Collet de Contraix, Mountain saddle in La Vall de Boí, Spain.
Collet de Contraix is a saddle at 2,748 metres in the Vall de Boí, within the Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park. It lies between the Pic de l'Estany de Contraix to the northeast and the Pic de Contraix to the southwest, linking the Vall de Colieto to the northwest with the Vall de Contraix to the southeast.
The name comes from the position of the Vall de Contraix: outside Sarradé and Colomers d'Espot, it is the only one of the great tributary valleys of the Sant Nicolau that drains into it from the right, while the other nine come in from the left, hence "contrary valleys". The form Contraig is a barbarism introduced by engineers and cartographers.
The saddle forms part of the Carros de Foc hiking circuit and serves as a key waypoint for trekkers moving between mountain refuges. It marks a natural divide between two distinct valleys in the region.
Hikers should bring specialized mountain gear and be prepared for high altitude conditions along with unpredictable weather. Navigation along the established trail is generally clear, but altitude adjustment is essential before attempting the ascent.
The name Contraix comes from the valley draining to the right of the Sant Nicolau, unlike the nine other main tributary valleys that join it from the left, hence "contrary valleys". The form Contraig is a barbarism introduced by engineers and cartographers.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 94,963 contributors worldwide.