Hiking pic de Comapedrosa
PIC DE COMAPEDROSA (14,9 KM)
PATH
PARTLY GR11
Grande Randonnée (GR)
STARTING POINT
ARINSAL
DISTANCE
14,9 KM
DURATION
7 - 9 HOURS
TERRAIN
MOUNTAINS
DESTINATION
ARINSAL
ELEVATION GAIN
1.340 M
LEVEL
DIFFICULT
The Principality of Andorra consists due to its location in the middle of the Pyrenees entirely of mountainous landscapes. There are 65 peaks above 2000m in the country which makes it a fantastic place for hikers. There is no shortage of altimeters. Are you going hiking in Andorra? Then make sure you prepare yourself well and take good equipment with you. Because every hike in Andorra is a small challenge. You can find the biggest challenge of all in the parish of La Massana, near the town of Arinsal. The Pic de Comapedrosa!
Parc Natural del Comapedrosa
So the ascent of the Pic de Comapedrosa starts in the town of Arinsal, in the northwest of Andorra. It is possible to spend the night in this village, but you can also take a bus from the capital Andorra la Vella. This takes you in less than half an hour to Arinsal. From the bus stop next to the highway you walk through a tunnel and then immediately steeply up into the forest.
In the forest you walk into the Les Valls del Comapedrosa nature park, named after the highest mountain in Andorra. This nature park covers some 15km2 and is known for its impressive mountain landscapes. Forests in the area that consist of birch, spruce and fir. Wide valleys with green plains and mountain lakes surrounded by rocky walls. Where rivers flow through that end in small and bigger waterfalls.
Refugi de Comapedrosa
Nature throughout the area is accessible due to the large number of hiking trails and mountain huts. These make it possible to go out for one or more days and discover the flora and fauna. During the hike you walk out of the forest after an ascent of about 4km. Here the path flattens slightly towards the mountain meadow Cabana de la Comapedrosa. A little uphill on the left is you will find the mountain hut Refugi de Comapedrosa. An ideal place to relax and enjoy the view. The hut is located right on the eastern edge of the meadow with a breathtaking view of the Arinsal valley. So you can see exactly from where you have climbed up to here.
If you want to make the hike a little less intensive, you can choose to stay overnight in the Refugi de Comapedrosa. You can book an overnight stay with dinner and breakfast or you can take all your food with you and use the mountain hut only as a place to sleep. Are you hiking to the top of the Pic de Comapedrosa and back in one day? Then this is the ideal place to take a break and have lunch.
"The hut is located right on the eastern edge of the meadow with a breathtaking view of the Arinsal valley."
Pic de Comapedrosa
After you have walked past the mountain meadow you will see the landscape become increasingly rugged and rocky. This is where the real climbing begins. The path slowly turns into rock masses that you have to get over. The route splits just before Estany Negre, the mountain lake about 200m below the summit. Here you can choose a challenging and technical route along the valley where you have to climb over the rocks. This path takes you right past the abyss and over several peaks before you reach the highest point but gives you beautiful views of the valley. An alternative route goes up along the mountain lake. This starts out fairly flat and rises steeply at the end to the peak.
Once on top of Pic de Comapedrosa, you are at the northwestern border of Andorra, near the tri-border point with France and Spain. The views here are fantastic and with luck you may see one of Andorra’s national animals fly by, the Griffon Vulture. One of the largest birds in Europe and with its wingspan of almost 3m a formidable colossus to behold. But take your time to enjoy the view because it’s not daily business you are on top of Andorra’s highest mountain at 2.945m.
Do you want to hike this trail yourself? Check out the full hike below or at Komoot. Would you like to take another hike in Andorra? Take a look at the overview page.
