Collarada

Overview

Circo de Ip

Collarada is one of the most characteristic and excellent mounts of the western Pyrenees. It is not a peak of 3000m but the great slope to climb overcomes that of the majority of big heights of the Pyrenees. Its 2,886 meters constitutes the first great elevation of this mountainous chain from the west before all three thousands of Panticosa and Balaitous (valley of Tena). This peak is located in the union between Tena and Canfranc's valleys in the Pyrenees of Huesca and its name comes probably from the necklace ("collar") of heights that surround the cone of the top.

In the access to the north face is the idyllic Circo de Ip where meets the dam of the same name surrounded with considerable heights as La Moleta (2576m), Pala de Ip (2783m), Punta Escarra (2760m), Pico del Aguila (2695m) and Bucuesa (2763m). Of all these mounts Collarada stands out for its height and the form of its summit as if it was the cherry of a great tart. The peak has two normal routes for climbing. The classic one goes across the dam of Ip, being the nicest and satisfactory for the mountaineers though it' long. Other possibilities exist from Villanua with changes in last years (see red tape section) using taxi of takin a permission for drivig the foresta track. First climb: H.Russell & J.Labarthe, 16th july 1876.

Getting There

Trailhead: village of Canfranc ("Canfranc pueblo" and not "Canfranc estación" that is at 9 km). Airports: Zaragoza (164 km), Barcelona (381 km) Road: -From Zaragoza to Huesca (72 km), highway. From Huesca to Jaca for N330 and continue to Villanua and Canfranc. -From Barcelona: highway A2 to Lleida (or Lérida). From Lleida take N240 in direction to Binefar and Monzón to Huesca. Others access: train (company renfe) and bus (company Alosa) -Train Barcelona-Zaragoza. From Zaragoza to Canfranc in bus-see Alosa for hours. -From Zaragoza to Canfranc in bus-see Alosa for hours.

Red Tape

No permits required for the route of Circo de Ip.

* Outside the above dates you will still need to seek a permit (well before the day you wish to have access) as detailed in the route information here. And by the way, I can confirm that the track from Villanua is not appropriate for a non-4x4 vehicle. Crampons and ice axe are necessary generally the whole year except july to september in the route of Circo de Ip.

When To Climb

The Collarada is accessible almost the whole year. It's easier in summer with still snow in north face but it's a good climb in late winter for mountaineers with experience (crampons, ice axe and rope) but very long (2 days).

Camping

-Refuges / Lodges: -Refugio de Canfranc (Tel:974-373217)-Canfranc pueblo. -Albergue Pepito Grillo(Tel 974 373123)-Canfranc pueblo. -Refugio Tritón (Tel:974-378281)-Villanúa. -Refugio El Aguila (Tel:974-373291)-Candanchú. -Refugio Valle de Aragón (Tel:974-373222)-Candanchú. -Hotels: -Hotel Santa Cristina***(Tel:974-373300)-Canfranc Estación. -Hotel El Reno (Tel:974-378066)-Villanúa. -Hotel Candanchú**(Tel:974-372025)-Candanchú. -Campings: -Camping Canfranc (cat2)(908-731604)-? (it's not open on summer 2010) -Camping Escarra-Escarrilla at 16km -Free little huts -A hut before the ibon de Ip with benths, 5 places. -Two huts in very bad conditions in ibon de Ip, 2-3 places. -Hotel in ruins for an emergency in ibon de Ip (no walls in some places, bricks and tiles in the ground,...)

Mountain Conditions

For mountain conditions you can to visit: I.N.M. (see province of Huesca and the village of Canfranc in “localidades”)

Maps / Guidebooks

-Cuadernos Pirenaicos #6: valle de Canfranc (book in spanish). Map 1:25000. Ed.Sua. ISBN: 84-8216-140-7.

