Pic de la Munia
3,133 m
Spain, France
Also known as La Munia, Pico de la Munia, +1Also known as
La Munia · Pico de la Munia · Munia / Almunia Gran
- Elevation
- 3,133 m
- Prominence
- 683 m
- Difficulty
- 5/10
- Easy alpine
- Best Season
- Jul–Sep
- Routes
- 2
Routes
2Sources differ: MIDE 4-3-4-4 (Montaña Segura) · III (Guías del Pirineo (search excerpt))
The technically easiest way up the Munia: from the end of the Chisagüés track at Pietramula (about 1,900 m) a good path climbs to the Collado de las Puertas and the two Munia lakes, then scree leads to the Collado de la Munia (2,853 m) and the long east ridge, with one unavoidable II+ step, the Paso del Gato, to the 3,133 m summit. 11.3 km return, 1,250 m, about 3 h 45 min up.
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- 5.8 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +1,218 m
- −59 m lost on the way up
- High Point
- 3,133 m
- Time Up
- 4h 54m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 3h 22m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
From the Bielsa valley, turn off before Parzán to Chisagüés and drive the track (ticket required; 4×4 advisable, the upper part is not always passable) to the Plana de Pietramula, a bend on the track to the old Liena mines, where there is parking and an information board. Without crossing the bridge, head west over the ravine (Clot de los Gabachos) and climb a good, cairned path in zigzags, then north, to the Collado de las Puertas (2,530 m, about 1 h 50 min), where the lakes and the Munia ridge come into view. Pass the two Ibones de la Munia (about 2,526 m) on their right, then climb a steep scree slope and rock slabs north on a faint, cairned trace to the Collado de la Munia or Collata es Ibons (2,853 m, about 3 h); snow lingers here early in the season. Follow the ridge east, mostly on its right-hand side, avoiding small difficulties. Below a rock barrier, traverse left and climb a short couloir to a wedged block and the Paso del Gato (Pas du Chat, about 2,990 m): a smooth, pale slab of 3–10 m climbed by a crack (II+). Sources disagree on whether a chain or fixed rope is in place, and one 2025 report says the rope has gone. Beyond, the ridge narrows in places but each awkward step can usually be bypassed slightly below, to the summit (about 3 h 45 min). Descend the same way, downclimbing or abseiling the Paso del Gato (about 3 h 55 min down). Montaña Segura gives 11.3 km, 1,250 m of ascent and 7 h 40 min for the round trip.
Start
Pietramula1,970 m
- None to Chisagüés; a car (ideally high-clearance) is needed.
- Parking at the trailhead
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pietramula → Pic de la Munia | 5.8 | 1,218 | 59 | 4h 54m |
Waypoints
- Parking: Pietramula1,970 m
- Col: Collado de las Puertas2,533 m
- Feature: Ibones de la Munia2,515 m
- Col: Collado de la Munia2,848 m
- Summit: Pic de la Munia3,133 m
Key Passages
- Scree slope from the lakes to the Collado de la Munia
- Paso del Gato (II+)
- Narrow sections of the upper west ridge
Equipment
0/5 packedDownloads
Route confidence 80%Overview
The highest summit around the Cirque de Troumouse, a 3,133 m rock peak on the French–Spanish frontier east of Monte Perdido. Both normal routes join on a long, airy west ridge with a short II+ slab, the Pas du Chat; the French side adds a polished wall through the cirque.
La Munia stands on the main Pyrenean ridge at the south-east corner of the Cirque de Troumouse, the vast amphitheatre above Héas and Gèdre in the Parc national des Pyrénées. To the south it falls to the Spanish valleys of Pineta, Lalarri and Chisagüés above Bielsa, and its north side holds the remnant Munia glacier and long-lasting snow couloirs. It is the highest of a group of 3,000 m tops on the Troumouse ridge, including the Petite Munia and the Robiñera.
