Font del Moixó

Font del Moixó is a natural spring on the mountain paths above Arinsal, in La Massana’s Comapedrosa landscape. It is a small outdoor waypoint rather than a staffed attraction, and its value is practical as well as scenic: hikers encounter it among the first named water features on routes that climb from the village toward Borda de la Coruvilla, Pla de l’Estany and higher Comapedrosa trails. The spring lies in the same upper valley as Font de la Coruvilla, but the two are distinct mapped sources. Font del Riu Pollós is another separate water point lower down by the river-side trail network.

The clearest authoritative context comes from Visit Andorra’s guide to the Pic de Medacorba route in Comapedrosa Nature Park. It says that the route starts at the end of Arinsal and climbs steeply through high-mountain terrain, passing traditional bordes such as Borda de les Agunes and Borda de la Coruvilla, as well as springs such as Font del Moixó. The destination, Medacorba, is a demanding high peak, and the guide warns that its final section is technical, exposed and difficult to follow. That warning applies to the full summit route, not necessarily to every short walk that reaches the spring, but it makes one point clear: Font del Moixó belongs to a mountain trail system, and a visitor should choose a route appropriate to their ability rather than assume that a named fountain is an easy roadside stop.

The spring can be incorporated into walks from Arinsal that connect the lower valley with the historic bordes and the Pla de l’Estany refuge. Visit Andorra’s separate Camí de Percanela–Les Fonts–Pla de l’Estany route is a 9.12-kilometre circuit with 585 metres of ascent and 590 metres of descent; the official difficulty is difficult and its estimated duration is three to six hours. It leaves from the village near the gondola, rises through forest and meadows toward the Font Podrida pass, then returns along the GR-11 and Rec d’Areny path by the Coruvilla and Agunes bordes. That route illustrates the terrain and scale of the area, but hikers should check the current map to confirm whether their chosen variation actually passes the spring.

Community GPS tracks list Font del Moixó on several different itineraries, including short approaches from the Arinsal parking area and longer traverses that continue toward Borda de la Coruvilla, Coll Carnisser or Pla de l’Estany. One 2026 route records it before the Borda de la Coruvilla; a 2025 track also places it early on a longer one-way traverse. Recorded distance, climbing and time vary because these are different paths and endpoints, not competing measurements of one official walk. Use them to understand that the spring is a trail waypoint, not as a substitute for current waymarks, weather checks or an official route plan.

The setting changes as the path rises away from Arinsal. Forested slopes, small streams, mountain huts and open high pastures form the context for the spring. Traditional bordes are part of the valley’s pastoral history: they are rural buildings associated with seasonal livestock use, not necessarily visitor shelters or public interiors. Respect fences, grazing animals and private property, and stay on the marked path around the water source. The official visitor guide also places the route within Comapedrosa Nature Park, a protected mountain environment connected to the wider Three Nations Pyrenees area. A quiet stop at a spring is best kept quiet: avoid washing with soap, leaving litter or disturbing the ground around the outlet.

There are no fixed daily opening hours for Font del Moixó. It is an outdoor natural feature on public mountain terrain, so practical access depends on snow, ice, weather, daylight, trail maintenance and any temporary local restrictions. Visit Andorra recommends routes above 1,700 metres from late June to late September, while noting that conditions may allow a longer season from May to October. This is seasonal safety guidance for the mountain route network, not a spring gate timetable. In winter, snow can cover both the route and the source; in spring, runoff and muddy or icy sections can make travel slower than expected. Start early enough to finish in daylight and check current conditions before leaving Arinsal.

Do not count on the spring as a guaranteed drinking-water supply. The sources reviewed confirm the feature’s identity and its place on the hiking network, but do not provide current water-quality testing or a reliable potable-water notice for this exact outlet. Carry enough treated or bottled water for the planned walk. Flow can vary seasonally, and a visible trickle is not proof that water is safe to drink. If a sign at the spring gives current advice, follow it; otherwise treat the source as a landscape feature and possible rest point, not as a certified refill station.

For navigation, search the exact name “Font del Moixó” and verify the point against the surrounding route. Map data place it close to Font de la Coruvilla, and that proximity can cause confusion when a route description lists both springs and the Borda de la Coruvilla in sequence. The spring is not the same as the borda and should not inherit the borda’s elevation or facilities. Nor should it be confused with the Font del Riu Pollós lower down beside a different river-side path. A map pin, route sign and local conditions together are more reliable than a place name viewed alone.

Font del Moixó is most rewarding for walkers who want a specific point within a larger mountain outing: a spring amid forested slopes and the historic upper-Arinsal trail network. It has no ticket, staffed service or published schedule. Choose a suitable route, bring water and weather-appropriate clothing, and allow more time than a lowland map estimate might suggest. When conditions are good, the spring makes a natural pause before continuing toward the bordes or the higher park trails; when snow, ice or poor visibility affects the path, save the visit for another day.