Mountain parking, busy daytime traffic
D618A, 31110, Saint-Mamet
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A gravel parking area at the Portillon pass, on the Spain-France border, offers level places, some shade and nearby hiking and mountain-bike trails. Sleeping is permitted according to the Vielha tourism office, and the latest reports describe evenings and nights as quiet. There are no services apart from bins, while daytime traffic from cyclists, motorcyclists and cars can be busy.
From travellers' reviews
Listing copied from our source, 2 months ago
Very quiet after 7 p.m., with access to hiking routes. Overnight stays are allowed according to the Vielha tourist office. What is prohibited is the track on the right as you drive up from Bossòst. I am not giving it more points because you are ultimately beside a road.
Good place to spend a night. Level. Since it was off-season, there was very little traffic on the road. Beautiful place. No services, only rubbish bins.
Medium-sized parking area at the top of the pass on the border between France and Spain. Gravel, fairly level, sun and shade, and reasonably sheltered from the wind. No facilities, but internet and a rubbish bin. It is somewhat restless during the day because many cyclists, motorcyclists, and cars stop to take photos. When they are gone, it is completely silent. An occasional car passes at night. Several hiking trails start here.
Quiet place, ideal for visiting Aran Park. Cyclists passed in the morning, but everything was excellent. There were more vans and motorhomes. Note that there is a no-overnight-stay sign.
A quiet night, but continuous traffic from 7 a.m. onward from motorcyclists and cyclists, almost all stopping briefly to urinate. Toilet paper scattered along all the little paths around the spot. The next two spots are sloping and just as dirty. Welcome to Spain.
Due to circumstances, we spent Friday night here, and honestly, from 7 a.m. on Saturday the gatherings of motorcycles, cars, and cyclists were constant. So if you want to have breakfast peacefully, choose another spot. Any other one will surely be quieter.
Rather pleasant spot beside a fairly busy road. A picnic table is right next to it. We had a good night.
We spent one night here right on the border. Quiet in the evening and at night. Shaded, with a picnic table. Hiking trails nearby and lots of cyclists passing through.
I checked and found that parking is only restricted on the Spanish side of the border (see picture). No signs with any restrictions in the smaller gravel car park a few metres away in France. I wish I had stayed the night!
