HIKINGIN 01 Big Lake ofthe Vall del Riu (from ElsPlans) LAKES OFTHEVALL DELRIU 01 from thebeginningof20 machinesofalltimes,representative museum holdsthemostsingularand tomotorcycles.to payhomage The torcycle museum), aims amuseumthat the visittomuseudelaMoto(Mo DON’T MISS... the present. trees suchassilverbirch (Betula pendula),as- only interruptedbysmallclustersofdeciduous uncinata) dominatethelandscape,andare looking atElQuerrock. Mountainpines(Pinus Period,asyoumayguess of theQuaternary became upto400metres thickattheheight marked bythemovementofglaciers,which The landscapeinCanilloembracesrelief lakes thatbringaddedvaluetotheroute. of more than4hectares, andtwootherminor the bestlakesinAndorra,withasurfacearea serves itsiceageorigins,ishometooneof This extraordinary valley, whichperfectly pre- andorrawo Second lake rld th century to century - Goat willow willow Goat (Salix caprea) (Salix DID YOU KNOW? in Spain. valleyhopingtoarrive refugeesfledthroughthe many Second World War,the During Pyrenean lily capacity for8people. de, you can enjoy the Vall del Riu refuge, with most of the route and, at 2,650 metres altitu- Forests ofmountainpinestretch before you for sprawling pastures andtypicalAndorranhuts. rus communis).Asyouwalkon,you’lldiscover broom (Genistapurgans)andjuniperJunipe- found alongtheroute, accompaniedbythorny Dry stonewalls,sotypicalofAndorra,are meadows ofwildgrain. per reaches oftheparish,andrightbeloware caprea). Alpinemeadowsare foundintheup- pen (Populus tremula) and goat willow (Salix (Lilium pyrenaicum) (Lilium and comesfromarantze, arantza. Instead, isBasque theetymology of anevolutionfromRomanesque. for thesame, Aransol, bymeans , andfromadiminutive mightseemtocomefrom village The nameofthishigh-mountain Ransol: TOPONYMY The Vall delRiu forest LOCATION DISTANCE TIME COORDINATES DESCRIPTION TOPOGUIDE DROP

3 LA 2.610 m 1h 25’ N42 35.385 The path stays level and enters a mountain PEDREGOSA (+145 m) E1 36.957 pine forest. When you exit the forest, conti- 2.145 m nue heading northeast (see sign). Next, skirt the dry stone wall until you find a wooden panel. This place is called la Pedregosa.

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Lakes of the Vall del Riu 01. Lakes of the Vall THE CO- 3.650 m 1h 45’ N42 35.865 The path continues northward, where the MARQUETA (+100 m) E1 36.873 incline is steep. Soon you’ll see the Vall del D’ Riu cabin, with capacity for 8 people. Con- RIVER tinue past the scree until you come to the 2.245 m Comarqueta d’Incles river. DATA SHEET 5 COMARCA 4.540 m 2h N42 36.149 The path gains altitude with greater ease DE LES (+100 m) E1 36.457 when you pass the last pine forest. You are 2h 45 min FONTS now entering the alpine zone. The view of RIVER the valley is bucolic. Soon you’ll pass by 2h 2.345 m more scree and the Comarca de les Fonts river (area of the La Cabaneta livestock pen). +720 m 6 5.860 m FIRST 5.170 m 2h 30’ N42 36.201 Up ahead is the most rigorous stretch of (+150 m) E1 36.156 the hike: the path climbs very steeply in the NO LAKE N 2.495 m middle of a bunch of scree. Once this has APPROXIMATE been overcome, you’ll be able to enjoy one O E WALKING TIMES of the wildest valleys of Andorra. Continue S onward and you’ll reach the first lake. ROUTE SIGNPOSTING 7 BIG 5.860 m 2h 45’ N42 36.122 The path goes past the first two lakes. After LAKE OF (+50 m) E1 35.732 passing by some reservoirs, you’ll come to THE VALL a fork. Follow the path on the right. After WRONG WAY LOCATION DISTANCE TIME COORDINATES DESCRIPTION DEL RIU walking up a hill, you’ll come to Great Lake DROP 2.545 m of the Vall de Riu. 1 ELS PLANS -- -- N42 34.933 Follow the CG-2 heading toward France, 1.825 m (--) E1 38.006 and before reaching the car park in , take the CS-260, which leads you to Ransol. Afterward, you’ll take the road on the left (CS- 261) until Els Plans, and then on the right ROUTE PROFILE where you’ll see some stone houses with red windows. Here you’ll find an information panel on the hike. 2.675 m 2.550 m 7 2.425 m 6 2 5 2.300 m 4 ENTRANCE 1.150 m 45’ N42 34.867 The path begins gently and continues 2.175 m 3 TO THE (+175 m) E1 37.349 alongside some dry stone walls. Shortly 2.050 m 2 VALL DEL thereafter, you’ll see the Forat de Rius river. 1.925 m RIU FOREST You’ll continue gaining altitude until you re- 1.800 m 1 2.000 m ach the entrance to the Vall del Riu forest. 0 1,2 km 2,4 km 3,6 km 4,8 km 6 km