Vall de la Llosa
This route, which crosses the still wild “Vall de la Llosa”, was once used by smugglers, shepherds, bandits and farmers to get to Andorra. It was also crossed by the muleteers that transported the iron that was extracted from the mine located in Pimorent.
Technical Data
Access: From Martinet we head for Lles. At the exit of this town we find, on the right, a detour that will take us to Viliella. We cross this village and follow the track that takes us to Can Jan de la Llosa (3 km), where there is a place to park.
Start: Cal Jan de la Llosa car park.
Difficulty: Easy
Maximum altitude: 2,060 m
Elevation gain: 400 m
Total duration: 4.30 am (2.30 am departure + 2 h return).
Time of year: All year round.
Notes: In winter, the La Llosa slope allows you to do this route perfectly to the Barraca dels Esparvers with snowshoes or mountain skis. From here, if we continue towards the Portella Blanca of Andorra, the road becomes steeper.
Route
From Cal Jan de la Llosa (1,610 m) we will look for a rocky path that goes to the right and leads to the river La Llosa, which we cross by a bridge. At the beginning, the path, very wide, traces several loops between meadows and dry stone walls until it connects with the track that comes from Coborriu. We immediately turn north and find a paved section that reaches the metal fence that blocks the passage of vehicles.
We begin to gain altitude as we see, on the left, the remains of the Castle of La Llosa. We go into the valley walking along the track (GR 11-10 and 107), which crosses a thick black pine forest, until we pass by the Farga hut, located on our right. Continuing along the track, we come to a wide plain crossed by the Calm Colomer torrent, which comes from the lake of the same name. The track makes a detour, first on the right, and we pass a small stream. Then turn left until we finally reach a stretch where we turn definitively north along a moderate slope. In this way we reach the plain of La Molina, where we approach the course of the river Llosa, until we cross it by a bridge and go out to a beautiful and wide plain of pastures. The river is slightly separated on the right. We cross this plain and continue along the track, which is now open again. When we reach the highest part we will see a large openness in front of us.
Prat Xiuxirà (2,011 m). Spectacular and cozy place (2.15 h). The river flows to the right, next to the pines. The slender silhouette of the Muga is cut to the west. In the middle of this plain we find an oratory of the Virgin of La Llosa, next to some stone tables. From here the track becomes a path and you can continue, following the GR 107 signs, to the small bridge that saves the waters of the Vallcivera river and finally reach the Esparvers hut (2.30 am).
Map and altimetry
