Saint Maurice Lake Lake
High mountain lake in Catalonia's Pyrenees
Estany de Sant Maurici sits in Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park in the Pyrenees; hikers come for mountain lakes, marked trails, and alpine scenery.
Saint Maurice Lake at a Glance#
Address: Catalonia, Spain
About Saint Maurice Lake#
Saint Maurice Lake (Estany de Sant Maurici) is a glacial mountain lake in the Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park in the Catalan Pyrenees of northeastern Spain. It is one of the park’s best-known alpine lakes.
Visitors come for the lake’s classic mountain scenery, especially views of the twin summits called Els Encantats that rise above the water. The area is popular with hikers and landscape photographers for its accessible trails, lakeshore viewpoints and mountain backdrop.
The lake is of glacial origin and has been part of the national park since the park’s creation; it has long been valued for its natural landscape rather than for built heritage.
Located in the central Pyrenees within the national park, the lake lies in Catalonia and is reached by trails from nearby mountain villages in the park area.
- Setting: The lake sits within Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park and is framed by the twin peaks known as Els Encantats, a frequent photographic subject.
How to Get to Saint Maurice Lake#
Access depends on which parking or trailhead is used; consult local maps for the nearest town and trailhead. Regional roads and mountain trails lead to the lake from nearby Catalan villages.
Tips for Visiting Saint Maurice Lake#
- The lake and its surroundings are best explored by hiking; seek local trail maps for safe routes.
- In spring, alpine wildflowers along the shores make for excellent photography.
Best Time to Visit Saint Maurice Lake#
Summer provides the most accessible trails; check local mountain weather before heading out.
Weather & Climate near Saint Maurice Lake#
Saint Maurice Lake's climate is classified as Subarctic - Subarctic climate with cool summers (peaking in August) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -8°C to 20°C. Abundant rainfall (1274 mm/year), wettest in November.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Poor | -8° - -1° | -11° | 110 mm | partly cloudy | 84% | 6.2 m/s | 0.2 low | 9.3h |
| February | Poor | -7° - 0° | -10° | 100 mm | partly cloudy | 83% | 6.5 m/s | 0.4 low | 10.4h |
| March | Poor | -6° - 3° | -7° | 92 mm | partly cloudy | 80% | 5.9 m/s | 0.8 moderate | 11.8h |
| April | Poor | -4° - 5° | -5° | 104 mm | partly cloudy | 78% | 5.7 m/s | 1.2 high | 13.2h |
| May | Acceptable | 0° - 10° | 1° | 133 mm | partly cloudy | 75% | 5.3 m/s | 1.5 very high | 14.4h |
| June | Acceptable | 4° - 15° | 7° | 111 mm | partly cloudy | 69% | 4.9 m/s | 1.9 very high | 15.1h |
| July | Very Good | 7° - 20° | 13° | 70 mm | partly cloudy | 63% | 5.0 m/s | 2.0 extreme | 14.8h |
| August | Very Good | 7° - 20° | 13° | 85 mm | partly cloudy | 63% | 5.2 m/s | 1.7 very high | 13.7h |
| September | Very Good | 4° - 16° | 7° | 93 mm | partly cloudy | 70% | 5.0 m/s | 1.2 high | 12.3h |
| October | Acceptable | 1° - 9° | 1° | 123 mm | partly cloudy | 77% | 5.6 m/s | 0.7 moderate | 10.9h |
| November | Poor | -4° - 4° | -6° | 135 mm | partly cloudy | 84% | 6.1 m/s | 0.3 low | 9.6h |
| December | Poor | -6° - 1° | -9° | 118 mm | partly cloudy | 83% | 6.2 m/s | 0.2 low | 9.0h |
