A family walk on the heights of Lake Bethmale which will take you to the Ayès pond via the Campuls circus, a gathering place for animals during transhumance before leaving for the summer pastures.
Ayes pond
Ayes pond ©Jaro Reynolds - Ariège Pyrénées Tourisme

Road access: In Castillon, take the D4 towards Sentein. In Bordes sur Lez, turn left on the D17. Pass in front of the Bethmale lake. Take the Mount Ner forest track for about 20 minutes to the second car park (a barrier prevents vehicles from entering the Cirque de Campuls).

Additional Information :
You are in the heart of the Pyrenees Ariégeoises Natural Park. We encourage you to adopt responsible behavior in this fragile and shared environment. - Stay on the trails and take your waste with you. - Observe the flora without picking it. - Remain discreet for wild animals. - In summer pasture areas, remember to close fences and barriers. Do not approach or feed animals. If a Patou (herd protection dog) approaches you, move away slowly and calmly. No big gestures or shouting, even if he barks, because he would consider you a threat. If he follows you, ignore him. - Swimming in lakes is not recommended. Sunscreen (even organic!) and other cosmetics are a source of pollution in this fragile environment. - Bivouac is authorized, but only between 19 p.m. and 9 a.m., and more than an hour's walk from a parking lot. - During periods of drought, all fires are prohibited. In other cases, fires are only authorized more than 200m from a forest. Prefer stoves to natural fireplaces. - In the event of a very unlikely encounter with a bear (which is trying to avoid us at all costs): show yourself calmly, move away gradually, and do not run.

Ranking & labels

  • Circuits of France_circuits
  • Registered with the PDIPR

Location

Couserans Pyrenees

On the western part of Ariège, the Couserans and its 18 valleys is a vast territory divided between high mountains, mountains and [...]

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Equipments & services

Equipments

  • Parking

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Core Inn

Restaurant

Arrian-in-Bethmale

Your itinerary

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1 - Departure

Continue on foot on the forest track for 30 minutes to arrive at the Campuls cirque and its hut.

2 - Campuls hut

Let the track go to the right and continue straight on a wide and grassy path. In continuity, this path narrows and climbs in switchbacks to a junction. Turn right, still climbing but in a less difficult way, to lead to the GR10 which follows the ridge. Take the GR on the right and let yourself be taken to the lake effortlessly.

3 - Pond of Ayes

For the return, take the same route.