The 10 most beautiful hikes to do in Ariège
Located in the Occitanie region, theAriège department is renowned for its magnificent landscapes, natural heritage and numerous monuments and tourist sites.
Thanks to these riches, this destination is recognized as being favored by tourists, vacationers and especially hikers. You can explore the Ariège Pyrenees with your family or friends, on foot, by bike, on horseback or by car.
Are you a hiking enthusiast? This region of the Pyrenees has many tours that you can do with your family or friends during weekends or vacations.
Here are a few of the most popular tourist routes you can take during your visit:
The blue pond
L’étang bleu is a small pond located in the Courbière valley, west of the communes of Courbit and Rabat-les-Trois-Seigneurs. Intense blue in color due to its depth, this lake in the French Pyrenees is popular with fishermen, tourists and hikers.
This circuit of hike will offer you an impregnable sight on the high mountain ariégeoise and on its small ponds high perched. Despite the steep climbs, the route is easy and safe, and perfectly suitable for children.
It starts at the Pla du Ressec parking lot, a rest and picnic area where you can recharge your batteries a little before the long walk. You then cross the Courbière stream, which leads to the Bois du Debès du Ressec and the Baratus stream. After passing the small orri, you’ll follow a series of switchbacks where you’ll catch a glimpse of the Rocher de l’Aigle and arrive at the jasse de l’étang bleu.
You will find several ruins of shepherds’ huts. Continue west to the small knoll overlooking the Rives and Tirou ponds. From here, you’ll enjoy a unique panorama of the surrounding area.
For the return journey, take the Cirque d’Embans path to the Bois du Cirier. Then continue towards La Courbière, in the direction of the Cirque d’Embans, cross the meadow and arrive at the Embanels hut. Turn right and follow the path to the forest road which will take you back to your starting point.
The castle of Roquefixade and the cave of Coulzonne
The Château de Roquefixade sits atop a huge cliff, giving you a unique view of the Ariège and the surrounding area. Suspended at 1033 m height, this fortress is maintained by a stone arch spanning a fault in the rock. The Grotte de Coulzonne, also known as the Grotte de l’Église Catholique, was used to celebrate masses during the French Revolution.
This hiking trail starts at Roquefixade village square and continues to the château. Take the opportunity to discover all the remains of this historic Ariège building. Then, continue on the yellow marked path that leads to the Coulzonne cave. Then turn right into the meadows of Coulzonne and join the fork. Continue on the Cathar path, marked with red and white markers, which leads to the monument to the dead of the Battle of Roquefixade. Continuing west-northwest on the narrow path, you can return to the starting point.
Soum de Bazillac from Prat d’Albis
Live a unique experience in the petrifying waterfalls of Roquefort-les-Cascades, a real paradise for hikers and nature lovers. Explore every nook and cranny of this natural site, crossing streams and venturing around the majestic 30-metre-high tuffière where the three waterfalls follow one another.
This succession of waterfalls offers a magnificent spectacle in winter, autumn and spring during the rainy and snowmelt periods. You can also contemplate the limestone caves, rest on the rocks, picnic or stroll along the trees.
The waterfalls of Roquefort
Go on an adventure on this 16.7 km loop. This tour starts at Prat d’Albis, a 1,211-meter-high climb that has become a hot spot for paragliders. On the way, you’ll cross streams such as the Caugue and Couers.
You can also stroll along the Col du Touron, which leads to the Pas de Bazillac, which in turn leads to the Pointe du Picou. From there, you can admire the Pyrenees chain, the valley of the Ganac stream and the plain of Basse-Ariège.
Once you’ve reached the summit, which is theobjective of this hike, you can head back down towards the Pas de Bazillac, the Pla d’Estal, the Pla des Peyres and the cistern leading back to the trail you started on.
The way to the mine
It’s about 6 km long. It starts at the Vicdessos Tourist Office square, continues to the Palet de Sanson, with its breathtaking views over the valley, and on to the village of Sem.
You can then take the Trémie et Poudrière trail down the ore to Cabre, cross the footbridges over the stream, head for the village of Arconac over the bridge and join Vicdessos via the D708A.
The Decauville tunnels in the Orle valley
It’s a medium-distance circuit, about 11 km long. Originally, the Decauville track was nothing more than a narrow-gauge rail for waggons pulled by mules. Today, all that remains are the tunnels and the balcony path offering hikers an incredible panorama of the Orle valley.
This route starts from the Pucelle parking lot and the Port d’Orle path. Then, after a series of twists and turns, you will arrive at the Decauville track. After about 5.5 km, you can descend into the valley near the hamlet of Artiguepla and return to the starting point.
La dent d’Orlu
With its altitude of 2,222 meters and steep, craggy southern face, the Dent d’Orlu has become a favorite destination for hikers and climbers. It is one of the medium-altitude peaks of the Pyrenean mountain range and part of the Orlu National Game and Wildlife Reserve.
This place is home to incredible animal and plant species that you can discover during your walk. On reaching the summit, you can also enjoy a magnificent view over the valley. This route takes about 3 hrs 10 min and is about 5 km long.
Pic d’Estibat from Col de Port
This 10 km loop starts at the Col de Port, where you’ll have an exceptional view of the Saurat valley and the Tabe massif, and passes the Pic d’Estibat, where you can admire the entire Pyrenean chain.
Once you arrive at Gour du Souil, you will see tables, a hut and a pond. It’s the perfect place to stop for a family picnic and enjoy the scenery.
The loop of the Pic des Trois Seigneurs
The Pic des Trois Seigneurs rises to an altitude of 2,199 metres. It’s a quiet, relaxing trail that takes in some of the most beautiful scenery in the Ariège Pyrenees. This 11 km loop trail is fairly difficult, so it’s best reserved for experienced hikers.
The route includes some fairly technical sections, especially when there’s snow. It starts at the Place de Vicdessos, passes the Pont de Ganioule and theEtang d’Arbu. Take the opportunity to swim, rest and eat a little while enjoying the scenery. After crossing the steep passages, you will arrive at the Pic des Trois Seigneurs and can continue your way to reach the Pic de Barrès. The descent will then lead you to the port of Lers, the starting point.
The loop of the ponds of Fontargente
The three ponds of Fontargente are located in Ariège in the Aston valley. They are characterized by crystal-clear lakes, mountainous landscapes, grassy ridges, towering rock faces and are surrounded by sharp peaks such as Pic de Rulje or Pic Nègre de Juclar.
If you’d like to take this route, you’ll need to cover a distance of around 8 km. This circuit begins at the Pla de las Peyres parking lot, continues along the marked trail and ends at the 3 ponds, passing by the Refuge du Ruhle.
Where to stay in Ariège ?
After a long walk, you probably need a place to stay. Why not come to one of Marc & Montmija‘s vacation villages. These accommodations are all located in the heart of the Pyrenees, close to various hiking trails.
In addition, Marc & Montmija also offers you the chance to stay in perfectly appointed gîtes or chalets, complete with terrace and garden furniture, so you can take full advantage of the surrounding landscape.
If your trail is in Ax-les-Thermes, for example, you can stay in the vacation village Le Tarbesou, located at an altitude of 1,400 m on the Bonascre plateau. In addition to the panoramic views of the region, you will enjoy fully equipped rooms with all the comforts.
You can also take part in the various activities organized by the entertainment teams, such as shows, aquagym, swimming pool, pétanque tournaments, fishing…
They also organize hikes and walks to help you discover the wild nature of the Ariège mountains, as well as its cultural and culinary treasures. A club has been specially created to entertain your children.
