El Capcir, Nordic ski route, snowshoeing in a motorhome and more

Days

 From Friday afternoon to Sunday, 3 days

Ruta

La Llosa sector in the Nordic area of ​​Capcir (region of the French-Catalan Pyrenees) with snowshoe routes by motorhome and the town of Llo.

Visits and activities carried out

• • La Llose (2 nights)
    • Route 14 of snowshoes + sleds and paddles. Round trip route by the same path.
    • Pancakes in the restaurant of the Llose ski resort
    • Route 13 snowshoeing of 1 km. Circular route.
    • Toboggan run
    • Cross country ski
  • Llo (incidentally, on the way home on Sunday)

• • • Bath in the thermal waters of Llo

Overnight places and parking for motorhomes or campers

• Parking without services at the foot of the slopes of the Nordic station of Capcir, in the La Llosa sector, right in front of the fun toboggan run and next to the ski resort, where there is a bar-restaurant, a small equipment rental shop, restrooms, and picnic room. It's a small car park, but like all Nordic ski resorts it's not overcrowded and it's very quiet, as well as flat, which makes it great for overnight stays that are fully permitted.
• To park in the thermal waters of Llo, park in the car park set up for ACs without Llo services, which is the same car park for other vehicles that go to the thermal waters or to go hiking in the Segre gorge or to do the via ferrata what's up.

Total expenses

130 Euros in total for 2 adults + 2 children

€ 40 approx. gasoline (with AC heating expenses included round trip from St Pere de Vilamajor (Bcn) to Coll de La Llosa) passing through the Collado de Tosas N-260, there are no tolls and you avoid queues in Berga and Túnel del Cadí / 3-hour ski pass: € 14 (1 adult and one children's ski pass) + 1/2 day cross-country ski equipment rental: 14 (1 adult + 1 child) / € 0 Overnight areas / € 3, each crepe the restaurant on the same slopes / € 43 family ticket for 4 in the thermal waters of Llo).

Best

• • Have a free play area for the little ones with a toboggan run, just in front of the parking lot.
  • Have 2 free well marked snowshoe trails without paying a ski pass. One of the long routes to the refuge and another circular one of 1,5 km with beautiful views for children.
  • Being able to sleep at the foot of the slopes, very calm, in the very flat parking lot of the slopes. Having restaurant and bathrooms next door.
  • The quality of the snow on the slopes, which, being between forests, is preserved quite well.
  • The tranquility that these tracks breathe, little crowded.
  • The 12 km green track goes and 12 km back, great to start cross-country skiing. A long track, very flat and among a beautiful forest. A tale track.
  • The prices for both cross-country ski equipment rental, forfets or the restaurant are very affordable prices compared to downhill skiing or other Spanish resorts.
  • There are 3-hour forfets and half-day rental of equipment that lowers the costs for those of us who have children and do not ski more hours.
  • Llo's baths, a joy, with outdoor and indoor pools, with family pack price € 43 or € 11,50 person.

Worst

• • The 3 hours until you reach the slopes, where an hour passes through the Tosas pass. That we do recommend deviating through La Molina so that the pass is less heavy.
  • The tail of the return in Ribes de Freser until Ripoll. We advise you to leave either at 14pm or at 20pm.

