Biros Tower

This tour of the countryside, located in the heart of the Biros Valley, is incredibly beautiful and will introduce you to the history of this mining valley. A hiking tour, the route opens the doors to exceptional panoramas with views of the peaks.

The Biros tour is a hiking tour (approximately 20 hours) offering several breathtaking viewpoints of wild nature and the Pyrenees mountain range, as grandiose as it is beautiful.

This fully signposted tour of the countryside follows pastoral, mule, and mining trails in a mid-mountain setting. The highest peaks of the Biros Mountains are revealed in magnificent panoramas along the way. This circuit allows you to discover all the riches of the Biros Valley's natural and mining heritage.

A mountain refuge and two stopover lodges welcome you with half-board or full-board options. The stages vary between 4 and 6 hours of walking.

The Tour du Biros is the perfect introductory loop to discover hiking in an exceptional natural setting, ideal for friends or family (children from 8 years old). The mountains are steep and the trails steep, so remember to keep a slow and steady pace. For the more adventurous, it is possible to climb the Pic du Crabère, which peaks at 2629m.


Further information :

This route requires you to be in good physical shape and to have experience hiking for several days. Regarding equipment, good walking shoes, hiking clothes suitable for all weathers (wind, cold, storms, rain, snow, heat, etc.), a 40L backpack, a sleeping bag and accessories such as a water bottle, knife, pocket pharmacy, lamp, compass and map are essential. IGN maps and a compass may be sufficient if you know the different stops at lodges and walking times per day.

However, in the event that your route and route plan are not precisely established, purchasing the guidebook "La traversée des Pyrénées Pyrénées Ariégeoises et tours du Val du Garbet et du Biros" is highly recommended. Inside, you will find a precise description of the route, the markings to follow, possible stops, lodgings, and timetables. This purchase can be made at all tourist offices in the Couserans Pyrénées.

Additional Information :
You are in the heart of the Ariège Pyrenees Natural Park.

We encourage you to adopt responsible behavior in this fragile and shared environment.

- Stay on the trails and take your waste with you.

- Observe the flora without picking it.

- Stay discreet, for wild animals.

- In summer pasture areas, remember to close fences and gates. Do not approach or feed the animals. If a Patou (a livestock protection dog) approaches you, move away slowly and calmly. Do not make large gestures or shout, even if it barks, as it will consider you a threat. If it follows you, ignore it.

- Swimming in lakes is not recommended. Sunscreen (even organic!) and other cosmetics are a source of pollution in this fragile environment.

- Bivouacking is permitted, but only between 19 p.m. and 9 a.m., and more than an hour's walk from a parking lot.

- During periods of drought, all fires are prohibited. In other cases, fires are only permitted more than 200 meters from a forest. Stoves should be used instead of natural fireplaces.

- In the unlikely event of an encounter with a bear (which will try to avoid us at all costs): approach calmly, move away gradually, and do not run.

We advise you to keep dogs on a leash, especially in summer pasture areas where it would be dangerous for you and your dog if it approached the herds due to the presence of Patous. No pets are allowed in shelters and stopover lodges.

Working Languages

• French

In detail

• Distance: 47 km
• Positive elevation: 3040 m
• Route type: loop
• Marking precision: Alternation between Yellow and Red markings (GR de pays) and White and Red (GR 10)
• Nature of the terrain: Rock
• Type of land: Pebbles
• Type of land: Earth
• Type of land: Hard surface (tar, cement, floor)

Equipment

• Parking
• Free parking

Services