Station de Camurac

Station de Camurac is the only ski resort in the Aude department, straddling the border between the Pyrénées Audoises and Ariège, across the villages of Camurac and Montaillou. Its small scale and family-friendly feel set it apart from the bigger Pyrenean resorts — this is a place for skiers who want slopes without the crowds and lift queues.

Where exactly is the resort?

The chalets and tourist facilities cluster around Camurac, in the Pays de Sault, while most of the ski runs actually lie across the departmental boundary, on the territory of neighboring Montaillou in Ariège. The ski area sits between 1,550 and 1,800 meters of altitude, which keeps snow cover reliable through most of the winter season.

How do you get to Camurac?

Camurac can only be reached by road — there is no direct rail line into the resort. From Carcassonne the drive takes about 1 hour 30 minutes, and from Toulouse around 1 hour 45 minutes. The nearest train stations are in Foix and Ax-les-Thermes, from where you'll need a rental car or taxi to finish the journey.

What will you find on the slopes in winter?

In winter, skiers have 11 downhill runs served by 4 lifts: 2 green, 5 blue, 2 red and 2 black. Beginners get a dedicated learning area with a rope tow, plus a ski and snowboard school with a snow garden for young children. A network of 25 snow cannons keeps the pistes covered, and there's a toboggan run for anyone after a faster descent without skis.

Beyond classic alpine skiing, the resort runs a broad menu of winter activities: dog-sled rides, cani-kart and cani-rando (running with a dog), rental of both classic and electric-assist mountain bikes, guided outings paired with themed workshops, and even a night in an igloo or an evening around the fire in a tipi.

And in summer?

Camurac has steadily reinvented itself as a year-round destination. In summer the terrain becomes a Bike Park with marked mountain-biking trails, and the surrounding forests and pastures make it a genuine hiking and MTB paradise — kilometers of trails wind through the varied high-mountain landscape of the Pays de Sault.

Who runs the resort?

Since 2014 the resort has been managed by the Communauté de communes des Pyrénées audoises, a joint-municipality body that has helped standardize investment in infrastructure and push forward the four-season strategy.

When should you visit?

The ski season generally runs from December to March, depending on snowfall — artificial snowmaking helps extend it in leaner years. Hikers and mountain bikers are best served between June and September, when the trails are fully open and temperatures favor outdoor activity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Camurac a large ski resort? No — it's the smallest and only ski resort in the Aude department, with 11 runs and 4 lifts. Its appeal lies in its intimate scale, not its size.

Can you reach Camurac by train? There's no direct rail connection. The closest stations are Foix and Ax-les-Thermes, and you'll need to continue by car or taxi from there.

Is Camurac suitable for children? Yes — the resort runs a ski and snowboard school with a snow garden for young kids, plus a separate gentle learning zone for beginners.

What can you do in Camurac outside the winter season? In summer the resort operates a Bike Park and offers a dense network of hiking and cycling trails through the forests and pastures of the Pays de Sault.