Pic Carlit
2,921 m
France
Also known as Puig Carlit, КарлитAlso known as
Puig Carlit · Карлит
- Elevation
- 2,921 m
- Prominence
- 1,001 m
- Difficulty
- 3/10
- Mountain hike
- Best Season
- Jul–Sep
- Routes
- 1
Routes
1The normal route to the highest summit of the Pyrénées-Orientales: from the Bouillouses dam (about 2,005 m) past a chain of glacial lakes to the Estany de Sobirans (about 2,370 m), then steep scree and rock to the col at about 2,770 m and an easy scramble with hands up the final ridge. About 900–1,000 m of ascent, 14–15 km and 6–6½ hours round trip.
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- 7.6 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +936 m
- start → summit
- High Point
- 2,921 m
- Time Up
- 4h 07m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 2h 53m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
From the Bouillouses dam cross to the left past the Bones Hores hotel, leave the GR 10 on the right and take the signed path that climbs steeply through pine forest to the first plateau and the Estany Negre and Estany del Viver (about 30 minutes). At the fork at 2,143 m keep left past the Estany Sec and Estany de la Comassa, then north over a lateral moraine above the Estany Llat and Estany Long and west to the third plateau above the Estany de Trebens and the Estany de Sobirans (about 2,370 m). The first part through the lakes is an easy and very popular family walk. Above Sobirans the path becomes rocky and steeper, crossing scree below the north face of the Tossal Colomer to a small, often partly frozen pool at 2,598 m. A sustained climb on the right-hand side of the slope leads to the col between the Carlit and the Tossal Colomer (about 2,770 m). The last 150 m follow the east ridge, traverse below the summit and climb a short gully and the north-north-west ridge on sound rock, with red paint marks and occasional use of hands. The view reaches from the Pyrenean main ridge to the Mediterranean. Allow about 3¼ hours up. Descend the same way to the Estany de Sobirans, then optionally return by the 'Tour des 12 lacs' via Trebens, Castellà and the Estany de les Dugues, rejoining the ascent path near the Estany del Viver. In snow, the slope above Sobirans becomes a 35–45° couloir needing ice axe and crampons. In July and August the Bouillouses road is closed to cars during the day: park at the Pla de Barrès and take the shuttle bus.
Start
Barrage des Bouillouses2,007 m
- Summer shuttle buses run from the Pla de Barrès car park to the dam; the Pla de Barrès is linked by bus to Mont-Louis, which has a station on the Train Jaune line, and liO coaches serve the area from Perpignan in summer.
- Parking at the trailhead
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barrage des Bouillouses → Pic Carlit | 7.6 | 936 | 21 | 4h 07m |
Waypoints
- Parking: Barrage des Bouillouses2,007 m
Summer shuttle bus terminus from the Pla de Barrès
- Feature: Estany Negre2,169 m
- Feature: Estany de Vallell2,220 m
- Feature: Estany de Sobirans2,325 m
not on route line
- Summit: Pic Carlit2,921 m
Key Passages
- Steep forest climb above the dam
- Lake plateaus (Estany Negre to Sobirans)
- Scree below the Tossal Colomer
- Final ridge and gully with easy scrambling
Equipment
0/5 packedDownloads
Route confidence 80%Overview
At 2,921 m the highest summit of the Pyrénées-Orientales, a twin-topped granite peak rising above a plateau of dozens of glacial lakes in the Capcir and Cerdagne. The normal route is a long but straightforward hike with a short, easy scramble at the top.
The Pic Carlit (Puig Carlit in Catalan) is the high point of the Carlit massif and of the Pyrénées-Orientales department, standing just north of the Cerdagne and west of the Capcir. Its two summits rise above a broad granite plateau dotted with lakes, the Estanys del Carlit, which drain east to the Lac des Bouillouses, a reservoir at about 2,000 m. With about 1,000 m of prominence, it dominates the eastern Pyrenees and gives a view from the main chain to the Mediterranean.
