Mountain Biking & Cycling in Ax-les-Thermes: Col de Pailhères
Mountain biking and cycling in Ax-les-Thermes: marked routes
Ax-les-Thermes and its valley offer routes for every level, from an easy family ride along the river to the legendary climb of the Col de Pailhères for serious cyclists.
Ariège valley greenway
An easy route along the river, suitable for families and e-bikes.
Village loop
A 35km circuit linking Ax to Ascou, Ignaux and Orgeix, with moderate elevation gain.
Bike park descents
Technical downhill mountain bike tracks, accessible via the cable car.
Col de Pailhères (2,001m)
The Col de Pailhères is a legendary climb, renowned throughout the cycling world — one of the most iconic passes in the Pyrenees for serious cyclists looking for a real challenge. Whether you’ve been planning this climb for a while or you’re discovering it for the first time, it’s one of the region’s great cycling landmarks.
Starting from Ax-les-Thermes itself, the climb is 18.6km with 1,281m of elevation gain (average gradient 6.9%, up to 10.4% in the final kilometres) — a profile often compared to the Tourmalet. Like most Pyrenean passes at this altitude, the Col de Pailhères is closed by snow in winter and typically reopens in spring or early summer; we’d recommend checking its current status directly before setting out, especially early or late in the season.