Route around Estany de Sant-Maurici in Les Encantats
Head towards the Espot Valley, one of the main valleys to the east of the Aigüestortes National Park and Lake Sant Maurici. After passing the small town of Espot and the Riu Gelat campsite, head up the valley where the Rio Escrita flows to reach the end of the road and a large free car park. Lake Sant Maurici is only 3.5 km from the car park. It takes about an hour's leisurely walk through a beautiful forest. You can then climb up to the Renata waterfall, then to the Amitges refuge, and head towards Col de Port de Retara.
Details
Creation:
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Last review:
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Activity: Walking -
Distance: 11.38 mi -
Average duration: 7h 50 -
Difficulty: Difficult -
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Back to start: Yes -
Ascent: + 2,946 ft -
Descent: - 2,946 ft -
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Highest point: 8,228 ft -
Lowest point: 5,390 ft
Country:
City:
Waypoints
- S/E : mi 0 - alt. 5,390 ft - Car park
- 1 : mi 0.78 - alt. 5,564 ft - Intersection
- 2 : mi 1.29 - alt. 5,827 ft - Crossroads
- 3 : mi 1.95 - alt. 6,063 ft - Font de l'Ermita
- 4 : mi 2.38 - alt. 6,309 ft - Fountain and Lake Sant Maurici
- 5 : mi 3.13 - alt. 6,693 ft - Ratera Waterfall
- 6 : mi 3.37 - alt. 6,939 ft - Cami de l'Estany Gran d'Amitges
- 7 : mi 3.86 - alt. 7,073 ft - Estanyola de Ratera
- 8 : mi 4.12 - alt. 7,188 ft - Estany de la Basso
- 9 : mi 4.51 - alt. 7,392 ft - Font de les Marmotes
- 10 : mi 4.88 - alt. 7,743 ft - Amitges refuge
- S/E : mi 11.38 - alt. 5,390 ft - Car park
Other walks in the area
Estany di Sant Maurici towards Amitges Refuge
Visorando Member
6.63 mi
+1,804 ft
-1,814 ft
4h 35
Moderate
Departure from Espot (Lleida)
Magnificent hiking in the Aigüestortes y Estani de Sant Maurici National Park. You'll come across numerous mountain lakes that are unique to this park.
Mallafré refuge - La Molina car park
12.12 mi
+1,959 ft
-3,858 ft
7h 15
Difficult
Departure from Espot (Lleida)
Fourth and final stage of this loop in the Encantats. No technical difficulties except for the length of the descent once you have passed the first pass. Magnificent view of the Encantats in the morning as you leave the refuge.
Amitges - Colomina
11.94 mi
+3,675 ft
-3,547 ft
8h 40
Difficult
Departure from Espot (Lleida)
Long stage between Amitges and Colomina: splendid views of the ridges and valley, crossing summer pastures and forests. Passing by the Estany Llong refuge. The gentle but long descent leads to the Colomina refuge, a peaceful haven after this beautiful day in the mountains.
Saboredo Refuge - Mallafré Refuge
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.
The seven lakes of Colomèrs circular
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.
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.
From the car park to the start of the 7 lakes route
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.
Ventosa refuge - Saboredo refuge
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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