External Links

• Canfranc Web of village of Canfranc with tourism information anb a lot of itineraries in the zone (spanish).
• Valle del Aragón Information of Villanua and Canfranc with Hotels, tourism, restaurants,...
• Los Pirineos Information about this mountain chain (english).
• Lospirineos.com Complete information of the Pyrinees: valleys, mountain huts,...(spanish/french).
• Mendikat: Collarada

Additions and CorrectionsPost an Addition or Correction

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Rafa Bartolome - Feb 16, 2005 10:59 am - Hasn't voted

Untitled Comment

Peña Collarada is the popular name for the people of the village of Canfranc (you must say "peña" and not "pico" or "monte" about this peak) but it's no very important (except for the people of this village)

Diego Sahagún - Feb 15, 2005 9:35 pm - Voted 10/10

Untitled Comment

found in the map 1:40.000 of Editorial Pirineo is Peña Collarada

Rafa Bartolome - Feb 16, 2005 10:59 am - Hasn't voted

Untitled Comment

Peña Collarada is the popular name for the people of the village of Canfranc (you must say "peña" and not "pico" or "monte" about this peak) but it's no very important (except for the people of this village)

visentin - Jan 13, 2008 8:30 am - Voted 10/10

red tape

If we plan to clim the Collarada from the south and use the track to park the car there, it is required to ask an authorisation to drive the track to El Mirador at the city town hall of Villanueva. This place is open only from 9:am (in theory) so it's better to ask it the day before, quite early in the afternoon (it closes early too)

Rafa Bartolome - Jan 17, 2008 5:29 am - Hasn't voted

Re: red tape

I signaled this information in the route Villanua-La Trapa, but I think it's a good idea to include the info in the main page as well. The name of the city is Villanua not Villanueva (It's difficult for the people not Spanish). Thanks you.

ojo - Aug 9, 2011 4:22 am - Voted 10/10

Up dates: Summer 2011

Up-date on access from Villanua/La Trapa (south). Changes to access to La Trapa (track from Villanúa) for private vehicles. Between 1 May and 30 September, no permits are granted, as far as I can make out. Instead, a 4x4 jeep (or minibus) service has been put in place for access to the Refugio de la Espata, 1,690m (for Punta Espata or for the access to Collarada via Collado de Ip, for example) or for the higher-up Refugio de la Trapa, 1,720m. Timetable and Prices here. RESERVATION RECOMMENDED, especially if you want to make use of the early morning - 06:00h or the 07.30h - service. It is promoted for BTT (bike) with a network of BTT routes between La Trapa and Villanua, but is ideal for walkers who want to climb Collarada without hiking nearly 800m of ascent from Villanua (941m altitud) to La Trapa. * Outside the above dates you will still need to seek a permit (well before the day you wish to have access) as detailed in the route information here. And by the way, I can confirm that the track from Villanua is not appropriate for a non-4x4 vehicle. Hiking Option from Villanúa. Another option is to walk from the village by the “Camino Viejo de Collarada” which is a clearly-marked and in-good-condition path that takes you up, mostly through woodland, to La Trapa in less than 2 hours (timing is given as 2h 30m from Villanua but most fit hikers will take less time). It may be worth mentioning that THIS IS ONE OF THE BTT BIKE TRAILS. The upper part that zig zags through pine forest, is on very narrow paths. Keep an ear and eye open for possible bikers whizzing their way down it. The path starts from the Visitors Centre La Guixa (caves). Follow the clearly-marked signpost in the carpark and the rest is clear. You will walk little more than 20 metres in total on track but will cross it various times. Each junction is clearly marked. It is a particularly nice way to descend from La Trapa to Villanua (sign post just down from the hut, by the wooden bench) and means you don’t have to wait for the 4x4 jeep service to pick you up. It took us under 1h 30m to descend at normal, mortals speed (not the 2h 30m indicated on the signpost). The Pass "El Hachar": The scrambly section just at the start of the main route from La Trapa now (2011) has 3 short sections of shiny, new cable to help over the slightly polished scramble to reach the Campos de Trapal. 7 August, 2011. We didn’t get much beyond the Fuen de Campanils today before having to turn back due to a pea-soop mist, so I can’t report if there is are any other “new” things higher up on the route to Collarada from Villanua.

Rafa Bartolome - Aug 9, 2011 9:54 am - Hasn't voted

Re: Up dates: Summer 2011

muchas gracias ya conocí esto hace unos meses ya que estuvieron mis amigos y tenía pendiente ponerlo en la web pero me daba pereza traducir al inglés, ahora gracias a tí lo copiaré

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