Climbing the Comapedrosa, Andorra's rooftop, from Arinsal

The Comapedrosa, at 2,942 metres, is the highest peak in Andorra, and you climb it from Arinsal, at the head of the parish of La Massana, inside the Comapedrosa Valleys Communal Natural Park. It is a long ascent, in two stages, with a staffed refuge halfway where you can sleep and split the effort.

Two stages, one refuge

From the car park to the refuge: it starts beside the Prats Sobirans housing development, past the Arinsal dam tunnel. According to the refuge, it is 3.85 km and 685 metres of ascent, two to two and a half hours, of moderate difficulty.

From the refuge to the summit: the park gives two hours and 677 metres more, passing the Bassa de l'Estany Negre, at almost 2,600 metres, and the Estany Negre. The last stretch is the hardest.

Added together, it is about 1,360 metres of climbing from the car: the park does not publish a total figure. The descent is by the same path.

Parking and rules

The Prats Sobirans car park has about fifty spaces, paid, and closes in winter; next to the information hut there is another, free, with a maximum stay of three days. In July and August the hut opens from 8:00 to 15:00, on +376 647 021, and bus line 5 reaches the square in Arinsal. In the park dogs must be on a lead, no fires are allowed, you must stay on the paths and more than three tents need permission. Check the avalanche bulletin at the start and end of the season.

Sleeping at the refuge

The Refugi del Comapedrosa, at 2,260 metres, opens from 1 June to 12 October: half board €55.80 and a bed alone €21.90. Sleeping up there leaves the summit for first thing, with the day fresh.