Puigmal summit, also known as Puigmal d'Er, is the second highest peak in the Eastern Pyrenees after Carlit at just under 3000 metres above sea level (2913m) and is on the French border giving fantastic 360 panoramic views of both the Spanish and French Pyrenees mountains. This peak is included in the list of the 100 peaks (100 Cims) of the FEEC (Federació d'Entitats Excursionistes de Catalunya).
I have two trails through Puigmal are perfect for hikers and outdoor enthusiasts at any skill level.
Núria is a mountain valley with the Hotel Vall de Nuria within the Estació de Muntanya Vall de Núria ski resort complex at an altitude of 1965 metres above sea level and linkd to Ribes de Freser (at 899 metres above sea level) via the Cremallera Vall de Nuria Racked railway.
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When you leave the train station at Nuria resort take the wooden footbridge into the resort an exit via the front doors in front of the meadow and lake. continue round the side of the building and past the donkeys and Geese, crossing the river via the bridge picking up the escending Camí de Puigmal footpath into a forested area.
The trail exits the forested area into an inclining plain up to a viewpoint called Roc de l'Ortingar which is worth stopping at to see down onto the Nuria Resort and lake. From here the trail continues up parallel to the Torrent de la Coma de l'Embut river where you will probably find free roaming cattle grazing. You will see a small waterfall where the rover disapears into a hole in the mountain called Font de la Bordonera.
Continue following the well troden path up the valley to a point where the path crosses the river. The water is shallow (a few centimetres) and the river is not that wide (about 1.5 metres) and this point is a natural ford with stepping stones. After crossing the river the path crosses a large grassy sloping mountain plain before transitioning into a gravel section that gets steep towards the summit.
After the last push to the summit the broad and rounded peak comes into view where you will find a wrought iron cross and a plaque with verses by Monsignor Cinto Verdaguer that translate as:
From hill to hill through the Finestrelles pass
they climb from Puigmal to the high peak
all the land that my heart loves
from here you can see the mountains waving
Next to the iron cross is a round pile of rocks that are a great shelter from any wind to take time to eat a snack.
If you are doing the short route then the return is via the same ascent path. If you are doing the long route then you should be at the summit before 13:00h to allow time to get to Queralbs station for the last cremallera return train.
From Puigmal d'Er summit take the ridgeline path heading south and across a grssy mountain plain to the Cim de Burrut (2670m) and onwards to Cim de la Dou (2456m) following the descending Serrat de la baga de Fontalba ridge path down to a mountain plain surrounded by forest at Collada de Fontalba (2070m) where you will probably find free roaming cattle.
At Fontalba there is camper van parking at the end of a gravel road which you need to follow as it snakes its way down the mountain. Near to the village of Quaralbs as you are walking along a paved road (at 42.3539006, 2.164197) there is a shortcut footpath through a beutiful section of forest which emerges in Queralbs where you can walk throught the village to the Cremallera train station.
BEST TIME OF YEAR:I recommend completing this route from June to August to enjoy the wild flowers in the meadows, full leafy green forests and to swim in Núria Lake. however I have also done it in late winter once the fallen snow has setled.
WEATHER: In the summer there will be no snow on this route but in winter the summit will have snow. Normally between January and March there is Snow in the Núria resort and surrounding mountains.
TIP: do not to loose track of time on both routes and miss the last Cremallera train back to Ribes de Freser. If you do there is a room with chairs inside Nuria Resort where you can sleep for free if buying a hotel room is not within your budget.
I pack for wind and rain when doing this hike because it is in the high Pyrenees mountains.
I recommend 2-3 litres of water.
If doing this as a winter snow hike, I recommend crampons and snow shoes.
Address: Estacio de Muntanya, Vall de Nuria. 17534
Take the Renfe R3 Rodalies train to Ribes de Freser and transfer onto the Vall de Núria Cremallera to get to Núria Resort. The route starts at Núria Resort.
Train fares and times for the Cremallera racked railway can be found on the Vall de Núria website. A combined Renfe + Cremallera ticket is available, TreNatura which is considerably cheaper than buying the tickets individually.
The combined Renfe + Cremallera return ticket called
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A circular route starting in the pyrenees resort of Nuria to the top of the world (Puigmal summit) via forest paths, montain grazing hills and rocky peek.
Distance: 9.03 Km
Difficulty: Moderate
Return Travel Fare: €33.50
Transport Network: Rodalies & Cremallera
A hard linear route starting in Nuria to the top of the world (Puigmal summit) via forest paths, montain grazing hills and rocky peek returning via queralbs.
Distance: 18.7 Km
Difficulty: Moderate
Return Travel Fare: €33.50
Transport Network: Rodalies & Cremallera
Mountain Forecast weather for Puigmal Summit
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