The Bouillouses area is a protected 'site classé' and one of the most visited mountain spots in the region; in July and August cars are banned from the access road by day and shuttle buses run from the Pla de Barrès. The walk to the first lakes is an easy family outing, and the 'Tour des lacs' circuits are popular. The summit route continues through steeper scree and finishes with a short scramble on sound granite.
It is a long day for an ordinary hiker rather than a technical climb. In winter and spring the east face becomes a classic ski-mountaineering and snow route with couloirs of 35–45°.
Climbing Notes
Fit hikers can do it in a day: about 900–1,000 m of ascent, 14–15 km and 6–6½ hours round trip from the Bouillouses dam. Only the last 150 m need hands, on easy, sound rock, but the ridge can be unnerving for anyone prone to vertigo. Start early, as the summit is very busy in summer and afternoon storms are common; bring warm clothes for the wind on top.
In July and August, plan for the shuttle bus from the Pla de Barrès (dogs must be muzzled on board) or walk up from the car park. Snow often lingers above the Estany de Sobirans until June, when an ice axe and crampons are needed. Bivouacking is tolerated in the site classé but camping is not; tents must be taken down in the morning, and fires are allowed only at designated fireplaces.
History
The first ascent on ski was made on 3 February 1923 by Lluís Estasen, Joan Navarro and Josep Puntas during a traverse from the Bouillouses to Porté, described by Estasen in the Bulletin of the Centre Excursionista de Catalunya in 1927. Routes on the west face and the south ridge from the Étang de Lanoux were described in French alpine journals in 1928 and 1932. No record of the first ascent on foot was found.
Season
Best Jul–Sep- January: Not advisable
- February: Not advisable
- March: Possible
- April: Possible
- May: Possible
- June: Good
- July: Best (best window)
- August: Best (best window)
- September: Best (best window)
- October: Good
- November: Not advisable
- December: Not advisable
- Jan
- Winter; ski mountaineering only; road closed in winter
- Feb
- Winter; ski mountaineering
- Mar
- Ski mountaineering on the east face for experienced parties
- Apr
- Spring ski mountaineering
- May
- Snow in the upper slopes; ice axe and crampons
- Jun
- Snow patches above Sobirans early in the month; shuttle at weekends
- Jul
- Main season; road closed by day, shuttle buses; afternoon storms
- Aug
- Very busy; shuttle buses; afternoon storms
- Sep
- Quieter; shuttle at weekends only
- Oct
- Good until the first snow; cold on top
- Nov
- Winter conditions
- Dec
- Winter conditions
Access & Permits
- Fees
- Bouillouses shuttle bus from the Pla de Barrès (2026: adult EUR 8.50, reduced EUR 6.50, child 5–12 EUR 4.50); free for people with a disability card
- Rules
- Site classé des Bouillouses: in summer (roughly late June to early September; daily in July–August) the RD60 from the Pla de Barrès to the dam is closed to private cars by day and served by shuttle buses
- No parking on the RD60 verges; park at the Pla de Barrès or below the dam; sleeping in vehicles at the Pla de Barrès is forbidden
- Camping is forbidden; bivouacking is tolerated, but tents must be taken down in the morning
- Fires only at the designated fireplaces, and banned altogether when fire risk is high or wind is 40 km/h or more
- Dogs must wear a muzzle on the shuttle buses
- Getting There
Mont-Louis; Font-Romeu
Perpignan–Rivesaltes (PGF); Toulouse-Blagnac (TLS)
- Car: from Mont-Louis follow the signs to the Lac des Bouillouses (RD60); in summer park at the Pla de Barrès (600 spaces) and take the shuttle about 10 km to the dam
- Outside the shuttle period you can drive to the car park below the dam; in winter the road is closed at the Pla des Avellans
- From Font-Romeu, a gondola and chairlift reach the Pradeilles area, about 30 minutes' walk from the dam
- Train: the Train Jaune (Villefranche-de-Conflent – Latour-de-Carol) stops at Mont-Louis; summer coaches from Perpignan
Hazards
- Weather
- Exposure
- Avalanche