Collarada
2,886 m
Spain
Also known as Peña CollaradaAlso known as
Peña Collarada
- Elevation
- 2,886 m
- Prominence
- 800 m
- Difficulty
- 3/10
- Mountain hike
- Best Season
- Jul–Sep
- Routes
- 2
Routes
2The classic route from the village of Villanúa (about 980 m) in the Aragón valley: forest paths to the free Refugio de La Trapa (about 1,750 m), a short chained rock step, long cairned slopes and scree to the Campaniles, and a loose gully with easy grade I scrambling to the summit. Nearly 1,900–2,000 m of ascent in a long day.
Elevation Profile
- Distance
- 8.0 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +1,932 m
- start → summit
- High Point
- 2,886 m
- Time Up
- 7h 26m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 4h 52m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
Start at the Cueva de las Güixas in Villanúa, where there is ample parking. A signposted path (white and green marks) climbs north-east through the forest, repeatedly crossing the La Trapa forest track, past the Dolmen de Letranz to the Refugio de La Trapa (about 1,750 m), an unstaffed shelter with a spring and trough, in about 2 hours. Private vehicles may not drive to La Trapa. Behind the refuge a gully is climbed first on the left, then diagonally right on chains (the Paso de Hachar, very easy scrambling) to the Los Cubilares plateau. Head north-east past a semi-ruined forestry hut, which is an important landmark on the way down, and follow cairns up grassy then rocky slopes. Above about 2,500 m keep right on the firmer brown rock rather than the grey central scree, cross a short stretch of loose, slippery scree near 2,700 m below the Campaniles, and climb the final gully (the 'collar' that gives the mountain its name) on its right side, with a few moves of grade I and an exposed ramp to the right, onto the short summit ridge. Allow about 3 hours from La Trapa. Descend the same way, taking care to find the Trapa gully in poor visibility, or make a loop: south-east to the Collado de Ip and down the Espata valley to the Refugio del Cubilar de la Espata and the Fuente del Paco. The gully is loose; avoid knocking stones onto people below. Water is scarce: the La Trapa spring can be a trickle in late summer, and there is none higher.
Start
Cueva de las Güixas953 m
- Villanúa has a bus stop on the N-330 (Jaca–Canfranc buses) and the Villanúa-Letranz halt on the Zaragoza–Huesca–Jaca–Canfranc railway; the route starts on foot from the village.
- Parking at the trailhead
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cueva de las Güixas → Peña Collarada | 8.0 | 1,932 | 0 | 7h 26m |
Waypoints
- Parking: Cueva de las Güixas953 m
- Hut: Refugio de La Trapa1,730 m
- Crux: Paso de Hachar1,855 m
Short chained rock step behind the refuge
- Feature: Los Cubilares1,993 m
- Feature: Balsa de los Campaniles2,403 m
- Summit: Peña Collarada2,886 m
Key Passages
- Chained step of the Paso de Hachar above La Trapa
- Loose scree below the Campaniles
- Final gully (grade I) and exposed ramp below the summit ridge
Equipment
0/8 packedDownloads
Route confidence 70%Overview
The 2,886 m limestone massif towering over Villanúa in the Aragón valley, highest point of the Jacetania. No technical climbing on the normal route, but close to 2,000 m of ascent on forest paths, scree and a loose final gully.
Collarada is a huge limestone block of the Pyrenean Sierras Interiores, rising directly above the village of Villanúa and the Canfranc road (N-330) in Huesca. Its south face is a wall of cliffs and scree cut by gullies; to the north it encloses the cirque of the Ibón de Ip. Being so close to the valley floor, it has one of the largest height gains of any normal route in the Pyrenees, and its summit views reach across the Aragonese and French Pyrenees.
The mountain is riddled with karst: the Cueva de las Güixas show cave sits at its foot, and the Fosa del Infierno shaft near 2,500 m is over 700 m deep. Water is scarce once you leave the forest. The normal route from Villanúa via the Refugio de La Trapa needs only walking and a few easy scrambling moves, but it is a long, sustained day; the final gully that gives the mountain its 'collar' is loose and best climbed with care for parties below.
