
Ibón de Escarpinosa
A small ibón tucked among fir trees, with exceptional reflections when there is no wind.
- Altitude
- 2050 m
- Area
- Valle de Estós
- One-way time
- 3 h
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Best season
- Summer and autumn.
- Suitable for children
- Consultar la dificultad y el desnivel antes de ir con niños
- Suitable for dogs
- Sí, siempre atado (Parque Natural y zona de ganado)
- Trail type
- Out and back
⚠ Check official sources before doing this activity.
Interactive map
Base cartography: Spanish National Geographic Institute (MTN, IGN Base and PNOA orthophoto) and OpenStreetMap. Este mapa es informativo y no sustituye cartografía oficial, señalización, experiencia de montaña ni dispositivos GPS. Comprueba meteorología, avisos y estado de la ruta antes de salir.
Verified coordinates for this mountain lake and the catalogued places nearby.
How to get there
From Estós, continuing the Batisielles route.
Geology
El valle de Benasque está excavado en el batolito granítico de la Maladeta y en materiales paleozoicos (pizarras, calizas y esquistos). El modelado actual es glaciar: circos, cubetas de sobreexcavación ocupadas por ibones, morrenas, valles en artesa y umbrales rocosos pulidos. En el macizo de la Maladeta se conservan los últimos glaciares del Pirineo, en fuerte retroceso.
Landscape
A high-mountain glacial basin surrounded by pastures, scree slopes and granite walls, with snowfields lingering much of the year.
Wildlife
- Sarrio
- Marmota alpina
- Quebrantahuesos
- Buitre leonado
- Urogallo
- Trucha común
Flora
- Pino negro
- Abeto blanco
- Rododendro ferrugíneo
- Genciana
- Pastos alpinos
Can you swim here?
Cold water; protected surroundings.
Tips and recommended gear
- Go early for the reflections
Recommended gear
- Mountain boots with good grip
- Warm layer and windbreaker: temperatures drop sharply near the water
- Sun protection, sunglasses and a cap
- Enough water and food
Trail conditions and hazards
Mountain trail with rocky sections and possible snowfields well into summer.
- Snowfields and ice outside summer season
- Frequent afternoon storms in summer
- Boulder terrain slippery when wet
Weather
We do not publish our own forecasts. The mountain forecast for the area (Aragonese Pyrenees / Posets-Maladeta massif) is issued by AEMET, and snow conditions and avalanche risk should be checked in the official avalanche bulletin. Afternoon storms are common from June to September and conditions can change within hours.
Posets-Maladeta Natural Park rules
- Much of the valley lies within the Posets-Maladeta Natural Park: wild camping is forbidden (only authorised bivouac above 2,000 m between dusk and dawn, under current regulations).
- No fires, no collecting flora, fauna or minerals, and no leaving marked trails in sensitive areas.
- Dogs must be kept on a leash. In grazing areas and areas with protected wildlife their presence may be restricted.
- Drones require express authorisation from the Natural Park's managing body.
- Vehicle access to the Hospital de Benasque and La Besurta is regulated in summer: check the official shuttle service.
- Take all your rubbish with you, including organic waste and toilet paper. Mountain emergencies: 112.
Gallery








Photographs of the Ibón de Escarpinosa area in the Benasque Valley, optimised in WebP for mobile and desktop.
Nearby
Mountain lakes
- Ibón Grande de Batisielles0.8 km
- Ibón de Llardaneta5.2 km
- Ibones de las Llosas6.8 km
Mountain huts
- Refugio de Estós2.0 km
- Refugio Ángel Orús5.9 km
Trails
Peaks
- Pico Perdiguero4.8 km
- Pico Posets (Llardana)5.8 km
Waterfalls
- Cascadas de Espigantosa6.5 km
- Cascada del Ardonés6.9 km
Restaurants, hotels and services
We do not publish business names without a verifiable source. Check the valley's official directory in food, accommodation and mountain huts.
Automatic planner
Half day
Short morning or afternoon outing, with time to eat in the valley.
- Early breakfast in Benasque and buy water and food.
- Drive or shuttle to the start of the chosen route.
- 2 to 3 hour walk with stops for photos.
- Return to the valley and visit the old town of Benasque or Anciles.
Full day
Long mountain day making the most of the daylight from early on.
- Set off before sunrise to avoid the heat and afternoon storms.
- Main route with a light meal on the way.
- Descend early: storms often build up by mid-afternoon in summer.
- Dinner and rest in the valley.
Families
Short routes, with water nearby and no exposed sections.
- Choose a route under 3 hours with gentle elevation gain.
- Baby carrier instead of a pushchair: the trails are stony.
- Picnic stop by a river or a meadow.
- Rainy-day alternative: valley villages and Romanesque heritage.
Experts
High mountain terrain with significant elevation gain, technical ground and specific gear.
- Check AEMET's mountain forecast and the avalanche bulletin if there is snow.
- Overnight in a mountain hut to shorten the summit day.
- High mountain gear and experience on glacial terrain or ridges.
- Leave word of your route and expected return time.
Plans generated automatically from the distance, elevation gain and difficulty of the catalogued trails. They do not include timetables, prices or opening hours: check official sources before doing this activity.
Related mountain lakes
Ibón Grande de Batisielles
ModerateA sheet of water surrounded by mountain pine and fir, one of the valley's best-known views.
Ibón de Coronas
HardAn ibón in the Coronas valley, on the southern ascent route to the Aneto.
Ibones de Paderna
ModerateIbones arranged in steps above La Besurta, with direct views of the massif.