Route de la Capercaillie at Somport

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An easy walk with magnificent views of the snow-covered Cirque d’Aspe. Important note: there is a €5 entry fee, and a Capercaillie Protection Area prevents you from completing a circular walk; alternatively, you must cross over to the Spanish side through a former military site.

Details

n°93365837
Creation:
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–
  • Snowshoeing
    Activity: Snowshoeing
  • ↔
    Distance: 3.81 km
  • ◔
    Duration according to the author: 2h 07 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 152 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 142 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,696 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,584 m
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Photos

Pic d'Aspe
Pic d'Aspe

Description of the walk

Park in the car park at the Somport cross-country ski centre.

(S/E) Take the road on the right, then right again to reach the crossroads for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

(1) Turn left onto the snowshoe trail. Follow an easy climb to reach a crossroads in a clearing.

(2) Continue leftwards to reach the border ridge, with boundary stone 304 on the left.

(3) Turn right onto the ridge to reach the Spanish military zone.

(4) Turn back along the same route to the crossroads in the clearing.

(2) Take the track on the left to reach the capercaillie protection area.

(5) Return in the opposite direction to the clearing crossroads.

(2) Follow the path back in the opposite direction to the one taken on the way out, keeping left, to return to the Somport car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 1,584 m - Car park at the resort - Col du Somport
  2. 1 : km 0.31 - alt. 1,598 m - Snowshoe trail junction - Espace Somport
  3. 2 : km 0.65 - alt. 1,637 m - Crossroads of the AR trails in the clearing
  4. 3 : km 0.91 - alt. 1,670 m - Ridge
  5. 4 : km 1.44 - alt. 1,693 m - Military zone
  6. 5 : km 2.74 - alt. 1,693 m - Capercaillie Zone
  7. S/E : km 3.81 - alt. 1,585 m - Car park at the resort - Col du Somport

Notes

(S/E) Snowshoe hire available at the cross-country ski centre. There is a picnic area, a restaurant and toilets.

This route passes through multiple protected areas, which may be subject to special regulations:

Worth a visit

Between (3) and (4): enjoy a beautiful view of the Spanish Pyrenees: Pala de Yp, Collarada.
(5) Capercaillie protection area explained in this video
Capercaillie _ Wikipedia

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The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.