Estany Negre
Estany Negre is a high mountain glacial lake at an elevation of 2.323m (7,621ft) above the sea level, located in the heart of the Pyrenees, in the comarca of the Pallars Sobirà in Catalonia, Spain. It’s one of the highest mountain roads of the country.
The road to the summit, located within the Aigüestortes i Estany of Saint Maurici National Park, is gravel, rocky, tippy and bumpy at times. It’s called Camí de l'Estany Negre. The road is usually impassable from October to June (weather permitting). Great trail for experienced wheelers.
Avoid driving in this area if unpaved mountain roads aren't your strong point. The lake is so named by the high depth of its waters (100 m). No personal vehicles are allowed in the national park, only the local "taxis", which are all either Jeeps or Land Rovers. Stay away if you're scared of heights. The road is not easy, though. Up, down, right, left all the time.
Expect a trail pretty steep with 14 hairpin turns. Departing from Aigüestortes i Estany of Saint Maurici National Park entrance parking, the ascent is 8.7km long. Over this distance the elevation gain is 674 meters. The average gradient is 7.74%.
Pic: Elisenda Torres