Coma Pedrosa
Coma Pedrosa is the highest mountain in Andorra. It is popular with mountain climbers, its ascent being technically straightforward, although strenuous. From Arinsal to Camp de Refuge is considered moderate meanwhile the last 862 m is considered to be difficult. Several mountain lakes and tarns are found on the slopes, including Estanys de Baiau, which lies on the western slopes, across the Spanish border.
The nearest town is Arinsal, La Massana. Historically, the mountain provided ample security from invasions into Andorra. The mountain is part of the Parc Natural Comunal de les Valls del Comapedrosa national park.
Geography
Coma Pedrosa, shaped like a pyramid, is situated at the northwestern border with France and Spain. It has in the past acted as a barrier between Andorra and France. The mountainous terrain of Andorra, a landlocked country, contains 65 peaks that rise to an elevation of greater than. Coma Pedrosa is the highest, at.The higher reaches of the mountain are covered with forests, while the lower reaches have some arable lands. The mountain gets fully covered with snow during the winter months which provides opportunities for skiing and mountaineering, ice climbing and scrambling. During the summer season, the mountain provides many easy routes for trekking through the Arinsal valley covering neighbouring areas of Vall Ferrera in Spain after crossing the mountain pass Baiau.
The local area is known as Comapedrosa. The mountain is in a natural park called Parque Natural Comunal de los Valles del Comapedrosa.
Vegetation
The forest vegetation on the mountain and in its valleys are of pines, birch and firs. There are several glacial lakes formed within the valley created by the mountains. The popularity of skiing has led to an increase in the development of tourist resorts, hotels, restaurants and business establishments catering to tourists in the region. This has created an awareness to preserve virgin mountains and forests, and put restrictions on further proliferation of ski resorts and urban activities by introducing a national network of parks as preserves.Climate
Coma Pedrosa is classified as a subalpine climate, due to fewer than four months with an average temperature above 10°C.Tourism
The trek to the summit of Coma Pedrosa starts from a picnic area at the base of the Ribal Warefall at. The Coma Pedrosa refuge and camping site, at an elevation, is located near the l'Estany de les Truites. The trail then leads to the Estany Negre, named on account of its colour. From Estany Negre to the summit, the trail is steep and rocky.In the Arinsal valley below the Coma Pedrosa, winter season offers skiing and snowboarding. The first ski lifts were installed in Arinsal in 1973. It is northwest of Andorra la Vella and northwest of Massana, providing a pleasant après-ski sight. At an elevation of lies Refugi de Coma Pedrosa, a mountain hut. It was inaugurated in 1992.