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Pailhères, Tarbésou, Rabassoles and Coume Grande circuits, Ascou

Publié le 22 August 2024 | Ariege, France Eng

Departing from Ascou, this 4-day hike takes you up to the Col de Pailhères, over the Etangs de Rabassoles to the Col de l'Ègue, then northwards over the ridges of the Gabensa and Escales sarrats to the Pic du Tarbésou. Descending to the étangs de Bauzeille, the hike continues through the wild Coume Grande and its orris. Superb scenery, spectacular views of the Dent d'Orlu, the Ax valley and the Ariège Pyrenees, and the presence of large birds of prey - circaètes, vultures and eagles - that majestically soar overhead. There are also some superb bivouacs, notably at the Etang de Llauses in the Orlu reserve, beyond the Col de l'Égue, overlooking the upper Oriège valley, where many isards live.

Technical summary

► Departure point: village of Ascou, Ariège (09)
► Type of route: high-mountain itinerant hike
► Distance: 16 km (D1) / 8 km (D2) / 6 km (D3) / 10 km (D4)
► Cumulative elevation gain: +1060 m (D1) / +460 m (D2) / +460 m (D3) / +160 m (D4)
► Cumulative negative altitude gain: -140 m (D1) / -360 m (D2) / -490 m (D3) / -790 m (D4)
► Total duration: 4 days
► Min and max altitude: 1000 m / 2364 m
► Marking: red and white (GR), yellow (PR) and some unmarked trails
► Equipment in place: none
► Equipment required: GPS track may be useful

Difficulties: some steep or craggy sections.

Access to the place

On the N20 towards Andorra, in Ax-les-Thermes, take the D613 towards the Col du Chioula and turn right further up on the D25 towards Ascou. Park at the bottom of the village, where the GR runs.

Map & topo

Voir en plein écran

Itinerary description

DAY 1: Ascou to Col de Pailhères via Coume Frède, Sarrat du Bancal, Col du Pradel and Crête de Pailhères

Go up into the village along the GR and head for Goulours, leaving the village on the Chemin du Ruscail. Take the Plana road above and a little further on leave the GR to cut through a field and forest to join the valley road at Espy d'En haut. Follow this track for a while, then climb 2 hairpin bends to find Courtal Aybram.

Continue on the track and eventually climb up to Sarrat du Bancal, following the yellow markings. Then turn left, still following the yellow markings, as far as Col de Pradel (end of the road), where you find the GR. Take the GR southwards through the forest, then onto the Pailhères ridge on open ground. Climb the long grassy ramp and finish this first stage just before the Col de Pailhères. Bivouac possible on the GR just before the first houses (spring nearby).

DAY 2: from Col de Pailhères to Etang de la Llause via Etangs de Rabassoles and Col de l'Ègue

Climb to the pass on the GR and head due south towards Tarbésou. Just as the yellow-marked path rises to the right towards the Mounégou ridges, continue on the GR, cutting off below Tarbésou to the east. The route is hilly, with a few small climbs, before reaching the Col de la Coumeille, which gives access to the basin where the Rabassoles ponds are located: the lower pond, the blue pond (rather black) and the blue pond (rather green).

Follow the GR down past the black and blue ponds and up the small valley, still heading south. Pass a last small pond and climb up under a steep cliff to finish at the Col de l'Égue, which opens up views over the Oriège valley and the Dent d'Orlu. Descend to the Gr, still heading south, cross a scree slope and then cross a shoulder to discover the superb Etang de Llause below. Bivouacs are possible on the grassy flats on the east side, away from the peat bogs.

DAY 3: from Etang de la Llause to Etangs de Bauzeille via Sarrat de Gabensa, des Escales and Pic du Tarbésou

Retrace your steps to the Col de l'Égue, then follow the GR to the Etangs de Rabassoles. Just before passing the small pond, turn left onto the yellow-marked path to pass under the Roc de Bragues and join the ridges of the Sarrat de Gabensa. Follow the ridges northwards, with the Pic du Tarbésou in your sights. The Sarrat des Escales gradually climbs back up to finally attack the head of Tarbésou from the south. From the summit, impressive panoramic views of the Ariège Pyrenees, the Coume Grande and the Lauze valley. Presence of vultures, circaetes and possibly golden eagles.

From the summit of Tarbésou, head north on the classic path, quickly leaving it to find a cairned path further down on the west-facing slope. Cross over, staying on this small, steep path, always heading north. Below, spot the 2 Bauzeille ponds. Leave the path and descend a slope lined with heather and bilberry bushes, aiming for the fir-tree ridge overlooking the northernmost Bauzeille pond. A mini-trail, not always very visible, leads down to the pond. Finally, climb a little in the direction of the second pond to find a place to bivouac (not easy, as there are wet spots everywhere).

DAY 4: from the étangs de Bauzeille to the Montmija parking lot via Coume Grande

From the étangs de Bauzeille, follow the yellow-marked path across the valley, over a small shoulder and down to the top of one of the ski resort's chairlifts, at a large antenna. From here, turn right onto the track (heading west) and continue on the path that leads to the Caburlet shepherd's hut (caution: private area during transhumance season).

Pass in front of the hut and follow the yellow-marked path that crosses the eastern flanks of the Coume Grande, remaining at roughly the same altitude until it reaches the orri de Gaberseil and then the orri de Gabensa at the bottom of the valley. Keep your eyes peeled as the trail is only moderately visible in places.

Once at the Gabensa orri, cross the torrent, climb a little and then follow the flanking path, which this time heads back up the west-facing slope. You pass through the forest before emerging further on, still at about the same altitude, in the jasse where you'll find the cabane d'Esprays. From here, follow the yellow markings down through the woods to an old forest track a little further down. Turn right onto this track and follow it down to the bottom, crossing the Coume Grande stream. You then rejoin the valley-bottom track, which returns quietly to the D25 road between Ascou and the Col de Pailhères, at the Montmija parking lot.