Montcalm and Pique d'Estats

Sport
Pedestrian sports
Hiking itinerary

Elevation : 1170m

Parking de l'Artigue, 09220 Auzat

10h 30min
Very difficult

DepartureAuzat
Distance18.5 km
Difference in height2128 m
Elevation1170 m
Minimum altitude1185 m
Maximum altitude3100 m
Total positive elevation2129 m
Total negative elevation-2128 m

GPX TRACE

- - 05 61 64 60 60
  Contact Montcalm and Pique d'Estats
  Trip
  Civility ^*
  Name ^*
  First name ^*
  Email ^*
  Phone
  Message ^*
  I would like to receive information from :
  Montcalm and Pique d'Estats
  ^* You may at any time unsubscribe our mailing lists.
  Vous disposez d'un droit d'accès, de modification, de rectification et de suppression des données qui vous concernent, (art. 34 de la loi "Informatique et Libertés" n°78-17 du 6 janvier 1978). Pour l'exercer, envoyez un mail à l'administrateur du site. Vous êtes informés que le secret des correspondances transmises sur le réseau Internet n'est pas garanti. Les informations qui vous concernent sont destinées à l'éditeur du site (cf infos légales).
  Thanks. Your message has been sent.
  Une erreur est survenue lors de l'envoi du formulaire.
- - Facebook page

Randonneuse redescendant du Montcalm — ©@claire.snchz

Vue sur étang en contre-bas du Montcalm — ©@claire.snchz

Vue depuis le sommet du Montcalm — ©@claire.snchz

Montcalm is symbolic as the first 3000-metre peak in the Pyrenees to be reached from the Mediterranean, while Pique d'Estats is the highest peak in Catalonia, which explains why these two peaks are a must in the Pyrenees.

Access: From Vicdessos on the D8, pass Auzat. On leaving Marc, turn right onto the D66 towards l'Artigue, and park at the Artigue parking lot.

Guidebook with maps/step-by-step
(D/A) - Parking de l'Artigue. Head south-east and follow the signposted path to Refuge du Pinet. Leave the path leading to the Port de l'Artigue on your right, then cross the torrent on a footbridge and turn left at the next junction. About 800m further on, leave the Orris de Pujol path on your left. The path slowly emerges from the forest onto a mountain pasture with an extraordinary view of the Bassiès massif to the north. -

1h30 - Fork to Sourd pond. At the junction, leave the path leading directly to the Refuge du Pinet on your right and turn left towards the Étang Sourd.

2h00 - Etang Sourd. Once you've reached the pond, walk along it on the right until you reach the hut, from which the path leads to Le Pinet, and continue to the refuge.

3h00 - Refuge and Etang du Pinet. Once at the Refuge du Pinet, head south and follow the path to the left towards the Étang d'Estats (2420m): you can bivouac on grassy pitches.

4h00 - Etang d'Estats. Continue to Étang du Montcalm. Follow the well-marked path over several rocky bars. You'll gradually gain height! At the path junction, turn left to reach the Col du Montcalm (2970m). From this pass, turn right onto the well-marked path that leads to the ridge and a small pass below Pique d'Estats (3100m).

5h30 - Pique d'Estats. Turn left to reach the Pique d'Estats. There's still around 40m of ascent where you'll need to put your hands down, but none of it is very aerial. On the narrow ridge are a number of crosses and plaques symbolizing Catalonia. The panorama takes in all the surrounding massifs of Ariège (Bassiès, Fourcat, Valier...), Spain and Andorra! Return to the small pass.

5:45 - Pic de Verdaguer. Once at the col, continue along the ridge opposite to reach the Pic de Verdaguer (3129m) in 5 minutes.

6h00 - Pic du Montcalm. Continue along the ridge to reach the summit of Montcalm (3077m). Here you can admire the magnificent view of L'Estats opposite.

You can now return along the same path to the Artigue parking lot.