Other lines include the Espata valley and Collado de Ip on the east side, often combined with La Trapa as a loop, the route from the Canfranc side via the Ibón de Ip, and the Canal de las Tres Pelusas, a steeper but firmer variant scramble. In winter the south-facing slopes are a ski-mountaineering objective, with serious avalanche risk.
Climbing Notes
Fitness is the main requirement: from Villanúa the normal route gains nearly 2,000 m and most parties need 8–10 hours return. You must be steady on loose scree and comfortable with easy grade I scrambling in a gully where stones fall easily; a helmet is sensible. Carry at least 2 litres of water, as the La Trapa spring is the last source and can be a trickle in late summer.
To shorten the day, a limited number of vehicle permits (5 per day) are issued by Villanúa for the track to the Refugio del Cubilar de la Espata, saving about 1½ hours and 450 m; driving beyond to La Trapa is not allowed. Both refuges are free, unstaffed shelters, so an overnight needs your own sleeping bag, mat and food. Best from late June to October; in spring and autumn snow in the final gully calls for crampons and an ice axe, and in winter the route crosses avalanche terrain.
History
The first recorded ascent is attributed to Vicente de Heredia in 1789. Henry Russell, Jean Labarthe and Ponsolle climbed the west side on 16 July 1876, descending north-east to the Ibón de Ip, and a party including Édouard Wallon climbed the east-south-east side on 18 August 1876. In 2010 an avalanche on the slopes above the Espata refuge killed three Navarrese climbers; a plaque on the route remembers them.
Season
Best Jul–Sep- January: Not advisable
- February: Not advisable
- March: Possible
- April: Possible
- May: Possible
- June: Good
- July: Best (best window)
- August: Best (best window)
- September: Best (best window)
- October: Good
- November: Possible
- December: Not advisable
- Jan
- Winter mountaineering; avalanche terrain on the south slopes
- Feb
- Winter conditions; avalanche risk
- Mar
- Ski mountaineering for experienced parties
- Apr
- Spring snow; crampons and ice axe
- May
- Snow in the upper gully and scree
- Jun
- Upper snow patches possible; long days
- Jul
- Usually snow-free; start very early to avoid the heat on the forest climb
- Aug
- Hot; La Trapa spring may run low; afternoon storms
- Sep
- Often the best conditions
- Oct
- Cooler; early snow possible
- Nov
- Snow likely on the upper mountain
- Dec
- Winter conditions
Access & Permits
- Permits
- Espata track vehicle permit (Villanúa)Optional
Only needed to drive the forest track to the Refugio del Cubilar de la Espata. Limited to 5 vehicles per day, issued by Villanúa tourism; a suitable vehicle is needed for the rough track. Driving on to La Trapa is prohibited and fined.
turismovillanua.es
- Hut Booking
- No booking: both refuges are free and unstaffed.
- Fees
- Espata track permit: EUR 6 per vehicle (2025 report; EUR 5 earlier)
- Rules
- Private vehicles may not drive to the Refugio de La Trapa; access to the Espata refuge only with a permit
- Refugio de La Trapa and Refugio del Cubilar de la Espata are free unstaffed shelters; leave them clean
- Getting There
Villanúa (Huesca); Jaca 15 km south
Zaragoza (ZAZ); Pau-Pyrénées (PUF) in France
- Car: N-330 / A-23 to Jaca, then north on the N-330 towards Canfranc to Villanúa; park at the Cueva de las Güixas, or at the Fuente del Paco about 4 km up the Collarada track
- Train: Villanúa-Letranz halt on the Zaragoza–Huesca–Jaca–Canfranc line
- Bus: services between Jaca and Canfranc stop in Villanúa
Hazards
- Rockfall
- Avalanche
- Weather
Huts & Shelters
2- 1,690 m
Refugio de Cubilar d'a EspataRefugeUnstaffed
Open all year (unstaffed)
- 1,750 m
Refugio de La TrapaRefugeUnstaffed
Open all year (unstaffed)