Mount San Lorenzo
2,271 m
Spain
Also known as Monte San Lorenzo, mont San Lorenzo, +1Also known as
Monte San Lorenzo · mont San Lorenzo · San Lorenzo (szczyt)
- Elevation
- 2,271 m
- Prominence
- 1,117 m
- Difficulty
- 2/10
- Hike
- Best Season
- Jun–Oct
- Routes
- 1
Routes
1The short normal route to the roof of La Rioja: from the Valdezcaray ski station car park (about 1,530 m) up the pistes and lift lines to the top of the Campos Blancos chairlift, then a steep but easy final slope to the summit cross, altar and small refuge. About 2 hours up, 700–750 m of ascent.
Elevation Profile
- Distance
- 2.9 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +713 m
- start → summit
- High Point
- 2,271 m
- Time Up
- 2h 44m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 1h 47m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
From the car park at the Valdezcaray ski station, 16 km from Ezcaray, walk up the 'La Cascada' piste to the station buildings at about 1,620 m. The simplest line then follows the Campos Blancos chairlift up the ski area almost to the summit ridge; past the top lift station the slope becomes very steep for a short way but has no technical difficulty. This is the safest option in poor visibility, though the ski infrastructure spoils the scenery. A more attractive alternative bears diagonally right above the forest to a col right (west) of the summit, near the top of another chairlift, and follows the broad summit ridge to the top. The summit has a cross, an altar and a small mountain refuge. Descend by either line, or make a loop down the other side of the ridge towards the Colocobia hill (about 1,970 m) and back to the car park by the pistes or a track. With hard snow the far side is more serious than it looks. Strong walkers can instead climb from Ezcaray itself by the GR 93 through beech forest and over La Cuña (18 km, about 1,590 m, 6 hours one way), or from San Millán de la Cogolla (about 20 km).
Start
Valdezcaray1,553 m
- No public transport to the ski station outside the ski season was found; Ezcaray is the nearest town.
- Parking at the trailhead
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Valdezcaray → Monte San Lorenzo | 2.9 | 713 | 0 | 2h 44m |
Waypoints
- Parking: Valdezcaray1,553 m
Ski station car park, 16 km from Ezcaray
- Feature: TSD Campos Blancos1,965 m
Follow the chairlift line; steep slope above the top station (not on route line)
- Summit: Monte San Lorenzo2,271 m
Cross, altar and small refuge on the summit
Key Passages
- Steep slope above the Campos Blancos chairlift
- Broad summit ridge
Equipment
0/5 packedDownloads
Route confidence 70%Overview
The highest summit of La Rioja and of the Sierra de la Demanda (2,271 m), a broad, rounded mountain above Ezcaray and the Valdezcaray ski area. A short, easy ascent from the ski station, or a long, beautiful one through the beech forests of the Oja valley.
San Lorenzo rises at the heart of the Sierra de la Demanda in the Iberian System, above the Oja valley and Ezcaray to the north and within reach of San Millán de la Cogolla. Like the rest of the range it is a massif of rounded forms, crossed by many paths; its north side holds the Valdezcaray ski station, whose lifts reach almost to the summit ridge. The top carries a cross, an altar and a small refuge.
The normal route from the ski station car park is short and technically easy, about 2 hours up, though the pistes and lift lines make it the least scenic option. Walkers wanting more of the mountain climb from Ezcaray itself on the GR 93, through one of the finest beech forests in the Oja valley and over La Cuña, about 1,590 m of ascent, or from San Millán de la Cogolla.
In winter San Lorenzo is a popular ski-touring summit, and its north face holds steep snow descents and gullies; outside the pistes, snow turns the easy summer walk into a winter mountaineering outing.
Climbing Notes
From Valdezcaray the ascent needs only moderate fitness: about 740 m of ascent and 8 km for a loop. The final slope above the top chairlift is steep. Waymarking is sparse and cloud is common, so carry a map or GPS track, especially if you leave the ski area.
In winter and spring, ice axe and crampons are needed off the groomed pistes, and the north face and its gullies are avalanche terrain. During the ski season, check the resort's rules for walkers and ski tourers on the pistes. The longer approach from Ezcaray (6 hours, one way) needs a car shuttle or a lift back from the ski station.
Season
Best Jun–Oct- January: Possible
- February: Possible
- March: Possible
- April: Possible
- May: Good
- June: Best (best window)
- July: Best (best window)
- August: Best (best window)
- September: Best (best window)
- October: Best (best window)
- November: Good
- December: Possible
- Jan
- Ski season; winter mountaineering or ski touring only
- Feb
- Ski season; snow and avalanche risk off-piste
- Mar
- Snow; ski touring
- Apr
- Spring snow on the upper slopes
- May
- Late snow patches possible
- Nov
- First snows possible
- Dec
- Snow likely; ski season begins
Access & Permits
- Rules
- During the ski season the upper slopes are part of the Valdezcaray ski area; follow the resort's rules for uphill traffic
- Getting There
Ezcaray (La Rioja)
Logroño-Agoncillo (RJL) or Bilbao (BIO)
- Car: from Ezcaray take the LR-415 and the signed road to the Valdezcaray ski station, about 16 km in all
- Alternative starts: Ezcaray (GR 93, old railway station car park) and San Millán de la Cogolla
- No public transport to the ski station was found
Hazards
- Weather
- Avalanche