Sisè Estany

Sisè Estany is a smaller lake in the Pessons cirque, northeast of Estany de les Fonts and among the chain of waters above Grau Roig. Its Catalan name means “Sixth Lake,” reflecting its position in a local naming sequence rather than a promise that it is the sixth water feature encountered on every route. OSM maps it as a lake at approximately 2,500 metres in Encamp parish. It is close to the better-known Meligar and les Fonts lakes, but reaching it requires a side trace that is less obvious than the GR7 route through the main cirque.

The standard Pessons route begins at Cubil car park and follows the forest track to Estany Primer. Hikers then continue on the GRP and GR7 past Forcat, Rodó and Meligar toward les Fonts and Cap dels Pessons. Visit Andorra’s official route description gives the larger itinerary as 5.95 kilometres, +707 metres and three to six hours to the pass, and classifies it as difficult. The official page does not list Sisè Estany as a waypoint. A separate detailed circuit description places the lake on a side trace in the area between Meligar and the return toward the GR7, so the lake should be treated as a detour rather than an assured stop on the main marked trail.

One walking description approaches Sisè Estany from near Estany de les Fonts, then describes a faint trace and cairn at a hard-to-see junction leading down toward the water. It warns that the turn is easy to miss. That route continues toward another pond and reconnects with the GR7, but the faint path includes unmarked sections. This is not the same as a fully maintained footpath, and hikers unfamiliar with the cirque should use a current GPX track and topographic map or stay on the standard marked route. Do not depend on a single cairn, which can be difficult to see or may shift.

For a safer planning baseline, use the official Pessons route figures only for the marked itinerary to Collada dels Pessons; they do not include this detour. No authoritative distance or time to Sisè Estany was found. The lake’s mapped position is close to several named waters, but the off-trail connector adds navigation and terrain uncertainty. Build in extra time, daylight and energy for returning to the GR. If visibility worsens, snow covers the faint trace or the route is not obvious, abandon the detour rather than searching across scree or steep ground.

The wider setting is a granite glacial cirque with a sequence of connected lakes, smaller pools and streams. The main GR7 route moves from lower open terrain around Primer and Forcat toward the rockier basin of Meligar, les Fonts and the final lake below the pass. Sisè Estany is a quieter side feature amid that broader landscape. The nearby high slopes can be exposed to wind, and granite slabs become slippery when wet. Take care around the water’s edge and leave plants and shoreline material undisturbed; there are no visitor facilities documented at the lake.

The route begins at the Cubil car park in the Grau Roig sector of Grandvalira. Access to the first lake is on foot along a forest track. Resort transport, restaurant service and private vehicle access beyond the car park are separate and may be seasonal; verify any operation directly rather than assuming it will be running. The main trail follows recognizable GR markings for much of the approach, but the Sisè Estany detour leaves that dependable line. Offline navigation is important, and visitors should know how to return to the GR without relying on mobile data.

Andorran safety guidance recommends routes above 1,700 metres from late June to late September, with a possible extension into May or October only if weather and terrain conditions allow. Snow and ice may remain in shaded pockets, while storms and low cloud can make the faint side route hard to follow. Check conditions for the high cirque, wear shoes suited to rock and scree, and carry waterproof layers, food, water and navigation. The official main route is already rated difficult; the off-trail lake spur adds a separate route-finding challenge even if the detour looks short on a map.

Sisè Estany has no fixed visitor hours, gate or staffed service. Exact Google and Tripadvisor searches did not surface a schedule for the natural lake, and OSM contains no hours field. Access depends on daylight, weather, trail conditions and the ability to locate the side route. The restaurant/refuge at Estany Primer operates separately and may be seasonal; its hours do not apply to this lake. Bring provisions for the full outing and do not assume that food or shelter is available in the upper cirque.

This lake is best suited to experienced walkers who already plan to explore the Pessons circuit and can navigate a faint side trail. People seeking a straightforward marked walk should remain on the GR7 route and not add Sisè Estany unless they have a reliable track and suitable conditions. The nearby lake chain offers ample scenery without leaving the marked way. For those who do make the detour, the quieter water provides a pause away from the principal trail, but the return line is part of the outing: confirm it before descending and rejoin the GR while there is still plenty of daylight.