Aneto

Aneto is the highest peak in the Spanish Pyrenees, reaching 3,404 metres, and forms the highest point of the Maladeta massif in Huesca province, Aragon. It is the principal summit of the range and a major mountaineering objective in the Pyrenees.

The mountain is notable for its glaciated north face and the Aneto glacier, which lies below the summit and requires snow and ice travel on standard routes. Climbers commonly approach from the Benasque valley and use the nearby Refuge de la Renclusa as a base; the standard routes involve long alpine days with glacier and stony ridge sections. Hikers and ski mountaineers also use the area outside the high-alpine technical sections.

Recorded ascents of the peak date from the 19th century and the massif has been a focus for mountaineering and glaciological study since then. Local mountain huts, marked trails and staffed refuges have developed to support climbers and trekkers.

Aneto sits in the central Pyrenees within the Benasque valley region of Aragon; the nearest town providing services and road access is Benasque, which lies at the foot of the massif.

• Glacier Travel: The normal ascent typically involves glacier travel and crevasse risk; crampons and rope skills are normally required outside summer conditions.
• Common Route: Most ascents start from the Benasque valley using the Renclusa refuge as the staging point for a summit push.

What to See #

• Aneto Summit: The summit at 3,404 metres is the highest point of the Pyrenees and the main objective for climbers in the massif.
• Aneto Glacier: A glaciated plateau on the northern slopes that retains one of the largest glaciers in the Pyrenees and requires glacier travel on standard routes.
• Refuge de la Renclusa: A common base for ascents located in the Benasque valley; the nearby mountain hut offers the usual start point for the normal route.