At the foot of Mont Valier, this hike will take you to the two ponds in the Ribérot valley, the round pond and the long pond (when you see them, you will understand why they bear their names!) Before continuing to the port of Barlonguère and return via the Peyrelade valley. A demanding ride if done during the day but which will give you superb views of the "Seigneur du Couserans".
Round pond and long pond and Port of Barlonguère


Access:

From Saint-Girons, take the direction of Castillon-en-Couserans, then the direction of Bordes-sur-Lez. 2kms after Bordes-sur-Lez, take a small road on the left towards Ayer / Maison du Valier. Pass the hamlet of Ayer and continue for nearly 6km to the Pla de la Lau car park.

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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Your itinerary

Map List

1 - PARKING DEPARTURE PLA DE LA LAU

From the car park, follow the road to the Maison du Valier. Leave it on the left and continue to the right on a marked track, in the direction of the Estagnous-Mont Valier refuge (Leave the route on the right going up in the Peyralade valley, this is where the return will take place). Cross 2 footbridges and continue on the right bank of the stream, until you reach the pretty Nérech waterfall.

2 - NERECH WATERFALL

Cross the footbridge located under the waterfall. The path starts on the left and then continues its ascent on the right side of the valley towards the Cabane des Caussis

3 - CABANE DES CAUSSIS

Once you have passed the cabin, turn right at the fork in the direction of the round pond (the left path leading to the Estagnous refuge). After a short descent, the path rises again and joins the Ribérot stream which you follow until you reach the Rond pond.

4 - ROUND POND

Go through the left side of the lake. At the end of the round pond, the path winds up to the long pond weir.

5 - LONG POND

After crossing the weir, walk along the lake to the right, the path still remaining a little higher. Some delicate passages equipped require special attention.
At the end of the lake, take the path that climbs towards the Port of Barlonguère

6 - PORT OF BARLONGUERE

Descend into the valley to the Barlonguère hut

7 - CABANE DE BARLONGUERE

The trail continues in the same direction, on the right bank of the stream (de barlonguère) to then join the valley of Peyrelade (yellow markings) up to the stream (de Peyrelade). Walk along it for a while on the right bank then cross it and follow it on the left bank to the Peyrelade hut.

8 - PEYRELADE HUT

Pass the hut, and continue to descend quietly on the left bank of the stream. Even if the descent is steep, it does not present any difficulty, the path being well marked. As you approach Ribérot, the descent eases and continues on the left before returning to the path already taken on the outward journey (at the level of the first footbridge) to reach the car park.