The Bouillouses Lakes

Bouillouses Lakes is a registered natural site, known throughout France and Spain for its rugged landscape and many lakes. At an altitude of 2,000m, the mountain lake is the highest lake accessible by road and chairlift in the whole mountain range. Once overrun with cars, vehicle access to the area is now strictly controlled and regular shuttle buses (leaving from the Route des Bouillouses) are now the only form of motorised transport available. Alternatively, you can take a chairlift from Font-Romeu.

An impressive dam was built on Lake Bouillouses in the early twentieth century to control the flow of the river Têt and provide electric power to the mountain railway - the “Train Jaune.”

Like all high mountain sites, it is necessary to arrive on the site not too late to benefit from its best light and from all the walks it offers. Late afternoon thunderstorms are not uncommon in the middle of summer.  We advise you to spend a full day with your family, picnicking in the forest, on the banks or on the edge of the small adjacent lakes, in the middle of the herds of cows and horses that summer here freely throughout the summer. Plots of land belonging to the Spanish enclave of Llivia as well as ancestral grazing rights allow French and Spanish herds to live side by side - a very rare occurrence.

Getting to Lake Bouillouses

Since the summer of 2000, measures have been taken to control the number of tourists travelling in and out of the Bouillouses area. To limit the number of cars, road access is regulated in the summer months, and visitors are invited to use either the regular shuttle bus service or the chairlift.

By road

It is closed from 7am to 7pm, the weekends of June 11-12, 18-19 and 25-26, 2022. Continuous service from Saturday, July 2 to Sunday, September 4, 2022, the weekends of September 10-11 and 17-18, 2022Outside these periods, access is possible by personal vehicle. Parking area at the Pla de Barrès, place of departure of the shuttles leading you to the lake of Bouillouses and on the banks of the Têt.
Schedule of the shuttles: regular service from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm (late returns every 1/2 hour from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm for the last descent).

For the safety and comfort of all users, the access of dogs in the shuttles is authorized provided that they are equipped with a muzzle for the entire journey. The number of animals is limited to a maximum of 5 per vehicle. Information point open 7 days a week from May 13 to October 16, 2022. The practice of camping-car is forbidden in classified site, reception places are available near the site.

Six optional stops:
- La Borde
- Climbing rock
- Pla des Avellans
- Climbing rock of the roc d'Aude
- Lake of Aude
- Bridge of Llivia

Prices of the shuttles : 

• Adults: 6€ / Children under 5 years old: free *
•  Children from 5 to 12 years old: 3€ */ Family package (2 adults + 2 children minimum): 16€.
• Season pass (with photo): 18€ adult, 9€ child/ Têt Valley to Pla des Aveillans: 3€.

Free return
*Reduced rates on presentation of a proof of identity.

By chair lift

In service from July 2nd to August 28th 2022. The chairlift leaves from the place called the South Calm and takes you near the pond of Pradeilles. By following the signs, you arrive in 30 min of walk to the dam of Bouillouses. In case of bad weather, the closing time of the chairlifts can be modified.

Information Tourist Office of Font-Romeu : 04 68 30 68 30 or information point of the dam : 04 68 04 24 61

THE ACTIVITIES PROPOSED ON THE SITE:

THE HIKE
- Loop of the Pradella (1h30)
- The ponds of Esquits (1h50)
- Loop of the Carlit ponds (2h20 variant 9 lakes or 3h30 variant 12 lakes)
- Loop of the lake of Aude (3h35)
- The paths of the Borde - Loop of the Têt (2h)

With a guide : Discovery of the natural environment and the history of the site
with a mountain guide.
from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm and from 1:30 pm to 5 pm and from 8:30 am to 5 pm for the day services. All the themes will be discussed: fauna, flora, the history of the dam, the treaty of the Pyrenees, the breeding... RDV 8h30 ticket office Barres and 13h30 at the information point of the dam for the afternoon outings.

KAYAK
Introduction to canoeing on the lake of Bouillouses from Wednesday 20 July to Wednesday 17 August 2022. Half day in the morning.
Come and discover with your family or friends the lake of Bouillouses in canoe kayak!
Registration required- Knowing how to swim- price: 15€/person
CHILDREN'S GUIDANCE COURSE Permanent of 14 markers allowing to discover the site in a playful way.
Free guidebook available at the information point

CLIMBING
The access paths to the different climbing sites have been marked out - Climbing grades from 4 to 8a+.
Topo "Les Pyrénées du levant" on sale at the store.

GUIDED TOUR OF THE SITE
Easy walk around the dam Duration 1h30 - All public - These visits are for groups - Please contact us for more information.
For more information call 04 68 04 24 61

PERMANENT EXHIBITION on the history of the site
All animations are FREE* and subject to reservation**.
* Except for the initiation to canoeing
** Except for the orientation game

We advise you to bring a map before any hike, to check the weather forecast, to wear good shoes, and to bring water and snacks. You can also, for a hike in all tranquillity, approach all the guides and mountain guides who are there to share their passion for nature and to make you discover the Carlit massif in complete safety. You will find the list of guides and guides, as well as a brochure on the site of Bouillouses in all tourist offices and information points of the territory.

Our advice : 

It is a site not to be missed, plan a whole day to enjoy the panoramas and the animals in summer. Do not hesitate to push the door of the information point of the site of Bouillouses, precious advices will be given to you, and a small brochure with the various proposed routes is at your disposal. Numerous animations are organized during the summer period.