# A snowy Saturday in the Vall de Núria: the rack railway, guided snowshoeing and lunch by the sanctuary

You ride up to Núria on the Cremallera rack railway from Ribes de Freser, snowshoe for two hours with an Oxineu guide and eat Catalan food at El Racó de la Vall, with the cable car included in your ticket.

Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/catalonia/ripoll/itineraries/rack-railway-and-snowshoes-nuria-sanctuary · Revisado: 2026-11-14

## El día
- 07:30 · Salida: 1 h 45 by car (via the C-17, Ripoll and the N-260 to Ribes de Freser; free parking at Ribes-Enllaç station)
- 09:20 · Núria Rack Railway, from Ribes de Freser up to the valley at 2,000 metres (Turistren FGC · €34 return · online purchase compulsory; includes the Coma del Clot cable car and the exhibitions) · Turistren FGC, From €34 adult (ages 14 to 64)
  - 45 min by train
- 10:00 · Guided snowshoe introduction in the Vall de Núria (Oxineu · from €32 with snowshoes, poles, guide and insurance · meet at the Volum Nord building) · Oxineu, From €32 per person
  - 5 min on foot
- 13:00 · El Racó de la Vall (Catalan cooking with Ripollès produce · booking on 972 73 20 00) · El Racó de la Vall
- 16:30 · Vuelta: 45 min by train (first, the Coma del Clot cable car and the basilica, included in the ticket; check the time of the last train)
  - 1 h 45 by car (in Barcelona around 19:30)

You can't drive to Núria. The valley, at 1,964 metres, is closed in by mountains and the only way in is the Cremallera rack railway, which climbs a thousand metres over 12.5 km from Ribes de Freser. That makes it unlike any ski resort: there is no road, no car park at the top and, when it snows, the sanctuary, the lake and the big hotel building settle into a white silence. This Saturday you take the first train with time in hand, strap on snowshoes with a guide and eat looking out over the square.

## The ride up

The Núria rack railway leaves from Ribes-Enllaç, stops at Ribes-Vila and Queralbs and reaches the top in about 40 minutes. In 2026, the return fare from Ribes cost €34 for an adult, €22 for children aged 4 to 13 and €29 for over-65s; from Queralbs it is a little less. Booking online is compulsory to secure a seat, and the outward and return journeys must be on the same day. The ticket also includes one ride on the Coma del Clot cable car, entry to the basilica and the exhibitions on the history of the railway and of snow.

## Two hours on snowshoes

The snowshoe introduction with Oxineu leaves at 10:00 and 12:30 from their school in the Volum Nord building. It is a beginner outing of about two hours on an easy route, with a mountain sports instructor who teaches you to walk on snow and explains the landscape and wildlife. From €32 with snowshoes, poles and insurance; from age 7, and one guide for every twelve people at most. Outings run only on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays of the season, when there is snow.

If you have snowshoed before, the resort has waymarked, free circuits: rent the equipment at the top and go at your own pace.

## Lunch in the valley

El Racó de la Vall is the dining room of the Hotel Vall de Núria, with arched windows onto the sanctuary square: Catalan cooking with local produce and ingredients from the Ripollès. Book on 972 73 20 00. For something quicker, Finestrelles, the hotel's terrace over the lake, opens at weekends from 8:40 to 16:00.

In the afternoon, the Coma del Clot cable car and the basilica, both included in the ticket, fill the time left before the train. Bear in mind that the last train down sets the end of the day: check it in the timetable finder when you buy.

## Qué llevar

- Waterproof walking boots

- Gloves, a hat and layered clothing

- Sunglasses or snow goggles

- Sun cream and lip balm

## Cómo llegar

### By car
A little under two hours from Barcelona via the C-17 and Ripoll to Ribes de Freser, and an hour and a quarter from Manresa. Free parking for train customers at Ribes-Enllaç, Ribes-Vila and Queralbs. Carry snow chains in case it snows on the N-260.

### By train
The Rodalies R3 stops at Ribes-Enllaç, the same station as the Cremallera, when the line is running normally: it is the way to do the day without driving.

## Consejos

### Take a train that arrives before 9:40
For the 10:00 snowshoe outing you need to be at Volum Nord with time to spare.

### Buy both tickets before leaving home
The Cremallera ticket is online only; the snowshoes, on the Oxineu website.

## Preguntas frecuentes

### Do I need experience for snowshoeing?
No. It is a two-hour beginner outing with a guide.

### How much does the day cost?
Cremallera €34, snowshoes from €32 and lunch. Between €95 and €120 per person.

### Can I go with children?
On the guided snowshoeing, from age 7. On the train ticket, under-4s go free.

### Can I bring a dog?
On the train, yes, on a lead and muzzled; on the Oxineu snowshoe outing pets are not allowed.