This hike on the GR10 route does not present any particular technical difficulties. After a few hours of walking you will be rewarded for your efforts with the fantastic view of the Fourcat ponds!
Fourcat ponds and the refuge
Arrival at the Fourcat Pond @ David Genestal / Hiking notebooks - Ariège Pyrénées Tourisme

Departure access: From Vicdessos, go to Auzat, Ournac, Bénasque, Artiès, Pradières from above. Departure from the car park (1150m) located under the Pradières power station.

Location

Ariège Pyrenees

South of Ariège, on the border with Andorra, are the Ariège Pyrenees. Between mountainous landscapes and activities, there are many [...]

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Equipments

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  • Free parking

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Fourcat Hut

Refuge

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Your itinerary

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1 - Parking under the Pradières power plant

Climb up the GR10 going up the valley.

2 - Pradière Power Plant

Go around the central, still following the GR10. The trail will take you down a steady slope to the Étang d'Izourt (1650m).

3 - Izourt pond

Go around the lake on its left, east side, to arrive at the bottom of the Caudière (1655m). Cross the small stream to follow the GR10 passing left bank and attack a steep climb on a well-marked winding path. Arrive on a first somewhat marshy flat area.

4 - Bridge

Cross the footbridge. The path will then continue winding through the rocky bars to lead you to the Men of Stone, (stone pyramid) at an altitude of around 2320m. From here, you will begin to spot the Petit Étang du Fourcat and the refuge located above, on the rocky outcrop. On a gentler slope, continue straight ahead to border the Petit Étang Fourcat on the right.

5 - The Fourcat Pond

Arrive at Etang Fourcat and its refuge. From the refuge, it is possible to go to the Etang Fourcat peninsula. The return will be done by the same route as the outward journey to reach the car park.

☝️ Good to know: the section that goes up to the Fourcat refuge from the right bank of the Izourt pond will now be reclassified as "GR10 access". You will therefore no longer see the GR10 signage but the path does exist 😉 And it would be a shame to deprive yourself of the view that the arrival at the refuge will offer you! The section is mapped in black dotted lines on the IGN maps. The trail remains visible on SCAN 50 scale hiking apps.