Discovering Riu Valley
What will we find in this excursion?
Today, all three levels will perform a circular journey, as long as they will be starting and finishing the excursion in the same spot.
This valley is a great unknown in the country, due to the fact that its access is exclusively on foot. Of glacier origin, like almost all of the andorran valleys, it will offer us spectacular views along the way. We will enjoy a great biological diversity, from the initial subalpine stage woods to the alpine meadows that we will find from the mountain shelter onwards. At the end of the valley, in the last part of the outing, we will find an abandoned village, l'Armiana, a remain of the life in the mountains in the past. We will finish the day in Sant Joan de Caselles romanic church, one of the most beautiful romanic churches in Andorra.
Walk grade
Mos bridge - Estanyó Peak - Armiana - Sant Joan de Caselles
Today we will reach AWF maximum height: the Estanyó peak, with 2.915 metres height. Previously, we would have passed by la Vall del Riu mountain refuge, and, going by several lake, we will get to la Vall del Riu Gran lake, spectacular due to its location and its size. After a strong climb by a stones accumulation, we will reach the Estanyó peak, one of the 7 Andorran summits that exceed 2.900 metres, and the only one located far from the border. After quite a long descent, going across L' Armiana abandoned village, we will finish the excursion at Sant Joan de Caselles romanic church.
Mos Bridge - Estanyó lake - Armiana - Sant Joan de Caselles
The first part of the outing goes across smoothly by a subalpine stage forest, that will lead us to La Vall del Riu mountain refuge. From here, the gradient increases, and, passing by several lakes, we will finally get to la Vall del Riu Gran Lake. This lake is spectacular due to its location and its amazing size. We will be using the same path for the descent and, once we' ve left the mountain refuge behind, we will get to l' Armiana abandoned village, vestige of ancient mountain life in the the past. Going out of the village, a strong descent will take us to the end of the main valley, where we will finish the excursion, next to Sant Joan de Caselles beautiful romanic church.
Mos Bridge - La Vall del Riu mountain refuge - Armiana - Sant Joan de Caselles
The initial part of the outing is identical to levels A and B. Heading to Vall del Riu mountain refuge, we will go across subalpine stage forests, where we will enjoy spectacular views from Valira d'Orient valley and from Grandvalira ski resort. When going down, we will search the Vall del Riu river, located at the end of the valley, crossing the bridge and following the path that will take us to Armiana abandoned village, vestige of ancient mountain life in the past. Going out of the village, a strong descent will take us to Canillo, where we will finish the excursion, next to Sant Joan de Caselles beautiful romanic church.
Photo galleries
