With the arrival of spring and the May bridges, I can’t recommend enough a Pyrenean getaway to the Haut Salat campsite. This campsite has a lot to offer:
- the Haut Salat campsite is located on the banks of the Salat river and offers on-site swimming facilities
- the beaches are grassy, making for a comfortable siesta (and a very pleasant one at that!)
- the Haut Salat campsite offers superb panoramic views of the mountains
- the campsite is an ideal starting point for hikes, particularly in the Mont Valier massif
We chose the Haut Salat campsite for a (long) weekend because of its location, which makes it an excellent starting point for hikes. With hiking boots and rucksack in the car, we set off for the Ariège and the village of Seix. When we arrived at the campsite, my partner and I fell under its spell. Our pitch offered a magnificent panorama of the Pyrenean mountains. As we were traveling in a roof tent, which gave us a bit of height, we woke up to a breathtaking view worthy of a postcard (or an Instagram post for the younger ones). It doesn’t get much better than that!
The Haut-Salat campsite has many assets, such as its swimming pool and proximity to the village of Seix (800 m), where a Sunday morning market is held. However, for us, the main reason for our choice was hiking. Everything is organized for hikers on the campsite. The owners offer excellent advice and are careful to choose hikes suited to your level. They also offer Topo Guides at reception.
On the first day, we went for a short walk in the forest along the Paloumère trail. It was a little appetizer before the next day’s main course. We set off early in the morning. Destination the Estagnious refuge on the Mont Vallier mountain. A 10 km walk to the refuge. The same to get back down. Fortunately, we’re athletic, as this hike isn’t for everyone. The first few kilometers follow the GR10, with a view of the beautiful Nerech waterfall. The signs are easy to follow. We arrived at the refuge around midday. After enjoying the view, we had lunch in the refuge’s restaurant before taking a well-deserved siesta. The descent is easier than the ascent. We took our time and didn’t arrive at the campsite until 7pm. It was still hot, so we took a refreshing dip in the river. Delicious after a day’s walking.
For our third day, we opted for a much less sporty walk, heading for the “Long and Round” ponds. And there is indeed a long pond and a round pond. We picnicked there and even braved the (very) cool water for a swim. It was… invigorating.
The 3 days at the Haut Salat campsite went by very quickly, but this 100% nature break did us a world of good! We’re already planning to go back, as there are still several hikes we’d like to try. Maybe even a two-day hike with a night in a refuge. Among the sites recommended to us by the campsite owners is the Cagateille cirque, which we’d love to discover on our next trip, and also try our hand at downhill mountain biking at the Guzet resort. The date is set!
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