Paso de la Serrá Car Park and the Shuttle to the Laguna Negra

The Paso de la Serrá car park is the Junta's large car park on the Laguna Negra road, about 2 km from the lake, in the municipality of Vinuesa. Outside the busiest days it is just another car park, and you can carry on by car to the upper car park, 200 metres from the shore. At Easter, on long weekends and in summer, however, the Junta regulates access: the upper car park is closed to private cars and everyone leaves their vehicle here.

How it works on regulated days

On those days the car park is paid and from it you go up to the lake in two ways: on the shuttle bus to the upper car park, or on foot by the Senda del Arroyo. In recent seasons the regulated hours were from 9:00 to 14:30 and from 16:00 to 18:30, and the shuttle cost €1.20 per passenger. The rates of the last published regulation were €2 for a motorbike, €4 for a car, €6 for a motorhome and €10 for a coach, and the ticket gave entry to the Casa del Parque for five people. Dates and prices change every year: confirm them at the Casa del Parque (975 18 22 68) before you go.

Walking up

The Senda del Arroyo, route SO9, starts from the car park itself and climbs 1.7 km, with 218 metres of ascent, among pines, ferns and beeches, crossing the streams on wooden bridges. It is about 45 minutes up; it is short but steep, and slippery with snow or ice. With small children or a pushchair, the most comfortable thing is to go up on the shuttle and walk down.

Before you arrive

Stop at the Casa del Parque, at km 3 of the road from Vinuesa: they tell you whether the upper car park is open, what state the track is in and what the weather is like up there. In November it is open on Fridays and Saturdays from 10:00 to 17:00 and on Sundays from 10:00 to 14:00; in January it is closed. Take a warm layer: by the lake it is cool even if it is hot below.

From here, the Senda del Arroyo leads to the Laguna Negra, and from the lake the Glacial Lakes Trail leaves for the Pico de Urbión. The Casa del Parque is on the way.