Mountain refuge Refugio Fuente del Paco

On this side of Villanúa, between old wooden slopes and the start of the mountain, the terrain changes rapidly. At the height of 1250 meters still dominates an atmosphere of half mountain, but above is clearly imposed the massif of Peña Collarada , which marks the horizon and gives the environment a more alpine profile than its initial altitude might make it think.

The Fuente del Paco Refuge It is mainly a basic support for the Collarada side and for the routes that link the Aragon Valley with long-distance routes. In the vicinity they are drawn as the GR 65.3 and the GR 11.1, so that it may have interest as a point of passage or guard within open days in this area of the Jacetania, without depending on it as if it were a shelter with confirmed services.

The reading of the landscape helps to understand its usefulness. Clear mountain references such as Peña Collarada, Campanils de Collarada or la Collaradeta are on the rise, while closer to Punta de la Selva, they announce a progressive transition from forest to more open slopes and, according to the chosen route, areas of pedesta and crest. This makes it a more logical reference for mountaineers who are already moving with autonomy than for those looking for a comfortable coat next to an obvious access.

It is appropriate to plan with margin. There is no immediate source next to the shelter and the nearest ones are more than 2 km away, so the water should not be taken for granted at the night point. It is also reasonable to provide for time changes and not to base the day on unverified information about its status or equipment.

In this part of the Pyrenees Valley of the Aragon, the shelter works best as a conservative resource: a support in a transition area between forest and limestone mountain, useful to divide routes or gain position towards the saw, but not as an element on which to download all the logistics of the exit.