
Estany de Sallente
Spain, europe
4.5 km
1.3 m
hard
Year-round
# Estany de Sallente: A High-Altitude Alpine Adventure
Ready for a serious climb? Head to Estany de Sallente, a stunning high-mountain reservoir perched at 1,765m (5,790ft) in La Vall Fosca, nestled in the Pyrenees near Lleida, Spain.
The paved road up to this scenic spot kicks off from the charming village of Cabdella at 1,300m, and it's no leisurely cruise—you're looking at 4.5km of solid climbing with a punchy average grade of 10%. Some sections get seriously steep at 13.6%, so you'll definitely feel the burn as you gain 465m in elevation. Built back in 1981, this winding asphalt ribbon serves as your gateway to something truly special.
Once you reach the summit, there's an incredible cable car waiting to whisk you up to one of Spain's most breathtaking destinations: Aigüestortes and Estany de Sant Maurici, Catalonia's only national park, sitting at a jaw-dropping 2,200 metres above sea level. If you're after epic mountain scenery, alpine lakes, and the kind of views that make the drive worthwhile, this is absolutely worth adding to your bucket list.
Where is it?
Estany de Sallente is located in Spain (europe). Coordinates: 40.0996, -4.3233
Road Details
- Country
- Spain
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 4.5 km
- Max Elevation
- 1.3 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 40.0996, -4.3233
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