The Picos de UrbiÃ³n (Peaks of Urbion) constitute one of the most important mountainous zones of the mountain chain of the Sistema IbÃ©rico (Iberian system) that crosses from east to west the north zone of the Iberian peninsula. The very central location in this massif supposes landscape favoured of other ranges of this mountain chain as the Sierra de la Demanda in the West (peaks San Lorenzo, San MillÃ¡n) and range of Moncayo in the East.
In these mountains the river Duero is born, one of the mightiest and important of Spain, and his natural environment is very visited by the tourists specially the zone of the Laguna Negra in summer. The Laguna Negra (Black Lake) is one of the beautiful places in the zone, and the best trailhead for the climb. Actually the mountain is in the Reserva Nacional de Urbiï¿½n (Urbionï¿½s national reserve).

The easiest route is a walk-up in summer for all the people, not very hard. With snow is a beautiful walk-up in 2/3 of the route. The last 1/3 is a little more hard with slope in the snow (generally is a route for mountaineers in winter or early in the season-spring-)

Getting There

The mountain is located in the north side of the province of Soria in the border with La Rioja and generally the access is from this city.

Approach to Soria:
-From Madrid: N-II (Guadalajara) to Medinaceli. N-111 to AlmazÃ¡n and Soria.
-From Barcelona: N-II or A2 across Lleida/Zaragoza/Tudela/Calatayud to Medinaceli.
-From North (Pais Vasco, La Rioja): N-111 across Puerto de Piqueras.

Approach to Trailhead
From Soria take N-234 to Cidones. Turn in north direction to Vinuesa. In vinuesa take SO-630 in north direction. To entry in the bad road of the deserve turn in the signal between km 7 and 8 (indicated Laguna Negra and Ermita de Sta Inï¿½s) to the little parking.

Red Tape

Natural park. Not fees. It's a very popular place and the parking is very small; generally the people leave the car in the same road and it's a good idea to go early in the morning.

When To Climb

All the year. The best epoch is spring time (march to june) with some of snow, there are no still many people, generally only mountaineers.
In summer (july-august) is a replete place with a lot of people (tourists) in Laguna Negra, a lot of cars,...
In winter the road is difficult to transit for the slope and the snow in many days, but the climb is interesting.

Camping

Not allowed in the park but generally it's not necessary but the route is short.

Nearest camping:
*Vinuesa: Camping Cobijo (road to park, 2 km to Vinuesa)

Hotels in Vinuesa, Covaleda, Duruelo de la Sierra,... and a lot in Soria, the main city only to 35 km.

Mountain Conditions

I.N.M. (see in CCAA the province of Soria, Urbion is in the north)

Lakes

The great popularity of this natural area is due to the nearest Laguna Negra (Black lake) and others like Laguna Helada (Ice lake) or Laguna Larga (long lake). This lakes are near of the normal route to Urbion.

Another peaks

The Urbion is really a massif with other peaks and ranges:

Cuerda Larga de Urbiï¿½n:(North-West)
-MuÃ±alba (2074m)
-Pico de las Tres Provincias (2049m)
-Cerro Pantorra (2044m)
-Picacho del Camperï¿½n (2093m)
-PeÃ±as Blancas (2161m)
-Urbion (2228m)
-Risco ZurraquÃn (2105m)

Sierra de Mojï¿½n Alto:(South)
-RasÃ³n (2070m)
-MojÃ³n Alto (2093m)
-Tres Fuentes (1931m)

Cordal de Santa Inï¿½s: (East)
-Alto de las Tres Mojoneras (1879m)
-Santa InÃ©s (1878m)
-Alto de las Tres cruces (1890)
-PeÃ±a Negra (2025m)
-Buey (2034m)

External Links

Revista Ibï¿½rica
Laguna Negra and normal route to Urbion with pictures and hotels (text in spanish)
Caï¿½ï¿½n del rï¿½o Lobos
Another interesting natural park in the south of Picos de Urbion.
Junta Castilla y Leon
official page of governement of the region with information of tourism (natural places, hotels, citys, gastronomy...). Text in english/spanish/french
Nevasport.com
Normal route to Urbiï¿½n from Laguna Negra. Complete article. Text in Spanish.

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