a footbridge to continue climbing, now following the left bank. Our route then leaves the Visorando trail described above to climb a little higher into the woods and prolong the pleasure of walking on the snow.

(5) A little higher up, you will find a sort of track that leads back to the path you left earlier. The descent is more relaxing and allows you to see the car park without actually going there.

(6) Turn left to climb steadily up a track.

(7) Leave it to follow the Sentier des 5 Sens trail again, which is marked in yellow, then return to the track you took on the way up, a little lower than the car park.

(1) Take the path on the left and walk back in the opposite direction to reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,160 m - Parking outside the hairpin bend
  2. 1 : km 1.16 - alt. 1,246 m - Crossroads of the circular loop
  3. 2 : km 1.49 - alt. 1,268 m - Intersection of trail and path
  4. 3 : km 2.18 - alt. 1,287 m - Intersection of trail and path
  5. 4 : km 2.56 - alt. 1,368 m - Footbridge over the Correc de Canrec
  6. 5 : km 3.17 - alt. 1,498 m - Highest point of the hike, no trail
  7. 6 : km 4.39 - alt. 1,296 m - Intersection with a trail
  8. 7 : km 5.16 - alt. 1,369 m - Intersection of trail and path
  9. S/E : km 6.75 - alt. 1,160 m - Parking outside the hairpin bend

Notes

With this depth of snow, it is obvious that the trails are not visible and that Visorando's GPS track is the only way to make progress in the middle of this immaculate whiteness. The width of the tracks makes them easier to spot, but the pleasure is greater in areas that are completely untouched.

Other walks in the area

Snowshoeing Below the Col Jau, towards the old ski lift

Visorando member
Sous le Col Jau, vers l'ancien téléski
↔6.85 km ↗+309 m ↘-310 m ◔4 hrs ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Mosset (Pyrénées-Orientales)
Circular hike starting below the Col de Jau at the start of the old ski resort. Except for the track leading from the road to the car park, we were able to complete the entire hike in virgin snow and discover areas marked only by animal tracks in all directions.

Snowshoeing Pic Dourmidou

Visorando member
Le Pic Dourmidou
↔7.68 km ↗+406 m ↘-401 m ◔4 hrs ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Mosset (Pyrénées-Orientales)
This year, with its exceptional snowfall, allows you to do this route on snowshoes in good conditions. To climb up to the pass, we took advantage of a very clear road, with no snow or ice. A beautiful hike that takes you to the summit of Pic Dourmidou with heavy snowfall, just after 5 to 10 centimetres of fresh snow fell during the night, adding to the thick layer that had fallen in previous days. Beautiful 360° view from the summit before the fog rolled in.

Snowshoeing Callau Refuge Circular Walk

Visorando member
Boucle du refuge de Callau
↔10.24 km ↗+272 m ↘-272 m ◔5 hrs ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Mosset (Pyrénées-Orientales)
This year, with its exceptional snowfall, it is possible to tackle routes that were difficult to complete in previous years. There seems to be nearly a metre of snow, which is impressive. To climb up to the pass, we took advantage of a very clear road, with no snow or ice. A very beautiful circular route, a little challenging as you sink in a lot, but very interesting. For the less adventurous, a round trip on the flattest part of the route makes for an easy discovery hike (between the Col de Jau at 1,506 metres and the point (2) at 1,529 metres).

Snowshoeing Callau refuge from the Col de Jau

Visorando member
Refuge de Callau depuis le Col de Jau
↔8.55 km ↗+172 m ↘-171 m ◔3 hrs ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Mosset (Pyrénées-Orientales)
Enjoy the snow on an easy walk in Catalan country.

Snowshoeing Loop from the Col de Creu to the Estagnols refuge

Visorando member
Boucle du col de Creu aux refuge des Estagnols
↔10.47 km ↗+311 m ↘-311 m ◔5 hrs ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Matemale (Pyrénées-Orientales)
A lovely loop to do on snowshoes (or on foot in summer) starting from Matemale. The return via the other trail requires a certain level of fitness if the tracks in the snow have not been made. From the Col de La Sansa, follow the yellow-red markings. It is also important to follow the description carefully, otherwise you will have to return to the bottom of the road and walk back up to the pass to retrieve your cars.

Snowshoeing Circular snowshoe loop above Formiguères

Visorando member
↔4.87 km ↗+138 m ↘-138 m ◔2.5 hrs ▲Easy
⚑Departure from Formiguères (Pyrénées-Orientales)
A simple and enjoyable circular snowshoe loop above the village of Formiguères. There was a lot of snow when we did it. The ridge offers magnificent views of the surrounding mountains.

Snowshoeing Pla Segalà from Col de Mantet

Visorando member
Le Pla Segalà depuis le Col de Mantet
↔7.56 km ↗+442 m ↘-442 m ◔6 hrs ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Mantet (Pyrénées-Orientales)
A lovely circular route starting from the Col de Mantet and passing through Pla Segalà. Apart from a few animal tracks, pristine white snow is guaranteed throughout the route.

Snowshoeing Pla Segalà

Visorando member
Pla Segalà
↔9.04 km ↗+568 m ↘-567 m ◔5 hrs ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Mantet (Pyrénées-Orientales)
We really enjoyed this round-trip snowshoe hike, made possible by exceptional snow cover and, above all, the fresh snow that had fallen the previous day. Starting via the track makes for an easier start to the hike, allowing you to warm up rather than immediately taking the GR® 177, which climbs quite steeply through the woods. Leaving the track, the path climbs a little further to join the GRP® and begins a slightly steeper ascent to reach Pla Segalà, the day’s destination.

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