Circ de Còlomers circular trail

Circ de Colomers Overview

This highly scenic amphitheatre-shaped valley is located high in the southern slope of Val d’Aran, in the Pyrenees range. It was the head of ancient glaciers that excavated it on granitic terrains. Those disapeared glaciers were tributary of a principal one that ran down slope to the northern side of the Pyrenees along the Aran Valley. The word Circ in its name refers precisely to its glacial origin, as in catalan language “circ glaciar” means glacial head.

Circ de Còlomers is the upper part of Arriu d’Aiguamoïx valley, which meets Val d’Aran in Salardú. Strictly speaking the Circ starts in the slopes that give access to Plans dera Lossa from Pletiu dera Montanheta. Below this level, alluvial morphology superimposed to shapes of glacial origin is dominant. Here water currents run slowly and sneak through meadowy alluvial plains crossing dense conifer forests.

Above Plans dera Lossa, Circ de Còlomers is full of evidentia of its glacial origin. From its more than 40 glacial lakes and ponds of all sizes, to the step-sided ridges, horns and peaks that close it by west, south and east sides, either the terrain is made up of non-sorted till deposits -with big erratic blocks-, or it is made up of sheep-back rock surfaces, often sowing glacial polishing and striation.

Tossau deths Ossos, the rounded northwards prolongation of the ridge that joints downwards Gran Tuc de Còlomers and Tuc deth Pòdo, divides the Circ into two smaller valleys at its occidental and oriental sides.

The occidental valley is closed at west by the ridges and peaks that limit it with circ del Montardo (Tuc de Cap de Port and Agulles de Travessany) and at south by those limiting it with the circ d’Aigüestortes (ridge Gran Tuc de Còlomers – Creu de Còlomers). Its main lakes are Estanh Mort, Garguilhs de Sus, Estanhets de Port and Lac deth Port de Colomers.

The oriental valley is closed at east by Pic Gran de Sendrosa, that limit it with Circ de Saboredo, and at south by Tuc de Bergús and Tuc de Ratera, limiting with the circ d’Aigüestortes. The main lakes here are Lac Long, Lac Redon, Lac Obago, Lac de Pòdo, Lac deth Cap de Colomers and Estanh de Ratera de Colomers.

Because of its nataural, scenic and biological interest this area is protected and included into the Parc Nacional d'Aigües Tortes i Estany de Sant Maurici.

Cows near Lac Obago

A frog in Estanhets deth Pòrt

Pinguicula Nevadensis near Lac Redon

Route Overview

The route described here is a circular trail that starts and finishes at Refugi de Colomers hut. Walking it gives quite a comprehensive insight into the Circ de Colomers geography -distribution of its lakes, peaks and ridges-, as well as on other aspects of its natural history. I will describe the route under summer conditions, but in Refugi de Còlomers, you can always get information to go round the trail on other seasons. There you will find this route referred to as “Circuit Llarg de Còlomers”. Another much frequented –and easier- route is “Circuit Curt de Còlomers” or “Circuit dels Llacs de Colomers” (Short Còlomers Circuit or Còlomers Lakes Circuit), it just shortcuts the longer route at lower heights. Although I will not describe here the shorter route, I introduce it because it is worth to know that while the long one is signaled by red painting markings, yellow paintings are used for the second, so take care to follow just the red ones, unless you are interested in the shorter hike.

The total estimated timing is of about 4 hours, covering a difference of level of around 600 m. With some additional effort, it is possible to walk it all starting and returning to the parking at Banhs de Tredòs trailhead. In that case, about 7 hours would be required and the difference of level would be of about 800 m.

Sketch of the circular route (marked in red)

Getting There

Go to Salardú, in Val d'Aran, and from there take the road that goes to Banhs de Tredòs via Vall d'Aiguamoïx. In summer –the season for which this route description is suited -, between 1st of July to the September 30th, the car has to be left in the parking area of Banhs de Tredòs. From there to the hut, there is a hike of about 2 hours. There is also the alternative of using a Taxi service that, by following a forestall track, will approach you much closer to the hut. Out of this period, you are allowed to approach you car until Pletiu dera Montanheta. See Refugi de Colomers Hut for a descrption of the approaching route.

Huts

Refugi de Colomers hut

Refugi de Colomers hut is located at route start, where last minute additional and seasonal information about this route can be obtained.

