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Circuit des Estives d'Artignan
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Description
The Artignan estives hike offers a beautiful circuit with a wild and varied scenery, and the Urets-Serre de Chiche crossing is also a good way to discover the grandiose estives.
Technical Information
Altimetric profile
Starting point
Date and time
- From 15/06/2024 to 31/01/2025
- From 15/06/2025 to 31/01/2026
Additional information
Updated by
Office de Tourisme Couserans Pyrénées - 24/06/2024
www.tourisme-couserans-pyrenees.com/
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Guidebook with maps/step-by-step
1/ Leaving Le Bocard (mine wash) 0h - 920 m
Cross the stream and follow the forest track as it winds through a narrow gorge towards the Plagne cirque. At the entrance to the cirque, leave the track and turn left towards the port of Urets (GRT) and climb up a path that runs through a large pile of gravel. It twists and turns through a beech forest. The exit from the wood is grandiose and the valley begins to bend, leading quickly to the ‘Cabane d'Haou’.
2/ Cabane d'Haou 1h35 - 1360 m
The path climbs into the Haou meadow and then passes a spring. After crossing a few streams, you reach the Couméda spring. Despite a few nettles, the good, steady path becomes a little steeper at around 1800 m. Above this you come to the dam and the
3/ Cabane d'Urets 3h - 1947 m (spring almost in the lake)
Go all the way around the lake to join a path on the left that rises to the north-east towards a small shoulder before the path forks to the left and descends a little. The path, marked in yellow and almost level, takes you after a long time to the summer pastures and the ‘Cabane d'Artigny’.
4/ Cabane d'Artignan 3h50 - 2010 m
Beyond the hut, take the path through Artignan, which rises slightly to the left. The cairned path (small pile of stones) crosses a stony area to cut through a rhododendron meadow. The path crosses several corridors before passing close to a mine gallery. Finally, you begin a gentle descent and soon reach the
5/ Serre de Chiche 4h35 - 1961 m
Descend the wide grassy ridge (light track at this point). After 3 or 4 minutes of descent you will come to a rock (alone and right on the ridge). From here, head right down the slope where you will find a good path before crossing a fence to reach the
6/ GR10 junction 5h - 1710 m
Do not cross the stream, but descend to the left along it. The GR passes by a stone shepherd's hut and then enters the woods. Continue downhill until you reach the bottom of the valley, where you will find the forest track and the GR.
7/ Bocard 6h10 - 920 m
Environments
In the country
Forest location
Mountain location
Close to GR footpath
Open period
From 15/06 to 31/01.
Subject to favorable snow and weather conditions.
Contact
Phone : 05 61 96 26 60
Email : contact@tourisme-couserans-pyrenees.com
Website : www.tourisme-couserans-pyrenees.com/
Facebook : www.facebook.com/tourismecouseranspyrenees/
Tricky passages
Can be done from mid-June to the first heavy snowfalls.
We strongly advise against snowshoeing in winter: this route is constantly exposed to avalanches.
Type of land
Rock
Stone
Ground
Location complements
Access by road :
After Sentein, take the D4. After 4 km, past the EDF factory, turn left onto the road, which quickly becomes a track for a few metres.
Start at Le Bocard (mine laundry)
Data author
