Around the Colomèrs lakes from Banh de Tredos

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This route around the Colomèrs lakes allows you to explore part of the magnificent Aigues Tortes (Les Encantats) National Park. Flowers, rhododendrons, torrents and streams, and peaks offering breathtaking views over all the lakes await you. This hike is suitable for those with some experience of mountain walking; less experienced walkers may choose to skip the two peaks on the route (Tuc de Ratera, 2,860 m – not covered on Day 1 – and Tuc Gran de Sendrosa, 2,703 m, on Day 2). The route is classified as difficult due to its length and the steep slopes on Day 1, as well as the summit on Day 2.

The route can be extended by starting with a night at the Colomers mountain hut, which will allow you to complete a longer loop around the lakes of the same name before reaching the Saboredo mountain hut.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 13.16 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2 days 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 4,186 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 4,196 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 8,796 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 5,761 ft

Stages of the route

This route needs several days, find the details below:

  1. S

    From Banhs de Tredos to Refugi Saboredo via Port de Ratera

    ↔7.66 mi ↗2,822 ft ↘1,076 ft
    A lovely walk featuring a fairly steep climb to the Port de Ratera, but no other difficulties. Magnificent scenery of lakes, pine trees and rhododendrons (early in the season). A good overview of the Aigues Tortes park and the Encantats.
    View the route
  2. E

    From the Refugi de Saboredo to Banhs de Tredos via the Tuc Gran de Sandrosa

    ↔5.49 mi ↗1,365 ft ↘3,120 ft
    This second stage offers a return route to the Banhs de Tredos via the Sendrosa Pass (Coth deth tuc Gran de Sendrosa). The ascent of the Tuc Gran de Sendrosa is optional for hikers with sure-footedness. This option, which is well worth the detour for the exceptional view from the summit, involves a 300-metre climb along the rocky ridge and requires using your hands on relatively easy climbing holds (PD), though there are a few exposed sections where a sure footing is essential. The descent is always slightly more technical than the ascent. Not recommended for inexperienced walkers or those prone to vertigo. This route is well worth the effort for its wild scenery, the flowers and the abundant vegetation in June. The descent from the pass is quite long and a little steep before rejoining the Day 1 trail, just below the Taxis car park.
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Notes

Water is available throughout the route if you have a filter bottle. Otherwise, you can top up your supplies at the mountain huts.

During peak season, it is not possible to drive any higher than the Banhs de Tredos. However, taxis (€5) can take you 3 to 4 km closer to the starting point of the hike on day 1.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

Other walks in the area

Walking From Banhs de Tredos to Refugi Saboredo via Port de Ratera

Visorando Member
↔7.66 mi ↗+2,822 ft ↘-1,076 ft ◔6h 00 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Naut Aran (Lleida)
A lovely walk featuring a fairly steep climb to the Port de Ratera, but no other difficulties. Magnificent scenery of lakes, pine trees and rhododendrons (early in the season). A good overview of the Aigues Tortes park and the Encantats.

Walking From the car park to the start of the 7 lakes route

Visorando Member
↔3.22 mi ↗+955 ft ↘-223 ft ◔2h 20 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Naut Aran (Lleida)
No particular difficulty and a beautiful hike. There is a taxi service that will take you from our departure point to our arrival point for €5 per person. It is not possible to drive your car to the arrival point for the start of the lake hike.

Walking The seven lakes of Colomèrs circular

Visorando Member
Circuit des sept lacs de Colomèrs
↔4.04 mi ↗+968 ft ↘-945 ft ◔2h 40 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Naut Aran (Lleida)
The Colomèrs lake circuit is a massif of mountains arranged in a circle, protecting some fifty lakes ("estanhs") in its bosom. The slow erosion of frost during the Ice Ages has left an inescapable landscape: a high mountain area with high, steep peaks of around 3,000m, such as Creu de Colomèrs, Gran Tuc de Colomèrs and Tuc de Ratera.

Walking Colomèrs

Visorando Member
Colomèrs
↔4.72 mi ↗+1,270 ft ↘-1,286 ft ◔3h 15 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Naut Aran (Lleida)
This easy hike takes you past a dozen or so lakes in the Cirque de Colomèrs, which has around thirty in total, some identified and others unnamed. The landscape is magnificent, combining pine undergrowth carpeted with rhododendrons and large areas of rounded rocks dotted with lakes of all sizes fed by crystal-clear torrents. On the way back, a stop at the Colomèrs Refuge allows you to conclude this circular route by enjoying the Estanh Major, into which multiple waterfalls flow. A summary of the Aygues Tortes and San Maurici National Park in all its splendour.

Walking From the Refugi de Saboredo to Banhs de Tredos via the Tuc Gran de Sandrosa

Visorando Member
↔5.49 mi ↗+1,365 ft ↘-3,120 ft ◔3h 45 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Alt Àneu (Lleida)
This second stage offers a return route to the Banhs de Tredos via the Sendrosa Pass (Coth deth tuc Gran de Sendrosa). The ascent of the Tuc Gran de Sendrosa is optional for hikers with sure-footedness. This option, which is well worth the detour for the exceptional view from the summit, involves a 300-metre climb along the rocky ridge and requires using your hands on relatively easy climbing holds (PD), though there are a few exposed sections where a sure footing is essential. The descent is always slightly more technical than the ascent. Not recommended for inexperienced walkers or those prone to vertigo. This route is well worth the effort for its wild scenery, the flowers and the abundant vegetation in June. The descent from the pass is quite long and a little steep before rejoining the Day 1 trail, just below the Taxis car park.

Walking Saboredo Refuge - Mallafré Refuge

Visorando Member
Refuge de Saboredo - Refuge de Mallafré
↔6.69 mi ↗+2,011 ft ↘-3,346 ft ◔4h 50 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Alt Àneu (Lleida)
Third and penultimate stage of this loop in the Encantats. Still lots of beautiful lakes and magnificent jagged peaks silhouetted against the sky. Significant elevation gain and sometimes tricky paths with steep slopes, scree and sections with ropes, which fortunately were already in place.

Walking Bacivèr Lakes in Val d'Aran

Visorando Member
Les Lacs de Bacivèr du Val d'Aran
↔4.84 mi ↗+1,506 ft ↘-1,499 ft ◔3h 30 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Naut Aran (Lleida)
This is a beautiful circuit in the Val d'Aran, through the Vaqueira mountains to Naut and Baish de Bacivèr Lakes.Although it's a short loop, it requires an established fitness level to climb the first half of the route.The effort will be rewarded by the arrival at Lac Naut de Bacivèr, the highest point of the hike.

Walking Ventosa refuge - Saboredo refuge

Visorando Member
Refuge de Ventosa - Refuge de Saboredo
↔8.04 mi ↗+2,805 ft ↘-2,526 ft ◔6h 10 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from la Vall de Boí (Lleida)
This is the second stage of this four-stage loop in the Encantats. There are numerous lakes between these two refuges with beautiful ascents and descents. No technical difficulties, but some scree that is not very pleasant.

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