A paved road to Saut deth Pish waterfall

Saut deth Pish is a spectacular waterfall in the valley of Barradòs, in the Val d'Aran, a valley in the Pyrenees mountains in the northwestern part of the province of Lleida, in Catalonia, northern Spain. The fall is located at an elevation of 1.553m (5,095ft) above the sea level.

Saut deth Pish

The road to Saut deth Pish, one of the most emblematic waterfalls of the Aran Valley, is paved but extremely narrow, with dangerous drop offs caused by avalanches. If you're afraid of heights, it's probably best to keep your eyes forward. The drive offers scenic views all the way long. Starting from Pont d’Arrós, the road is 12km long. The hardest sections of this pretty paved road adjacent to the Varrados river are situated between km 4-7. The last 2 km are pretty flat. The road meanders alongside the rugged river Varrados, ultimately reaching the summit of Varrados. However, the tarmac terminates several kilometres before the summit at the car park to Saut deth Pish, a large and powerful waterfall. There are signposts and paths leading to a stone balcony where you can photograph and appreciate it at its best angle. It is a 2 minute walk unsuitable to ride on a road bike.

The road can be closed anytime because heavy snowfalls. The average gradient is a mild 6.6% but there are much steeper sections (10.5%) in the middle, finishing with shallow and even flat stretches. It is a wild mountain climb, narrow in places without barriers at the side of the road and can have occasional rock debris outside of the summer months. Expect heavy traffic on summer. This is definitely not a Sunday drive. The road was slightly improved (a bit wider) in 2019.