Walking tours
For an itinerant hike or trek lasting several days, there's the classic GR10, which crosses the Pyrenees via the Orlu and Valier reserves. The Route du Piémont to Santiago de Compostela (GR78) and the Tours de pays each reveal little-known aspects of Ariège. As for the GR7, which stretches from the Vosges to the Pyrenees chain, it crosses Ariège for around 130 km. At night, gîtes d'étapes and high mountain refuges offer fireside hospitality. On summer evenings, some transform into storytellers' dens, literary salons and even wine-tasting cellars. Cathars, smugglers, shepherds and smugglers have always played at borders. The natural barrier of the Pyrenees is pierced by secret passages that only the initiated ever used. Some twenty cross-border itineraries bring to life the ancestral exchanges between the valleys, for hikes lasting from 2 to 7 days. The Chemin de la liberté, used during the Second World War by those fleeing the German occupation, is a moving route. The Chemin des Bonshommes takes you back to the Middle Ages, in the footsteps of the last Cathars.
By bike and on horseback
Cycling and mountain biking
From family Sunday rides on flat terrain to repeated climbs of several steep, long passes, the range of routes on offer is varied. The Tour complet de l'Ariège is designed for trained cyclists. They climb the Col de Pailhères, the Col de la Core, the Col d'Agnes, the Port de Lers... It's no coincidence that the Tour de France often stages in Ariège. They are always very popular with race organizers. If you're looking for unusual descents, nothing beats mountain biking. there are 450 km of marked trails, tracks and circuits. Hardened cyclists won't want to miss L'Ariégeoise, the great mountain race. Every year, it attracts over 4,000 participants from all over the world. The Ronde de l'Isard, an international cycling race, showcases top young talent in the amateur field.
Horse and donkey
An ideal land for riders, Ariège can also be explored on horseback. Nearly sixty equestrian centers and farms offer a wide range of activities, from introductory rides to long-distance treks. 1200 kilometers of trails offer themed tours combining riding and cultural discoveries, with friendly accommodation in gîtes and chambres d'hôtes.
Voies vertes, when railroads become greenways.
The Ariege has always been a railroad hub. It's an ingenious idea to turn these railroads into dirt roads! You'll cycle, walk or ride from station to station, on a track without rails or motorized equipment, passing through hitherto forgotten engineering structures. Signs tell the story of these now silent tracks. A touching, rural stroll between nostalgia and discovery. Voie verte from Foix to Saint-Girons and in the Cathar Pyrenees, from Mirepoix to Lavelanet.
Winter sports
The vast ski area of the Pyrénées ariégeoises covers 10 resorts, including 4 for cross-country skiing, stretching from Mont Vallier to the Capcir border.
Ascou-Pailhères (1500m-2000m) specializes in welcoming toddlers: the resort has a snow garden and a separate toboggan area. But skiers of a good level, including snowboarders, should also find something to suit them.
Ax 3 domaines (1400m-2400m). This is the largest ski area in the Ariège and the most complete in the Pyrenees. The 3 Domaines bring together the Bonascre, Saquet and Campels slopes, which interconnect to form a single, vast gliding carpet. In addition to downhill skiing, you can also go snowboarding, artistic skiing or Nordic skiing. Thanks to its facilities for the disabled, Ax has been awarded the Handisport label.
Plateau de Beille (1800m-2000m). Above Les Cabannes, on the Plateau de Beille, you'll find the leading cross-country skiing area in the Pyrenees, as well as the leading snow stadium in France. The altitude guarantees one of the best snow conditions in the region. The natural environment is unspoilt, providing a breath of pure, invigorating air.
Goulier Neige (1500m-2000m). Above Auzat and Vicdessos, this small Sport Nature resort at the foot of Montcalm is one of the friendliest, far removed from the spirit of competition.
Guzet Neige (1100m-2100m). Above the Col de la Trappe, this very natural resort is planted with a colony of 350 small, cosy stone and wood chalets surrounded by fir trees.
Les Monts d'Olmes (1400m-1955m). The resort of our Olympic champion Perrine Laffont boasts substantial snow cover, enhanced by a battery of snow cannons. The slopes are short, but technically interesting and very pleasant. In summer, there's no shortage of activities either: downhill mountain biking, arapaho (all-terrain scooter)...
Mijanès ski resort. The Donezan region is crowned with peaks whose relief and altitude ensure good snow cover. The southernmost resort in the Ariege Pyrenees plants its sticks on the border between the Aude and Pyrénées-Orientales regions, guaranteeing long-lasting sunshine.
White water sports
With 400 km of adapted rivers and 6 different levels of difficulty, whitewater sports can be enjoyed à la carte in Ariège. Canoeing, rafting, canoeing-kayaking, hydrospeed, canyoning... swim, jump, slide in a watery, acrobatic and playful world. The lakes are a delight for windsurfers, campers, dinghies and swimmers... In addition to Montbel and Le Carla-Bayle, there are Mercus, Mondély, Labarre... not forgetting the countless mountain lakes that can be reached after a little or a lot of walking.
Fishing
With 2,500 km of rivers and 800 ha of lakes, 80% of which are classified as1st category, the Ariège is a fishing paradise where trout, carp, zander, pike, shad, fountain salmon, gudgeon, American crayfish, arctic char, barbel, roach, bream, chub and tench abound.. From high-altitude torrents to large, wide rivers, from peaceful streams to capricious brooks, fishing is sport, passion, pleasure, relaxation and enjoyment of nature. 143 mountain lakes are listed for this sport.
