Mesa de los Tres Reyes
2,446 m
France, Spain
Also known as Meseta d'os Tres Reis, Hiru Erregeen Mahaia, +1Also known as
Meseta d'os Tres Reis · Hiru Erregeen Mahaia · Pic des Trois Rois
- Elevation
- 2,446 m
- Prominence
- 392 m
- Difficulty
- 3/10
- Mountain hike
- Best Season
- Jul–Sep
- Routes
- 1
Routes
1Approximate line — not for navigation
An automated check found that parts of this line could not be matched to mapped trails, so it may stray far from the real route. Use it for planning only, with a map and a guidebook.
Why? 3 check notes
- the line does not follow 'Collado de Linza', the route's namesake (289 m away): mislabelled
- unresolved waypoints: O Sobrante, West col of the Mesa
- waypoints not on the route line: Collado de Linza (274 m off the trail)
Sources differ: MIDE 3-3-3-4 (Montaña Segura)
The standard ascent from Aragon: about 1,290 m from the Refugio de Linza (1,340 m) at the head of the Ansó valley, up to the Collado de Linza, round the Foya de la Solana and across cairned limestone pavement to the west col, then two short, easy scrambles to the summit statue of San Francisco Javier. About 4 hours up, 7–7½ hours round trip.
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- ≈ 9.7 km
- one way
- Ascent
- ≈ +1,271 m
- −173 m lost on the way up
- High Point
- 2,446 m
- Time Up
- ≈ 5h 47m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- ≈ 4h 20m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
From the Refugio de Linza (1,340 m) head north-east, cross the stream by a bridge and climb the right bank of the Barranco d'o Sobrante to the pastures and shepherds' hut of O Sobrante (about 1,600 m). The GR path continues east over a rocky step and a grassy terrace to the Collado de Linza (about 1,937 m), 1½–2 hours from the start; this first part is shared with the route to Petrechema. At the col turn left and drop about 70 m round the west side of the Foya de la Solana to a small metal shelter and signposted junction (about 1,870 m), where the waymarked path ends; follow 'Mesa de los Tres Reyes'. The Solana spring nearby is unreliable and was dry in September 2026. Climb east on grass below a band of grey rock, then north across limestone pavement marked by cairns, drop briefly into a wide valley and climb it to the col west of the summit (about 2,340 m), almost an hour from the junction. Stay on the south side along a ledge to reach the crest. From the west col two short, easy scrambles through gullies and a little chimney, with several possible lines, lead to the elongated summit ridge: first a point overlooking the Lac de Lhurs, then the true summit (2,446 m) with its statue of San Francisco Javier and a summit mailbox. The flatter Table des Trois Rois (2,421 m), a fore-summit often confused with the main top, lies about 360 m to the south-east on the French side. Descend the same way, remembering the short climb back up to the Collado de Linza. Navigation on the pavement and pastures is difficult in poor visibility.
Start
Refugio de Linza1,348 m
- No public transport to Linza was found; the road runs about 25 km from Ansó up the valley via Zuriza.
- Parking at the trailhead
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Refugio de Linza → Mesa de los Tres Reyes | 9.7 | 1,271 | 173 | 5h 47m |
Waypoints
- Hut: Refugio de Linza1,348 m
Road end with large parking areas; can fill on summer weekends
- Col: Collado de Linza1,904 m
not on route line
- Feature: Foya de la Solana1,823 m
Metal shelter and signposted junction; end of the waymarked path
- Summit: Mesa de los Tres Reyes2,446 m
Key Passages
- Collado de Linza
- Cairned limestone pavement above the Foya de la Solana
- Two short easy scrambles from the west col to the summit ridge
Equipment
0/5 packedDownloads
Route confidence 85%Overview
The highest point of Navarre (2,446 m), on the France–Spain border where the old kingdoms of Navarre and Aragon met the Viscountcy of Béarn: a long karst hike from the Refugio de Linza with a short, easy scramble to a summit statue of San Francisco Javier.