---

TIPS FOR THIS GETAWAY TO DO NORDIC SKIING AND SNOWSHOES IN A MOTORHOME

---

Getaway overview for motorhome skiing and snowshoeing and more

• Plan in advance what you are going to ski to take a 3-hour ski pass (€ 9 adult), or 1 day (€ 12 adult or € 5 child from 6 to 16 years old), or a 6 or 10-day voucher, which leave very well priced. There is also a family ski pass: 2 adults +2 children € 26. Here are the prices for this 2019
• If you want to take classes, there is a ski school with teachers who speak mostly French and some Catalan. Little Spanish is spoken.
• At the foot of the slopes where you will park you will also find a restaurant and services. In the restaurant they make a dish of the day at a good price to eat and also crepes (€ 3) and very good waffles. Everything has normal prices, nothing abusive.
• In the ski resort there is a shop to rent cross-country ski equipment (€ 11 all day or € 8 half a day for adults, children cheaper) and snowshoes (€ 6).
• This ski resort is famous for the biathlon, it is a very good option if you want something different. The biathlon for those who do not know what it is, is a modality of cross-country skiing that combines skiing with rifle shooting.
• Before doing a snowshoe route, if you see that it has been hot and there is little snow, ask in the store or in the ski resort if snowshoes are necessary. If the snow is very trodden and there is little you can break the snowshoes, better go with hiking boots. Besides, it will be more comfortable and you will not have to carry rackets in hand.
• There are 2 routes of snowshoes in motorhome or different trails in the Llose station, quite easy with little unevenness, although with constant ups and downs. Firstly, there is a route marked with the number 14. This leaves in front of the parking lot and is the one that goes to the Coll de Torn refuge, 13 km long, which can also be accessed by cross-country ski trail. The second marked route is number 13. A 1,5 km circular route that leaves the forest next to the parking lot, behind the rubbish. A very easy route, with incredible views and cows on the way.
• If you want to do fat-bike, snow bike. The Nordic station of Capcir in its sector of Lake Olive and Lake Matemale have reserved tracks for this.
• If you want to stay at the Torn refuge, it is guarded all year. You can access by cross-country skiing or snowshoeing, on well-marked slopes. The refuge is 12 places only so before you go you have to book. The price is € 8 per person per night or € 27 with half board. To book contact do it to:
  Dominique
  Tel: + 33 (0) 6.31.11.97.84
  web: www.refugeducoldeltorn.fr
  Facebook page: torn / refuge
• The snowshoe routes in the French Catalan Pyrenees area are on a triptych that costs € 2. You can buy it at the box office of the ski resort.
• Despite the fact that there is still snow, the cross-country ski resort of La Llose closes its doors on March 10. But you can access for free although the tracks are maintenance-free.
• 20 minutes from the slopes you have the Dorres thermal baths, where after skiing you can take a dip in natural hot water and outdoors at a great price (5 euros adult, 3,5 children from 3 to 11 years old and free) under 3). Also at the same distance you have those of Sto Tomás (€ 7 for outdoor baths or € 14,5 for indoor and outdoor baths) and those of Llo, a little more expensive but with indoor and outdoor pools (11,5 the price per person adult). It is ideal to go on the Sunday that falls on the way back to make time and not queue on the road. Until 19:30 they are open. This time we went to the Llo baths with a family formula of 2 adults + 2 children for € 43.
• In about 20 minutes, you also have the possibility of doing a different activity, visiting the first industrial solar oven built in the world that is located in Odeillo and that offers recreational and pedagogical visits for all ages.
• Another activity that you can do in the area is to visit the Fontrabiouse cave, Vilafranca del Conflent, a beautiful medieval town where you will find spectacular caves like Canalettas with a light and music show; or visit Montluís another medieval town. And besides, another interesting proposal, especially with children, is to go up to the emblematic and old Groc Train (yellow) that goes high up overlooking the entire Pyrenees.
• Nearby you have the Matemale lake where very beautiful snowshoe and cross-country trails start, along with a motorhome area with all services. In summer you have the lake is great for bathing and kayaking among other activities.

