Lakes of Cirque dels Pessons

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Difficult hike, best done in good weather as many areas are unmarked.

Details

n°84932685
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.37 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,726 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,696 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 8,504 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 6,906 ft
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Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 6,923 ft - Grandvalira-Grau Roig sector
  2. 1 : mi 0.93 - alt. 7,552 ft - Estany Primer
  3. 2 : mi 1.31 - alt. 7,759 ft - Estany Forcat
  4. 3 : mi 2.79 - alt. 8,189 ft - Estany de les Fonts
  5. 4 : mi 3.26 - alt. 8,471 ft - Estany del Cap des Pessons
  6. 5 : mi 3.65 - alt. 8,301 ft - Estany de Ribuls
  7. 6 : mi 3.99 - alt. 8,100 ft - Pond
  8. 7 : mi 4.89 - alt. 7,792 ft - Estany Rodo
  9. 8 : mi 5.13 - alt. 7,756 ft - Estany Forcat
  10. S/E : mi 6.37 - alt. 6,926 ft - Grandvalira-Grau Roig sector

Reviews and comments

4 / 5
Based on 1 review
Ease of following the route
4 / 5
Route interest
4 / 5
Playmobil voyageur
Playmobil voyageur

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 07, 2026
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely walk with plenty of lakes.
Pay attention to the signposting. I didn’t look closely enough at the Viso route. You tend to follow the GR signposts. This will take you across roughly from point 7 to point 3 on the map. As a result, you won’t complete the circular route.
Make sure you follow the yellow markers if you really want to complete the circular route. Even so, the yellow markings aren’t very clearly signposted. But that might just be because I didn’t look up enough!!!
A lovely, very enjoyable walk all the same!

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Other walks in the area

Walking Montmalús Peak

Visorando Member
Pic de Montmalús
↔5.61 mi ↗+2,349 ft ↘-2,343 ft ◔4h 40 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Encamp (Andorra)
The first part of this hike consists of a long, steady climb up to the Collada de Montmalús and then on to the peak itself, offering exceptional views of the high Andorran peaks and the Cirque dels Pessons. On the descent, an off-trail section allows you to discover three beautiful, unnamed lakes, which are rarely or never visited, save perhaps by a few trout anglers. You will, however, need to take care when tackling the rather rugged and difficult terrain.

Walking Tour of the Cirque dels Pessons lakes

Visorando Member
Tour des étangs du cirque dels Pessons
↔6.44 mi ↗+1,699 ft ↘-1,703 ft ◔4h 25 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Encamp (Andorra)
This hike allows you to discover most of the lakes in the Cirque des Pessons while avoiding the crowds of hikers thanks to two off-trail sections that are therefore very little or not at all frequented. No fewer than sixteen lakes are on the itinerary, some identified and others unnamed. A wild landscape with rounded rocks shaped by ancient glaciers, streams and crystal-clear lakes, mountain pines... all this makes for an unforgettable experience, despite the difficulty of some sections.

Walking From Pas de la Case to the Joaquim Folch i Girona Refuge

Visorando Member
Du Pas de la Case au Refuge Joaquim Folch i Girona
↔8.68 mi ↗+4,058 ft ↘-3,114 ft ◔7h 30 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Porta (Pyrénées-Orientales)
The fourth stage of the route linking Ax-les-Thermes to Latour-de-Carol. A beautiful high-mountain stage with no significant difficulties but featuring some elevation gain. This stage sets off from Pas de la Case, followed by two small passes and then, a little further down, the Portella Blanca – the ‘white gate’ – which opens onto the descent into the Engaït valley before a final pass. It ends with the descent to the Jhaquim Floch i Girona refuge, which is in poor condition but offers a safe shelter.

Walking Ensagents Refuge and Lakes

Visorando Member
Refuge et Étangs d'Ensagents
↔6.08 mi ↗+2,192 ft ↘-2,192 ft ◔4h 40 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Encamp (Andorra)
A fairly demanding hike through mountain pines and rhododendrons to reach the refuge and then the Étangs d'Ensagents, set in a predominantly mineral environment. The calm, the omnipresent water and the beauty of the landscapes more than compensate for the considerable effort required to negotiate a few very steep passages. A breath of fresh air just a few kilometres from the consumer frenzy of Pas de la Case.

Walking Estany de la Cabana Sorda and return via Val d'Inclès

Visorando Member
Estany de la Cabana Sorda et retour par le Val d'Inclès
↔8.61 mi ↗+2,503 ft ↘-2,503 ft ◔6h 10 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Canillo (Andorra)
This beautiful and demanding hike allows you to discover several high-altitude lakes in an exceptional environment, including Estany del Querol, Estany de la Cabana Sorda and Estany d'Anrodat, to name but the most important. Other small lakes, some of which are unfortunately drying up, dot the route. After a particularly challenging descent, the return journey takes you along the Chemin de l'Ubac d'Inclès, which allows you to discover this beautiful valley as you walk alongside the Riu d'Inclès, close to pastures where cows, donkeys and horses graze in the summer. However, you will need to save your strength for the climb back up to the car park, which can be very tiring at the end of the walk.

Walking From the Joaquim Folch i Girona mountain refuge to Latour-de-Carol

Visorando Member
Du refuge Joaquim Folch i Girona jusqu’à Latour-de-Carol
↔12.57 mi ↗+951 ft ↘-4,688 ft ◔6h 35 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Meranges (Girona)
The final stage of the route linking Ax-les-Thermes to Latour-de-Carol. A downhill stage through the valley, the return leg – pleasant but a little long – with a risk of getting lost as you approach the villages. You should also bear train timetables in mind.

Walking Tosa de Siscaro and Pic de la Cabaneta via the Vall d'Incles

Visorando Member
Tosa de Siscaro et Pic de la Cabaneta par le Vall d'Incles
↔7.69 mi ↗+3,360 ft ↘-3,330 ft ◔6h 30 ▲Difficult
⚑Departure from Canillo (Andorra)
With its torrent, Spanish stone pines and rhododendrons, the Vall d’Incles is a small, protected gem, far from the crowds thronging at Pas de la Casa or Andorra la Vella. The ascent of Pic de la Cabaneta follows the Siscaro ponds before tackling the very steep climb leading to the ridge and then to Tosa de Siscaro, which lies at the same altitude as its better-known neighbour. Sustained effort is rewarded with an exceptional panorama.

Walking From the Juclar Refuge to Pas de la Case

Visorando Member
Du Refuge de Juclar au Pas de la Case
↔9.19 mi ↗+1,762 ft ↘-2,421 ft ◔5h 45 ▲Moderate
⚑Departure from Canillo (Andorra)
This third stage of the route linking Ax-les-Thermes to Latour de Carol takes you to Pas de la Case… and its hotels and refreshment stops; it is an easy, somewhat long stage that takes place at altitude, mainly along the gentle, grassy ridges of Andorra, but without any difficulty. It is best to tackle this stage in good weather, as landmarks can be misleading, especially if fog sets in.

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