The Picos de Urbión are mountainous escarpments belonging to the Sistema Ibérico, that rise proudly at the borders between Soria, Burgos and La Rioja. They are famous because the river Duero emerges within these mountains, and they also contain an interesting collection of lakes of glacial origin. Particularly interesting among the multitude of small natural lakes is La Laguna Negra ("The Black Pool"), which is surrounded by a splendid mixed forest of Scots pines and beech trees and also cloaked in popular legends and traditions.
The only way to reach the heart of the Picos de Urbión is to walk through their beautiful landscape. The end of the asphalt road which climbs from
Vinuesa - the first town through which Castilla y León's main river flows - is the starting point of a path that takes us, in just a few minutes, to the bank of the Laguna Negra. This path is also the start of the climb to the top of La Muela de Urbión, which, with an altitude of 2,300 metres, provides marvellous views over one of Spain's largest and most important forest regions.
From the small fisherman's hut, the visitor can follow the edge of the lake round to the left, until reaching a lively stream. After crossing this, we find a path signed in the direction of the pass, which gives access to the upper shelf of the cirque. From above, the traces left by quaternary glacial activity are clearly visible, and looking at them, it is easy to understand why this scenery has been a source of such inspiration in local legends and traditions. We have to follow the edge of the cliff for several 100 metres until reaching a path with leads to the Laguna Larga ("Large Pool"), following an old glacial valley. From this point, we simply have to climb the signposted gulley to the summit of la Muela de Urbión. The very first waters of the river Duero emerge close to the summit.
Geographical information
Visits allowed
- Location:
- LOCATED NW OF SORIA, AT THE BORDER WITH LOGROÑO & BURGOS. FROM SORIA, TAKE N-234 TO ABEJAR AND THEN SO-840 TO MOLINOS DE DUERO. FROM BURGOS, TAKE N-234 TO SALAS DE LOS INFANTES, AND THEN BU-P-824 TO DURUELO DE LA SIERRA.
- Area (ha.):
- 63644
- Fauna:
- Wolf, roe deer, wild boar, and common partridge.
- Fauna type:
- snipe
- Geography:
- Mountainous escarpments with summits shaped by intense glacial erosion, giving rise to a large collection of lakes.
- Vegetation:
- Forests of Scots pines, hooked pines, and juniper. Beech woods. Endemic plant species
- Vegetation type:
- birch
Detailed environmental information
- Values
-
NATURE.
- Geomorphology
-
PEAKS OVER 2,000M IN ALTITUDE. CHARACTERIZED BY FAULTS, FOLDS, AND DISLOCATIONS FROM THE HERCINIC AND ALPINE ERAS. CIRQUES, GLACIAL VALLEYS AND QUARTENARY MORAINES TO BE FOUND AT HIGHER ALTITUDES. PART OF THE SISTEMA IBERICO.
- Protection
-
REGIONAL HUNTING RESERVE SINCE 1973. IMPLEMENTING PLAN FOR REGULATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES.
- Landscape
-
MOUNTAINOUS ESCARPMENTS WITHOUT VEGETATION DUE TO GLACIAL ACTION AND EROSION ON THE SUMMITS. ABUNDANT PLANT COVER ON HILLSIDES AND IN VALLEYS. GROUPS OF GLACIAL LAKES, SUCH AS LAGUNA NEGRA.
Remarks
CONTAINS THE COMMUNITIES OF:
Duruelo de la Sierra, Covaleda, Molinos del Duero, El Royo, Aldehuela del Rincón, Molinos de Razón, Sotillo del Rincón, El Quintanarejo, Santa Inés, Vinuesa, Valdeavellano de Tera, Rollamienta, Arguijo, Barriomartín, La Poveda de Soria, Villar del Ala, Montenegro de Cameros, Salduero.
------------------------------------------------------
DEER MATING SEASON:
Between Sept. and Oct., variable dates, information from: Consejería de Medio Ambiente.
-------------------------------------------------------
SPORTS:
Hiking, Cycling, Mountaineering, Rock-climbing, Water sports
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
************** LAGUNA NEGRA ***************
x LOCATION: NW of Soria. SE spur of the Urbión massif, two hours from the summit.
Municipality of Vinuesa. 1753 m. above sea-level. 3.9 hectares surface area at maximum level.
x DISTANCES: Abejar 35 km. from the lake, Covaleda : 35 km, Soria : 54 km, Villanueva de Cameros : 55 km.
x ACCESS : 19 Km. on local road from Vinuesa. Follows course of river Revinuesa along a forest road.
x DESCRIPTION: A result of one of the many glacial cirques to be found in the Urbión range. The lake has formed in a cirque which had its head at the base of the large rock outcrop.
Depression of the river Revinuesa; forest road forming natural access route to the lake.
x FAUNA: Squirrel, weasel, roe deer, deer, rabbit, marten, wild cat, wild boar, hare, otter, rodents, reptiles, birds (golden eagle, griffon vulture), insects, trout.
x FLORA: Birch, holly, poplar, chestnut, hazelnut, pine, oak, shrubs, ...
x ITINERARY: The natural path to the lake is from Vinuesa, following the valley of the Revinuesa.
There are two separate paths between Vinuesa and the "Paso de los Trigos".
Access via paths of 10% gradient.
Rest point : "Paso de la Sierra".
You can also climb up from Covaleda, site of "Cabañanes", which merges with the path described above.
The "Mirador de la Laguna Negra" is to be found 5.5 Km. from Tejeros (starting from Covaleda) in the direction of Urbión.
x SPORTS:
- Swimming : first Sunday in August - swim across the lake organized by Vinuesa Town Council.
- Underwater sports.
- Hunting: * Large game, Regional Reserve (Environment): deer, roe deer, wild boar;
* Small game: fox, rabbit, hare, partridge, pigeon
- Cycling.
- Climbing : there are various routes open to climbers on the rock outcrop. Ice climbing in winter (Jan - Mar).
- Skiing : On the access roads to the lake and the Puerto de Santa Inés (vicinity of the lake)
- Mountaineering: winter and summer
- Hiking, orienteering, photographic "safaris", and horse-riding trips.
- Fishing : trout fishing (Medio Ambiente Junta de Castilla y León).
x LITERATURE ABOUT THE LAKE:
- Antonio Machado: "La Tierra de Alvargonzález".
- Pío Baroja: "El Mayorazgo de Labraz" & "Memorias de un hombre de acción: El escuadrón de Brigante".
- Cela: "Pregón de fiestas de San Juan. Soria. 1986".
- Quliano Blanco: "Leyenda y realidad de la Laguna Negra".
- Miguel Moreno Moreno: "Apuntes y ocurrencias sobre la Tierra de Alvargonzález".
------------------------------------------------------------------
OTHER LAKES.
LAGUNA LARGA: In "Los Llanos", on road from Laguna Negra to Urbión.
LAGUNA DE URBION: Below Muela del Pico. La Rioja.
LAGUNA HELADA: In "Hornillo" Coveleda.
LAGUNA DEL HORNILLO: Between "Hornillo" and "El Alto de las Tres Fuentes", Covaleda.
LAGUNA DE AVANTOS: On the route to "Paulas Altas" or "Los llanos". Covaleda.
LAGUNA DE PIE DE BUEY: Near Pico Pie de Buey. Vinuesa.
LAGUNA VERDE: Below "Castillo de Vinuesa". Vinuesa.
LAGUNA HOYO ABANTO: In the Sierra "Portillo de Pinochos". El Royo.
