The 20 Most Amazing Peaks around Pallars Sobira

Fantastic panoramic views all around; this summit is well worth it, as you can see from my two panorama photos. Ascent from Estany de Sotllo via the pass. I took the partly exposed scrambling/climbing ridge via Pic Verdaguer. Beautiful scrambling; you just have to be careful to stay on the right track. Descent around the summit, then back to the same pass and down past the same beautiful mountain lakes, and via the Valferrera Hut into the valley. The length and roughness of this route surprised me. Luckily, I didn't start my ascent from the hut. The section along the mountainside, especially above the hut, was quite challenging. There are frequent short climbs over rocky outcrops, and at one point, I found myself on a side path below the main trail, which then ended in the undergrowth. After a short climb, everything was fine again.

The Cabús Pass is a mountain pass that crosses the Pyrenees at 2,302 m above sea level. It is located on the border between Andorra and Spain, between the parish of La Massana and the municipality of Alins. Only the Andorran side is paved. From Alins, in the High Pyrenees, the climb is impressive and involves paths and trails that are not always in good condition.

Compared to Pica d'Estats, this is a lesser-known mountain, but its views, especially to the west, are outstanding and worth every meter of elevation gain. When ascending from the French side, there is easy climbing (T4+) below the summit. From the Spanish side, it appears easier if you don't take the path to Pica d'Estats, but instead take a path marked on the map further to the left.

The highest mountain of Andorra can be climbed from the country as a day trip. However, you should be careful, as experienced hikers have already made mistakes. 😜 And it's a long way to Spain or France... The easiest climb is rated T3 according to the SAC. I went a little north-east over the summit on the way down and descended there. A little more challenging (T4), but in this case the scree in the upper area made it easier to descend. I saw a few salamanders here.

The summit can be reached from several sides. The direct route from the Spanish side to the summit ridge is challenging (I estimate it to be T5 according to the SAC scale). However, you can "cheat" by first crossing the pass to the left to the north side, after which you have to descend a bit to reach the trail from the French side. The technically easiest ascent is certainly from the north via the Refuge du Pinet (T3). However, from the parking lot at L'Artigue, the total elevation gain is around 2,000 meters, which is why staying overnight at the refuge is a good option (a winter room was open in October 2024, €8 per night). I chose the third option, from the Étang de Soulcem. From there, it's "only" 1,500 meters of elevation gain with a difficulty of T3+/T4-. However, I chose a variant for the ascent (see my tour) that isn't on the map and that I would rate as T4+.

Great viewpoint summit with an unusual "wooden summit cross". Less well known than the Estats, but no less worthwhile. Caution! From the French (northeast) side / Refuge du Pinet, the ascent in the last part below the summit is steep and demanding (T4 +) with easy climbing. From the Spanish side, the path from the first lake directly to the summit (i.e. not to the pass between Sotllo and Estats) is easier. In contrast to the Pica d'Estats, which is much easier to reach from the north / Refuge du Pinet via the pass between Eststs and Montcalm than from the Spanish side. From the Sotllo you can see all the ascent routes very well.

Port de Cabús is a mountain pass on the border between Andorra and Spain, known for its stunning scenery and appeal for hiking, cycling, and other mountain activities. Being on the border, Port de Cabús has particular significance, as it has historically been used as a cross-border crossing for trade and, in more recent times, as a less conventional route to cross between Andorra and Spain. Although the pass itself has no formal border control, it is important to carry documentation when crossing from one country to the other.

To access the northern summit, you have to climb down and over a gap of about 3-4 metres. My 20kg dog needed some help, but with a little patience she got over it without any problems.