The best time of year to start walking the Via Garona (also known as the GR 861) is May to early June, or September to early October. These months consistently offer the most favorable hiking conditions along this quiet, riverside route from Toulouse to Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges.
Why these months? They strike the right balance between pleasant temperatures, relatively dry weather, and fewer extreme conditions.
Spring brings mild, comfortable days and vibrant countryside scenery. Rain is possible, but less intense than during stormier parts of the year. You’ll also benefit from long daylight hours and quiet paths ahead of the summer holiday season.
Early autumn offers cooler days than summer, with fewer heat spikes and generally stable weather. Rain becomes slightly more frequent in mid-October, but the earlier weeks still provide an excellent window for walking—especially for those who enjoy crisp mornings and changing foliage.
In contrast, high summer can bring excessive heat, while winter and early spring are more likely to include wet spells or unexpected cold snaps.
Whether you're planning a springtime walk beneath budding trees or an autumn journey through golden landscapes, these shoulder-season months are your best bet for an enjoyable experience on the Via Garona.
Of course, while these recommendations provide a solid starting point, everyone's preferences and circumstances are unique. For example, if you prefer walking in the cooler morning hours to avoid midday heat, you might prioritize dates with drier conditions. On the other hand, if you are more accustomed to colder climates, you may choose to avoid hotter periods - even if it means encountering more rain. Our search tool allows you to customize your journey to align with your specific needs and preferences, ensuring the best possible experience on the trail.
Furthermore, if your plan differs from walking the standard stages from Toulouse to Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges, then you can edit the Search Settings below accordingly.
This ensures you won’t be walking in overly hot weather.
Similarly, this ensures you won’t be walking in cold weather.
This might sound similar to the first step – but instead of looking at averages, it filters out extreme temperatures that don’t happen every year. In other words, you’re excluding those parts of the year when there might be a heat wave.
Like the previous step, this applies to extremes instead of averages – but this time you’re excluding cold snaps.
This step excludes those times of year which might have storms or intense showers.
If the previous steps haven’t narrowed down the search to 20%, you can further limit the dates by finding the overall driest periods.
Feel free to use this guide as a starting point to find the time of year that best suits your personal needs and preferences. By tailoring the filters to your specific situation, you can discover the perfect time of year for your hike.
Below is our weather search tool, with the filters already set up according to this process.
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