If you travel with children

• If you like to ski, you will know that the equipment for the little ones is expensive, we apart from buying the clothes in the lidl when the ski goes out which is great, we buy second-hand skis and boots in Puigcerdà, in all the sports stores of Ski sell second-hand equipment for children and adults. It is a very good option, since every year you take the old equipment and only for € 30, which would already cost you the set-up, they change you to new equipment of their size and with the set-up done. A great option.
• There is a free toboggan run and play area for the little ones right in front of the parking lot, great for the little ones.
• A great proposal for the little ones is to do a route with snowshoes + sleds or shovels. The easiest route is the one marked with number 13, which is a 1,5 km circular loop around a forest attached to the parking lot, with great views and areas to play with the sled or snow shovels.
• Making an igloo based on making the snow with bricks first is a great game to do with the kids in the snow.
• Making a snowman in the thousand snowy esplanades around the parking lot is a great game for the little ones, take carrots, buttons, a hat and a scarf and make your super pose with the doll!
• Doing laser biathlon with the kids as a different activity on the slopes of the Llose can be something different and fun.
• Both in the thermal baths of Llo, as Dorres or Sto Tomás, children can access without problem. There is a family price in Llo that saves you a little.
• Another activity with children nearby is the Les Angles semi-free animal park. Of the bad, it is the least bad in zoos. Besides, you have the yellow train, caves such as Fontrobiouse or Canalettes, a visit to the Odeillo solar oven, mushing (dog sledding) or pony luge (sledding with ponies) in La Quillane, etc ...

If you travel with dogs

• Bring your updated dog card, you are in France, they can ask you for it and rabies is mandatory.
• Remember to point your phone on your dog's collar, outside of Spain the chip will be difficult to locate.
• You can go to the toboggan runs without problem with your dog.
• You can go to the snowshoe tracks without problem with your dog.
• If you want to ski with your dog, cani-ski, you have sectors of the Capcir station, in the Matemale lake, in the l'Olive lake and the Quillane sector.
• In the Quillane sector, there are exclusive tracks for mushing and pony luge.

If you travel by motorhome or van

• If you want to save over 40 Euros toll from Olesa and from the Cadí tunnel, go on the c-17 and then on the N-260 (Tosas pass). In our case it was only 10 more minutes and for the savings it was worth it. There are curves and it is a mountain road, so if you go through the Tosas pass, always be careful. A tip if you do the collada so that it does not become so heavy is to deviate halfway along the Molina Alp road, it takes the same and the road is better and more entertaining when passing through the Molina tracks. And in winter carry winter chains or wheels always in your car.
• If you are an AC of more than 3m high, remember that you will not be able to take the road parallel to the collada de tosas since there is a tunnel that you do not pass or you pass very very fair and also the road is very narrow. It is more advisable to go down the hill even if there are more curves.
• Wear winter chains or wheels (both better) (see this article that we advise you based on our experience to bring http://www.kucavana.es/neumaticos-de-invierno/),
• Remember with the cold always put the heating on and leave it even when you leave, also you see putting the water heater so that the water does not freeze.
• The road that goes up to Llosa has a prohibition sign for vehicles longer than 7,50 m. Eye longer motorhomes. Ours is 7,40 m we passed and no problem, on the contrary the road is very good and quite wide.
• In the parking lot you have garbage and to recycle containers. Recycling does not cost anything.
• We strongly advise you to take a special GPS for a motorhome or truck to put your AC measurements, in these mountain areas you go much more relaxed, it is a rest.
• If you need electricity or services, the closest motorhome area is Lake Matemale. It has all the services, including electricity. It costs € 12 to which you have to add € 4 for the card that allows you access and that you can recharge and use in all areas of that company. The location is as follows: https://park4night.com/lieu/89217/servicios-y-aparcamiento-pagado/les-angles-unnamed-road/france/pyr%C3%A9n%C3%A9es-orientales#.XItTdyJKiUk
• Another nearby and well located area with all services is Les Angles in Pla de Mir. It costs € 11 a night and is opposite the Pla de Mir ski slopes and the Les Angles animal park. The location is as follows: https://park4night.com/lieu/4632/servicios-y-aparcamiento-pagado/les-angles-27-route-du-pla-del-mir/france/pyr%C3%A9n%C3%A9es-orientales#.XItVEyJKiUk

---

---

THE GETAWAY IN PHOTOS, SNOWSHOES IN A MOTORHOME AND MORE