At a glance
| Detail | |
|---|---|
| What it is | Catalonia's only national park |
| Created | 1955 |
| Landscape | Nearly 200 glacial lakes (estanys), granite peaks, pine forest |
| Aran gateway | Circ de Colomèrs — the largest glacial lake cirque in the Pyrenees (~50 lakes) |
| Access | Summer only: 4x4 taxi up the Aiguamòg valley from near Salardú, then trail |
| Best for | Hiking, glacial lakes, mountain refuges (Restanca, Colomèrs) |
| Time needed | A full day |
Catalonia's only national park
South of the Val d'Aran lies Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici — the only national park in Catalonia, created in 1955 and one of the oldest in Spain — and, since 2007, a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance for its high-mountain lakes and bogs. It's a dramatic high-Pyrenean landscape of nearly 200 glacial lakes (estanys), granite peaks and pine forest, split by a central ridge into two faces: the still lakes and aigüestortes ("twisting waters") to the west, and, to the east above Estany de Sant Maurici, the spectacular twin peaks of Els Encantats.
The Aran gateway: Circ de Colomèrs
From Baqueira the natural way in is the Circ de Colomèrs — the largest glacial lake cirque in the Pyrenees, a bowl holding close to 50 lakes on the park's northern, Aran-facing edge. In summer a 4x4 taxi service runs up the Aiguamòg valley from near Salardú (Banhs de Tredòs) to the trailhead, from where a well-loved circular walk links the higher lakes and the Restanca and Colomèrs mountain refuges.
How to do it from Baqueira
Plan it for summer, when the taxis and refuges are running: drive or bus to the Aiguamòg valley south of Salardú, take the 4x4 up, then walk the lakes. In winter the high country becomes a backcountry destination for the experienced only. Give it a full day, wear proper mountain footwear, and check the taxi timetable and weather before you set out.
