The 20 Most Amazing Peaks in Alt Pirineu

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.

The small secondary peak of the Pica d'Estats. If you've made it to the gap between the two, you should also take this peak. An additional 3000m peak for free (if you don't take the 30m gap height too seriously 😉).

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+.

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.

Well-known and beautiful mountain pass in this border area with Andorra. If you follow the track you will reach the well-known town of Tor. Good views of how the road climbs up to this point.

The Pic d'Estats is a peak in the Pyrenees which is located on the French-Spanish border at 3,143 meters above sea level. It is the highest point of Ariège but also of Catalonia.

Culminating at 3,129 meters, the Verdaguer peak owes its name to the poet and hiker Jacinto Verdaguer y Santaló.