Earliest Pyrenees opening

[barryg]

My wife and I want to leave SJPDP in mid to late April. Will the Pyrenees pass be open? How cold does it average in the Pyrenees in April? Or anything else we might need to consider. Thank you!

 

[trecile]

The Napoleon route is officially closed from November 1st through March 31st. But, there can be enough snow in early April that it remains closed past the 1st. There can also be snow storms in late April or even into May. Every year is different!

 

[barryg]

The Napoleon route is officially closed from November 1st through March 31st. But, there can be enough snow in early April that it remains closed past the 1st. There can also be snow storms in late April or even into May. Every year is different!

Thanks!

 

[trecile]

This site should be helpful for your planning.

Camino de Santiago - forecast and historical weather

Get a personal daily weather forecast for the Camino de Santiago for the exact dates you're planning to go. Or browse to pick the best time of year.

caminoweather.com

And this thread has posts about walking in April:

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/on-the-camino-on-this-date-in-april.69689/

 

[SabsP]

My wife and I want to leave SJPDP in mid to late April. Will the Pyrenees pass be open? How cold does it average in the Pyrenees in April? Or anything else we might need to consider. Thank you!

These people in Saint -Jean-Pied-de - Port at the Acceuil will have the most recent information the day before you leave.

Bureau des pèlerins de Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port (64) - Pèlerins de Compostelle

Copyright 2016 Fabienne Bodan https://pelerinsdecompostelle.com

pelerinsdecompostelle.com

 

[John Crawford Howell]

The Pyrenees are notoriously capricious. It can snow, hail, and blind with rain and wind in an instant. On July 4, 1997, I was hiking in the Pyrenees not far from Broto, and it snowed! We rapidly descended as we were enveloped by the storm. Best advice, if you are contemplating the Napoleon, is to check, check, and double check the conditions before stepping off in the direction of Roncesvalles.

 

[tpmchugh]

The Napoleon route is officially closed from November 1st through March 31st. But, there can be enough snow in early April that it remains closed past the 1st. There can also be snow storms in late April or even into May. Every year is different!

Have walked the Napolean twice both times in April. The first time was fine not too warm, not too cold and dry the whole way. Second time was early April and I started off in glorious sunshine. Stopped in Orisson for the night during which the bad weather moved in. as I came to the end of the road next morning it started to rain. By the time I got to the Spanish side it was alternating between rain, hail and snow. The wind was blowing it vertically into my face and it felt like little needles bombarding me. It was horrendous but cold and miserable as it was. looking back, I realy enjoyed it. Both times btw, a lot of snow was still lying and at times sliding down onto the trail. On the second occasion, the rain was constant right through to Zubiri when it turned to on and off showers through to Estella. To put it concisely, it can be sunny one day and almost arctic weather the next. I had planned to go back and give the Val Carlos a go but the pandemic came and one thing or another, I never got back