Shortly before we left home I researched day hikes in Andorra and came up with this one.
Map of the Llacs de Pessons area, just southwest of Grau Roig in the eastern sector of Grandvilara ski area:
We hiked a clockwise path (in red) ascending past the string of larger lakes to the SE and descending past the string of smaller lakes to the SW.
We caught the 10AM bus which runs every hour from the Grau Roig lift base (6,900 feet) up to Restaurant Refugi del Llac de Pessons (7,500), which overlooks Estany (lake in Catalan) Primer.
I expected the string of lakes to be a relatively level trail, but it was very rocky, first with some wildflowers.
Then came a rocky ascent to Estany Forcat, looking back to it from above.
Estany Rodo with view of 9,000+ foot ridgeline to the south:
I suspect the Pyrenees had above average snow as this boardwalk was built above the usual trail.
The map shows this area all above tree line but it was more lush than we expected.
More wildflowers:
Estany Sise:
Approaching the final lakes:
Estany de les Fonts:
Up on the ridgeline is the 9,229 foot saddle Collada del Pessons. Zoomed views shows the switchbacks ascending it at far left.
We gradually ascended this ridge between the two sets of lakes.
There was nice viewpoint about 8,200 feet. The high ridge to the south curves around to the east.
The smaller lakes over here are unnamed on the maps I am using.
Below us a dog is taking a dip in the water.
This hike reminded me some of Rock Creek south of Mammoth where I took Samantha a couple of times.
Estany Meligar, which we hiked past on the way up:
The hike on this side is slightly less rocky.
Past another unnamed lake the ski area comes into view upper right.
Descents are still mostly in the rocks.
View through first trees as we get lower
Estany Forcat from north side:
View down to restaurant and Estany Primer:
Here’s our late lunch, my meat cannelloni and Liz’ curried daal and lentils.
We also had a half bottle of wine and a baba au rhum dessert. This refugi is on a ski trail during the winter, so highly recommended if you ski Grandvilara.
The hike was 4.5 hours and we relaxed awaiting the 4:30PM bus. Unfortunately the driver did not follow the schedule and the restaurant staff said he would not be there until 5PM. So we walked down the road (pics of ski area in the other TR) because we had a 6PM appointment at the Caldea Spa next to our hotel in Andorra la Vella, a 35 minute drive from Grau Roig.
Map of the Llacs de Pessons area, just southwest of Grau Roig in the eastern sector of Grandvilara ski area:
We hiked a clockwise path (in red) ascending past the string of larger lakes to the SE and descending past the string of smaller lakes to the SW.
We caught the 10AM bus which runs every hour from the Grau Roig lift base (6,900 feet) up to Restaurant Refugi del Llac de Pessons (7,500), which overlooks Estany (lake in Catalan) Primer.
I expected the string of lakes to be a relatively level trail, but it was very rocky, first with some wildflowers.
Then came a rocky ascent to Estany Forcat, looking back to it from above.
Estany Rodo with view of 9,000+ foot ridgeline to the south:
I suspect the Pyrenees had above average snow as this boardwalk was built above the usual trail.
The map shows this area all above tree line but it was more lush than we expected.
More wildflowers:
Estany Sise:
Approaching the final lakes:
Estany de les Fonts:
Up on the ridgeline is the 9,229 foot saddle Collada del Pessons. Zoomed views shows the switchbacks ascending it at far left.
We gradually ascended this ridge between the two sets of lakes.
There was nice viewpoint about 8,200 feet. The high ridge to the south curves around to the east.
The smaller lakes over here are unnamed on the maps I am using.
Below us a dog is taking a dip in the water.
This hike reminded me some of Rock Creek south of Mammoth where I took Samantha a couple of times.
Estany Meligar, which we hiked past on the way up:
The hike on this side is slightly less rocky.
Past another unnamed lake the ski area comes into view upper right.
Descents are still mostly in the rocks.
View through first trees as we get lower
Estany Forcat from north side:
View down to restaurant and Estany Primer:
Here’s our late lunch, my meat cannelloni and Liz’ curried daal and lentils.
We also had a half bottle of wine and a baba au rhum dessert. This refugi is on a ski trail during the winter, so highly recommended if you ski Grandvilara.
The hike was 4.5 hours and we relaxed awaiting the 4:30PM bus. Unfortunately the driver did not follow the schedule and the restaurant staff said he would not be there until 5PM. So we walked down the road (pics of ski area in the other TR) because we had a 6PM appointment at the Caldea Spa next to our hotel in Andorra la Vella, a 35 minute drive from Grau Roig.
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