The Spanish normal route from Pietramula (1,250 m of ascent) is the easier: a good path to the Munia lakes, scree to the Collado de la Munia and the ridge. The French route from Troumouse is shorter in height gain (about 1,000 m) but steeper and more serious, through a hidden couloir and the polished Mur Passet. Above the col both share the ridge, with the short Pas du Chat slab and narrow sections to the summit.
This is an easy mountaineering objective rather than a hike: hands are needed, the rock is often loose or polished, and both steps must be reversed in descent. Snow lingers late on the north side, making it a classic early-season snow-and-rock initiation, while midsummer is the time for a dry ascent.
Climbing Notes
You need to be fit for a 7–8 hour day with 1,000–1,250 m of ascent and comfortable moving unroped on scree, exposed ledges and grade II–III rock, including downclimbing. Less experienced parties should carry a 30 m rope, harness and abseil device for the Pas du Chat (and the Mur Passet on the French side) and go with a guide or experienced partner; guided ascents are offered by mountain guide offices in the Gavarnie valley and in Bielsa. Wear a helmet: the couloirs are busy in summer and rockfall is common. Until early or mid-summer an ice axe and crampons are needed for the couloirs and the slopes below the Col de la Munia. Avoid the routes in fog or rain. In summer plan around the Troumouse road closure and shuttle (France) or buy the Chisagüés track ticket in advance (Spain).
History
Camptocamp records a probable first ascent by the guide Henri Passet around 1870 and a first dated descent in early August 1873 by Hubert Durand and Clément Catala ('Sarraitz'), who climbed it from the Spanish side. The first dated ascent from France was made on 27 August 1875 by Alphonse Lequeutre, Henri Passet, Pierre Pujo and the cartographer Franz Schrader.
Season
Best Jul–Sep- January: Not advisable
- February: Not advisable
- March: Not advisable
- 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; access roads closed or snowbound; ski-mountaineering terrain only
- Feb
- Winter conditions; avalanche risk
- Mar
- Winter conditions; avalanche risk
- Apr
- Spring snow; for experienced mountaineers only; Héas road may still be closed
- May
- Snow-and-rock conditions on the French couloirs; ice axe and crampons
- Jun
- Snow still in the couloirs; Troumouse train starts in early June
- Jul
- Best period for a dry ascent; Troumouse road closed to cars by day
- Aug
- Best period; busy; afternoon storms
- Sep
- Stable weather often; Troumouse train until late September
- Oct
- First snow possible; short days
- Nov
- Early winter; roads may close
- Dec
- Winter conditions
Access & Permits
- Permits
- Chisagüés (Ruego) track ticketRequired
Vehicle access to the track from Chisagüés to Pietramula requires a ticket (EUR 3 in 2023 per Camptocamp), sold online; there is a QR code at the start of the track but no mobile coverage.
entradas.bielsa.com
- Fees
- Petit train de Troumouse: EUR 10 adult, EUR 6 child (4–11), cash or cheque only
- Chisagüés track: ticket required (EUR 3 in 2023)
- Rules
- Troumouse road (France): from June to late September the section from the Plateau du Maillet to the cirque is closed to motor vehicles from about 08:00/08:30 to 19:00 (bicycles allowed); outside those hours cars may use a small car park below the terminus; dates are set each year by the Parc national des Pyrénées
- Parc national des Pyrénées core zone on the French side: national park rules apply (e.g. no dogs)
- The Héas road (D922) is closed in winter and part of spring
- Getting There
Gèdre (France); Bielsa (Spain)
Tarbes–Lourdes–Pyrénées (LDE); Pau (PUF)
- France: by car from Lourdes and Luz-Saint-Sauveur to Gèdre, then the D922 to Héas and the Plateau du Maillet; petit train or walk to the cirque. No public transport to Héas.
- Spain: by car via the Bielsa tunnel or from Ainsa to Bielsa, turn off before Parzán to Chisagüés and drive the ticketed track to Pietramula (high clearance advisable)
Hazards
- Rockfall
- Exposure
- Weather
- Avalanche