First Summit Series: Pic des Rives, 11340 Ariege
This is a great walk if you’re short of time or looking for something short – but challenging – you can take your time over. It’s a great “mountain” walk for small people too: you get the hard part out of the way first (lots of nice places to stop), amazing views at the top, then a steady yomp back to the start where you’ll find a play park, swimming lake and, in high season, a buvette serving food and refreshments.
What to do on a sunny December day, when the sun is already starting to fall? Head off to the hills and march the whole family up the Pic des Rives, is what!
Having researched this route – at just over 5km and with 400 metres of ascent – it looked like a relatively small ask in terms of travel time (starting at Puivert) and walking time.
Setting off from the car park you head up a track that goes behind the buvette (the wooden shack by the petanque court.) Navigation is straight forward as you’re basically heading up, following a well-trodden path marked with the yellow markers.
The path leads steadily upwards and is pretty interesting: you can’t see too far into the distance (useful for any whingers who get put off by long open routes!) and you pass through pretty woodland sections, with plenty of nice resting spots. If you turn to look behind you, you can see all the way to the Pic de Bugarach!
At some point your path will join an obvious 4×4 access track and the view starts to open up. That means you’re almost at the top! From here, head up and slightly right, to the summit, marked by a mast and an orientation board. Oh, how I love these orientation boards!
After resting at the top, admiring the 360 degree view (you can see to Bugarach, Limoux, and into the heart of the Pyrenees) it’s time to return to the lake.
As with the ascent, the return is well-marked and easy to follow.
Head down to the 4×4 track you climbed on, then take a hard right turn (signposted) onto a narrow footpath. You’ll know you’re on the right path because slightly after the turn there’s a bench and a route marker.
Follow this path down through the woods , through some stunnig beech trees, which made for a fun descent with all the dry leaves, until you reach a fork leading down to the right or slightly up to the left. Just after the left fork (take the left fork) is a bench where we decided to take a(nother) break.
Rest a minute, then continue along the path. Eventually you start to get glimpses of the lake to your right.
Continue down until the path opens up and you find yourself behind the chalets that overlook the lake. A short distance along this road is a path that takes you back to the lake.
The verdict: a nice easy walk with great views
Most of the walk is on the “sunny side” making it a great choice for all times of year. On hot days I’d recommend setting off early so you can picnic at or near the top then return via the woods: it’s shady for most of the way down.
The route
I recommend you print or download this map (and load it into your preferred GPS mapping app) before setting off. Although well marked you could always get lost in bad weather. There is good mobile reception and I was able to use an app to track the route. If you don’t already have such an app, I recommend Komoot.
