> Cross remote alpine basins and hidden high passes
> Spend the night in three authentic Pyrenean refuges
> Summit the iconic Pico Salvaguardia on the final day
There’s a moment on this trek usually as you rise above Conangles and enter the Vall de Mulleres when the landscape suddenly opens. The forest falls away, the granite rises in steep walls, and a chain of high-mountain tarns appears in cirques carved long ago by ice. Ahead, the skyline sharpens into the rugged silhouettes of Aneto, Maladeta, and the border ridge. This is the essence of Trekking Mulleres: remote, raw, and breathtaking from start to finish.
Across five stages you’ll climb from the meadows of Senarta to the historic Renclusa Refuge, traverse to the turquoise basin of Llauset, cross the wild Mulleres valley, and descend into the emerald cirque of Artiga de Lin. The final day crowns the experience with the ascent of Salvaguardia, offering sweeping frontier views before descending to the green open plains of Llanos. It’s the perfect choice for trekkers wanting a challenging Pyrenees adventure with the comfort of a bed each night.
The route from Besurta to Refugio Renclusa goes deep into high alpine terrain, with Pico de Aneto as the main point of the day. With 1,460 m of ascent, it is a demanding climb, and the T5 sections make it suitable for experienced mountain hikers. The route crosses steep, rocky ground, glacier surroundings and exposed alpine terrain, followed by a long descent after the summit section.
The route first heads towards Renclusa Mountain Hut, then continues higher towards Portillón Superior. From there, the terrain becomes rougher as you move into the high alpine zone near Glaciar Aneto and Glaciar de Coronas. The line continues towards Pico de Aneto Summit and passes the Puente de Mahoma area, where the terrain is narrow and rocky. After the highest section, the route turns into a long descent.
The final part brings you back down through rocky mountain terrain towards Refugio Renclusa. After the summit, glacier surroundings and ridge sections, the hut is a welcome place to stop and recover from a demanding first route.
This high-level crossing links two alpine refuges over rough, remote ground. The entire route follows the GR11.5, but this should not be mistaken for an easy or consistently well-marked trail. With about 1,040 m of ascent and 770 m of descent, this is a long and demanding day in serious terrain, suitable only for advanced trekkers with strong route-finding skills. Snow is very common at the beginning of the summer season and can make the route significantly more difficult to follow and cross safely. Mobile phone coverage is unreliable or absent for much of the stage, and in poor weather, low visibility, snow, or if you are unsure of the route, this crossing should not be attempted.
From the hut, the route climbs steeply on rough mountain terrain towards the slopes above Tuca de la Renclusa, weaving between rocks, small tarns, and boulder fields. Progress is often slow and careful footwork is essential. The terrain is remote and exposed in places, and the correct line is not always obvious, especially where the path becomes faint, crosses rocky sections, or is covered by snow. Trekkers must be comfortable moving independently through high alpine terrain and should not rely on signs alone.
The crossing continues on the GR11.5 towards the Collado de Salenques. From this point onwards, the route becomes more technical and is classified as T4 alpine terrain, meaning the trail is only lightly marked and the correct line is not always obvious. This section requires confident route finding, good balance, and experience moving over rough, rocky ground. Early in the summer season, remaining snow can further obscure the route and increase the level of difficulty. After passing the high lake basins, the route eventually leads towards the Estany de Llauset, with Cap de Llauset rising above. A final section on a better path brings the day to an end at the modern lakeside refuge.
This high-mountain traverse links Llauset Refuge with the valley-based Conangles hut by crossing a chain of rugged basins and rocky upland shelves. Beginning beside Estany de Llauset, the path climbs gradually across broken terraces, rising above 2,400 m before settling into a steady rhythm through granite slabs and tarn-filled hollows. Though not especially technical, it remains a demanding stage with long stretches above treeline, rewarded by expansive views across the Anglios basin and the distant skyline guarding the upper valley.
From the refuge the route follows the lake’s edge before gaining height on cairned ledges weaving between erratic blocks and patches of alpine turf. It soon approaches the broad waters of Estany d’Anglios and then the quieter Estany Cap de Anglios, both set within a high granite bowl framed by pale ridges. Progress can slow where the trail crosses uneven ground, yet the surrounding scenery is consistently striking, especially as the descent begins and the vista opens into a sweeping corridor of peaks, ridges, and shadowed couloirs leading toward the lower slopes.
Beyond the final rise the trail drops steadily into a narrowing valley lined with grass, stone, and scattered pines, marking a clear transition from exposed uplands to more sheltered terrain. As elevation decreases, the route enters dense woodland brightened by rhododendron clusters and threaded by a lively stream. The final kilometres follow this shaded path through mature forest, eventually emerging into the meadows surrounding Refugi de Conangles, a welcoming base at the valley floor.
From the Conangles Refuge the trail begins with a steady climb through a deep belt of beech forest, where pale trunks rise closely together and the ground is carpeted with moss and fallen leaves. The environment here feels enclosed and cool, with glimpses of the upper valley appearing only occasionally between the trees. As the path rises, the woodland gradually loosens, revealing open pockets of meadow alive with summer flowers and views toward the darker ridges that frame the head of the Mullères valley.
Above the last pines the landscape becomes increasingly mineral, and the trail follows a series of rocky shelves leading into the high basin beneath Pico Mulleres. Here the terrain is dominated by fractured slabs, angular towers, and long slopes of scree. Along the way the route passes several striking mountain lakes: the deep Estanhots de Mullères, the larger Estanhon des Pois, and finally the small Ivon Rodó de l’Escaleta set below sharp spires of rock. Each tarn sits in a stark cirque of boulder fields, their still water reflecting the surrounding cliffs. A final push brings you to a windswept saddle where the views broaden dramatically.
The descent into Artiga de Lin follows gentler ground, dropping across grassier slopes and scattered stones as the valley widens below. As altitude decreases, the path re-enters forest, this time brighter and more varied, with clear streams running beside it. Emerging from the trees, the trail crosses open pastures and leads directly to the buildings and meadows surrounding the Artiga de Lin Refuge.
The route from Refugio Artiga climbs steadily towards Pico Salvaguardia before dropping back towards Llanos. With 1,010 m of elevation gain, this is a demanding climb, especially in the first half of the route. The terrain changes from lower valley paths and open slopes to a higher mountain section around Picada Pass, before the descent leads you back towards gentler terrain, river crossings and the La Besurta area.
The route heads past the Pyrenees Mountain View and continues above the Pomero Gorge before climbing into more open mountain terrain. The ascent leads towards Picada Pass at 2,463 m, followed by a high ridge section with broad views around the surrounding peaks and valleys. After the main high point, the route begins to lose height, passing the Track to La Besurta and dropping towards the Ésera River at Llanos del Hospital.
The final section passes La Besurta Cabin and La Besurta before continuing towards Llanos. After the climb, ridge and descent, the arrival feels like a return to the wider valley, with easier ground underfoot near the end point.