The Mesa de los Tres Reyes, Pic des Trois Rois in French and Hiru Erregeen Mahaia in Basque, rises in the Larra-Belagua massif just south of the Pic d'Anie, on the frontier between France, Navarre and Aragon. The name comes from the meeting of three historic realms: the Kingdoms of Navarre and Aragon and the Viscountcy of Béarn. The main summit (2,446 m) sits on the Navarre–Huesca boundary; a flatter fore-summit of 2,421 m about 360 m to the south-east on the French side, the Table des Trois Rois (called Pueyo de Nai in Aragonese), is often confused with it.
The usual approach is from the Refugio de Linza at the head of the Ansó valley in Aragon, a long day of about 1,290 m of ascent through pastures, a shallow karst basin and cairned limestone pavement. Only the last section to the summit ridge involves easy scrambling. Navigation is the main difficulty: above the Foya de la Solana there are no waymarks.
From the top the view covers the karst of Larra and the Arres d'Anie, the Lescun cirque and the Lac de Lhurs below, and the high peaks of Aragon to the east.
Climbing Notes
Allow 7–7½ hours round trip with about 1,290 m of ascent; Montaña Segura rates the route MIDE 3/3/3/4, the 4 reflecting more than 6 hours of effective walking. You need sure footing on limestone pavement, a little easy scrambling (grade I) on the final ridge, and the ability to navigate without waymarks; carry a map, compass and GPS track and turn back in poor visibility.
The usual plan is a day trip from Linza, or a night at the Refugio de Linza, which is staffed all year. Carry plenty of water: the Solana spring is unreliable in summer. Start early in July and August to avoid heat on the pavement and afternoon storms, and expect the car parks to be busy on summer weekends.
Until early summer, and again from late autumn, snow covers the upper slopes and gullies; an ice axe and crampons are then needed, and the ascent becomes a winter mountaineering or ski outing.
History
The first recorded tourist ascent was on 19 August 1883 by Loustalot-Lapassat, Laurent Sarrettes and Édouard Wallon. In 1952 the Club Deportivo Navarra placed a 2.1 m artificial-stone statue of San Francisco Javier on the summit; it collapsed after its first winter and was replaced in June 1954 by a 75 cm bronze. Its head was stolen in 1985 and returned anonymously, reaching a museum in 2023; an earthquake in 2004 left the statue almost horizontal, and it was straightened in 2010 with the help of a Navarre government helicopter.
Season
Best Jul–Sep- January: Possible
- February: Possible
- 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: Possible
- Jan
- Winter ascent with ice axe and crampons, or on skis; experienced parties only
- Feb
- Winter conditions; avalanche risk on the approach slopes
- Mar
- Spring ski-mountaineering
- Apr
- Snow hides the karst fissures
- May
- Snow on the upper slopes; ice axe and crampons
- Jun
- Lingering snow early in the month; long days
- Jul
- Main season; hot on the pavement, storms possible; busy at weekends
- Aug
- Main season; carry plenty of water
- Sep
- Stable, cooler; Solana spring may be dry
- Oct
- Good in dry spells; first snow possible
- Nov
- Early winter; short days
- Dec
- Winter conditions
Access & Permits
- Hut Booking
- Refugio de Linza (Ansó council): open all year; book on +34 974 34 82 89 or refugiodelinza@gmail.com (refugiodelinza.com).
- Rules
- The Linza approach lies in the Parque Natural de los Valles Occidentales (Aragon); follow the park's rules and stay on paths
- The summit is on the France–Spain border; no border formalities within the Schengen area
- Getting There
Ansó (Aragon); Isaba (Navarre); Lescun (France)
Pamplona (PNA); Pau Pyrénées (PUF)
- Car: from Ansó north up the valley towards Zuriza, then a few km on the paved road to Linza (about 25 km from Ansó or Isaba); several car parks
- Public transport: none to Linza found
Hazards
- Weather
- Remoteness
Huts & Shelters
1- 1,340 m