Route Description

I will describe this circular route in the counterclockwise sense of progression. The starting point is Refugi de Colomers hut, located some meters over Lac major de Colomers. The mountains that can be seen above it are Tuc Serreta, Pic de la Tallada Llarga and Agulha Gran de Colomers. Start walking along the path signaled with read painting, leave the lake shore at left hand. As this stretch of the path is shared by both this and the shorter route, you will find here red and yellow paintings. Not far away you will start ascending a slope that gets you to Estanh Mort, a nice lake from where you can see Tuc deth Port and Tuc de la Ribereta peaks in front, as well as Tuc Serreta and Tuc de la Tallada Llarga at left.

Lac major de Còlomers

Estanh Mòrt, with Tuc deth Pòrt above it

Tuc Serreta from Estanh Mòrt

Move to the left leaving Estanh Mort shore at right hand and follow the path making its way across meadows and minor water ponds and lakes. Some time after you will see that the yellow signals detach to the left from the red ones we are following. They mark the shortcut to the lakes route. Latter on we reach Garguilhs de Sus lake, a very picturesque one, surrounded by steep slopes at the foot of Tuc Serreta, Tuc de la Tallada Llarga and Agulha Gran de Colomers peaks.

Agulha Gran de Colomers from Garguilhs de Sus water pond

Garguilhs de Sus water pond

From Garguilhs de Sus to Estanhets deth Pòrt

As you proceed you reach a much wider and flatter zone, splashed here and there by lakes and ponds of different sizes and shapes. These are Estanhets deth Port. The terrain is meadowy yet, but more and more rockier as we proceed. The ridge that joints Gran Tuc de Colomers to Creu de Colomers through Pic Blanc and Pic Oriental closes the view in front of us.

The Còlomers ridge from near Estanhets deth Pòrt

Estanhets deth Pòrt

Pic Oriental and Creu de Còlomers

As we continue we reach Estanh deth Port de Colomers -at the foot of Creu de Colomers peak-, while Port de Colomers, the saddle that passes to Circ Obago and Circ del Montardo, can be seen at right. At this point, the path starts to climb across rocky terrain to gain Coreth deth Pòdo, a saddle between Tuc de Pòdo peak and the lower Tossau des Ossos. This saddle is more or less at the same height of a nice lake named Estanh Gelat, which has great sights to Gran Tuc de Colomers and Pic Blanc. With a height of about 2590 m., this is the highest point of this route. Coreth deth Pòdo separates the stretch of the route that ascents along the occidental valley, from the one that will descend along the oriental one (with respect to Tossau des Ossos ridge axis). Heading to the oriental valley we see below Lac de Pòdo, among smaller ones, and Tuc de Ratera besides, closing the scene.

Estanhets deth Pòrt

Tuc de Pòdo and Estanh Gelat

Tuc de Ratera and Lac Pòdo from Coreth deth Pòdo

The descent path, though clear and well indicated, makes its way across big blocks, boulders and scree, softening when it reaches Lac de Pòdo. Advance leaving the lakeshore at left hand. The path continues making its way across more lakes and ponds. Looking back and upwards, we see Gran Tuc de Colomers summital zone and the Tuc de Pòdo pyramid. Tuc de Ratera is behind us and Gran Pic de Sendrosa can be seen far away closing the valley at right.

Lac de Pòdo

Summital ridges of Gran Tuc de Còlomers and Tuc de Pòdo

Tuc de Ratera

After having descended a level of about 200 m. from Lac de Pòdo, we reach Lac Obago, the biggest one in the Circ and very scenic. Lac Obago is followed by Lac Redon and then by Lac Long. After that the path surmounts a small slope an reaches a saddle named Coret deth Clòto, from where Lac Major de Colomers can be seen again and with it, the Refugi de Colomers hut, starting and ending point of this circular route.

Small lake over Lac Obago

Lac Obago, with Tuc de Ratera over it

Lac Redon

When to go

This route description applies mostly to summer conditions, but the route can be done all the year.

Essential Gear

Compass and map and, if you plan to go in winter, crampons and ice axe, or snowshoes or skies are required, but in that case gather additional information at Refugi de Colomers hut, or at its web site.

Cartography

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Images

View Circ de Còlomers circular trail Image Gallery - 61 Images