GR 11- Port de Rius - Estany de Rius - Coret deth Lac Redon - Lac Redon loop

Espitau de Vielha car park - GR 11- Port de Rius - Estany de Rius - Coret deth Lac Redon - Lac Redon loop

A beautiful less-frequented route complete with wildflowers, alpine lakes and snowy (at this time of year) mountain passes. Most of the route is clear, well marked and not technically difficult though it requires good physical fitness and comfort moving in alpine terrain. It is during the ascent and descent from the Coll/Coret deth Lac Redon where there is not a clearly defined or marked trail, though there are some rock cairns for reference and both the col and the lake are very clear points to hike up and down towards.

I parked at the Espitau de Vielha car park just after the Vielha tunnel and started up the signed GR 11 towards Port de Rius. I immediately passed through some lovely alpine meadows filled with flowers and then through the beech and fir forest which provides welcome shade during the hotter months. The entire way to the mountain col Port de Rius is on a well trodden path and marked with GR paint and stone cairns. From Port de Rius the trail meanders along the shore of Estany de Rius until the unsigned intersection where I left the GR to head up towards the Coll/Coret deth Lac Redon. The ascent to Coret deth Lac Redon is gradual from Estany de Rius but the descent on the other side down to Lac Redon is steep (though straightforward). As it is early in the season we had to descend and traverse across some steeper snow slopes, though at this time no special gear was required.

After descending to Lac Redon we followed the path along the left of the lake to a small locked hut. After crossing the stream just passed here the clear trail leads us back down to the intersection of the GR 11 we hiked up on. From here we retraced our steps back to the parking lot. A stunning, very enjoyable route!

NOTE: my garmin watch recorded the distance as 12.61 km and 992m elevation gain - just as reference for planning as the wikiloc recording is not as accurate.