Etang d'Artax, in the Trois Seigneurs massif, is the largest lake in the Courbière valley. Discover this magnificent pond nestled in a small cirque at the foot of the Bassibié peak on this easy hike.
Access: Arriving from Foix on the Nationale 20, at the first roundabout on entering Tarascon sur Ariège, follow signs for Banat. Drive through the village of Banat, then Gourbit. Park at the Cardet parking lot.
- Guidebook with maps/step-by-step(D/A) From the Cardet parking lot, at 909m, turn right onto the paved Gaillard path. Follow the ruisseau d'Artax, the path winds under a canopy of hazel trees.
0h40 - PONT DE PIERRE (1120m). Barely visible from the path, turn right. After 150m, take a sharp left. Take a right-hand bend on a wide path beneath the beautiful beech forest. A small stream, a bend to the left, and...
1h10 - FOREST TRAIL. You'll come to the turning point for this trail. After 450m, at a right-hand bend in the track, take the path on the right. It climbs to the crest of a ridge. The path becomes gentler once the ridge returns to the main flank. Turn left. Cut through the tall beech forest, and climb a little as you leave the Bois des Planelles.
1h55 - ORRI (1550m). A beautiful orri on a clearing welcomes you. Cut through the groves of trees and stay on the left side of the valley. You'll find another orri in the ferns. Climb the slope a little and turn left towards the pond.
2h30 - L'ETANG D'ARTAX (1695m)
4h30 - A - To return, simply retrace your steps to the Cardet parking lot.
Services
Services
Free car park
Car park
Pets welcome
Dogs must be kept on a leash due to the presence of herds.