Gorges del Carança

The Gorges del Carança are beautiful gorges in the French Eastern Pyrenees that can be traversed thanks to their metal walkways, bridges and stairs. A setting worthy of an amusement park, but surrounded by nature.

We start the route from the town of Thuès-Entre-Vall in France relatively close to Puigcerdà. There is a parking lot right at the beginning of the route, but we leave the car in the parking lot on the N116 road, which is free. And we walk the 500 meters to the beginning of the Gorges del Carançà, when the Carança river passes just under the bridge of the Yellow Train of the Pyrenees.

You can do several routes and go back and forth on the same side or by changing sides of the walls of Carançà. We opt for the pass under the train and access under the hole in the stone leaving the river on our left. This first section is less aerial or exposed than the one on the other side. And it allows you to contemplate the cut of the rock through which we will make the return on the other side of the river.

Later we find the first catwalk. A succession of 10 walkways and hanging bridges will take us into the Carança gorge, sometimes these are level with the water and others are a bit higher. But fun is guaranteed. Of course, as long as you do not suffer from claustrophobia or vertigo. Anuqué I have to say that all have a security cable by which you can go caught.
It is a route where you put the turning point. Some make the cut and return directly along the ledge. Others continue to the Puente de Piedra and if you decide to continue you have one last footbridge and reach a point where we made our stop. Even so, if you decide to stretch the route, you will pass through the Carança Refuge, reach the Carança Lagoon or even go to Spain near the Pico de la Fossa del Gegant.

We make the return initially by undoing the road until we reach the indication of the Cornice through which we fly and we recommend.

And what about the Chemin de la Corniche (path to the cornice)? Well, if we do a bit of history, this one was built to have access to the Hydroelectric Plant that produced the energy that moves the yellow train. But ultimately it is a narrow and dizzying path dug into the rock, similar to the one on the Ruta del Cares, which follows the cliff formed by the river. At all times there is a steel cable nailed to the wall and it does not offer greater danger, but it is advisable to be attentive at all times.

At the end we come to an indication that points us towards the parking in the direction of descent. But we opted for the other one that takes us to the parking lot by the last ledge. This is shorter and similar to the previous ones, but without a lifeline and with some area of landslides, but without major problem.

The final descent is for a few zetas that take us down to the parking lot at the beginning and from there to our parking place on the road.

It is definitely a spectacular route that if you like the mountains you should not miss.