Cabana Gorges circular loop starting from Pla de Niubo

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Here is an alternative route for exploring the Cabana Gorges if the official car park is full (especially in high season). The route climbs up the slope of the Torrent de Gausacs valley before descending into the Torrent de la Cabana valley, leading directly to the highest waterfall of the 7 Gorges of Campdevanol. Much of the outward journey takes place through pleasant, quiet woodland. The return journey allows you to enjoy the other waterfalls in the valley. There are no major difficulties, but some sections are narrow paths. Unlike the return journey, the ascent is barely signposted, but there is little risk of getting lost.

Details

n°105171716
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.42 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 873 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 886 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 3,235 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 2,461 ft
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Description of the walk

Park in the car park at the small‘Poligono industrial Pla de Niubo’ industrial estate. There are free, public parking spaces along the track running parallel to the GI-401 road.

(S/E) Cross the road carefully and join the path visible below it. Follow this path westwards, running parallel to the GI-401 road. Cross a river, walk past a car park on your left and you’ll soon reach a Fork in the road.

(1) Turn left towards a picnic area. After a good fifty metres, take a path on the left that winds its way uphill through the forest. After a steep climb, you’ll emerge into a pine forest with an unobstructed view of the plain.

(2) Follow the path through the pine forest until you reach a track. Continue until you pass above a beautiful estate.

(3) Then take another track to the right and walk alongside some tennis courts. The wide track, lined with mulberry trees, climbs gently. Further on, at a Fork in the road, turn right onto the track marked ‘Route 7g’. You’ll soon reach a junction at Collet de Dagui.

(4) Take a path that climbs to the left. After a section following the contour line, you’ll reach an unnamed pass.

(5) Continue straight on (south-west), ignoring two paths branching off to the right, and descend gently. Head towards the stream until you reach a junction.

(6) Take the path opposite which descends towards the stream. Ford the stream and continue along the path to the highest waterfall on the route, Gorg Grand del Colomer.

(7) Retrace your steps to the previous junction.

(6) Take a track to the left (north). Further on, turn left to reach the Gorg Petit del Colomer.

(8) Ford the stream, then turn right. Walk down alongside the stream and you will soon reach the Gorg del Forat.

(9) Continue along the path and, after about 200 m, turn right to cross the stream again. On the other side, turn left. Cross another stream and pass above the Gorg de la Bauma. Reach the Gorg de l’Olla.

(10) Continue northwards along the path. Cross a stream running at right angles to the path and reach the Gorg de la Tosca.

(11) Continue northwards along the path.

(12) Turn left, cross the stream and note the Gorg de la Cabana on your right. Join a track and follow it to the right.

(13) At the next junction, turn right onto a track. Ignore a path branching off to the left and head downhill.

(14) At a fork in the road, keep to the right and pass the checkpoint (the usual starting point for the walk to the waterfalls). Head downhill, ignore the first path on the right and you’ll soon reach a second junction.

(15) Then turn right. Follow the river on your right, passing a campsite on your left. This will take you back to a junction you passed at the start of the walk.

(1) Turn left, keeping as close to the river as possible. Cross the river and then follow the GI-401 road to the car park at the start of the walk (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 2,477 ft - “Poligono industrial Pla de Niubo” car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.58 - alt. 2,507 ft - Junction of the circular loop
  3. 2 : mi 1.23 - alt. 2,953 ft - Pine forest – Viewpoint
  4. 3 : mi 1.48 - alt. 2,864 ft - Junction of trails
  5. 4 : mi 1.91 - alt. 3,064 ft - Junction - Collet de Dagui (929 m)
  6. 5 : mi 2.39 - alt. 3,235 ft - Unnamed pass
  7. 6 : mi 2.98 - alt. 2,936 ft - Junction
  8. 7 : mi 3.12 - alt. 2,949 ft - Gorg Grand del Colomer
  9. 8 : mi 3.4 - alt. 2,884 ft - Gorg Petit del Colomer
  10. 9 : mi 3.64 - alt. 2,835 ft - Gorg del Forat
  11. 10 : mi 3.98 - alt. 2,815 ft - Gorg de l'Olla
  12. 11 : mi 4.28 - alt. 2,756 ft - Gorg de la Tosca
  13. 12 : mi 4.43 - alt. 2,713 ft - Turn left - Gorg de la Cabana
  14. 13 : mi 4.57 - alt. 2,779 ft - Junction
  15. 14 : mi 5.07 - alt. 2,661 ft - Fork in the road – Checkpoint
  16. 15 : mi 5.37 - alt. 2,539 ft - Junction
  17. S/E : mi 6.42 - alt. 2,474 ft - “Poligono industrial Pla de Niubo” car park

Notes

There are no toilets on the route after the picnic area, nor are there any water points. However, there is a snack bar at the end of the walk, a few metres from the Gorg Grand del Colomer (7), where you can buy drinks and food.

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