Estación de Esquí del Morredero

Estación de Esquí del Morredero is a former ski station near Ponferrada, in the Bierzo district of León province, Spain, set in the Montes Aquilianos mountain range. It is no longer a place to hit the slopes, but it remains an interesting stop for anyone drawn to mountain scenery and the story of a small-scale tourism project that didn't survive.

Where exactly is it located?

The station sat in the Montes Aquilianos range, at altitudes between 1,750 and 2,140 meters, a short distance from Ponferrada. It was never a large commercial resort - the runs covered only around 4 kilometers in total, served by drag lifts, and the whole operation was closer to a community-run facility aimed at locals and nearby towns than a major destination.

Can visitors still ski here?

No. The station has been closed since February 2008, when its main lift broke down and neither the operators nor local authorities had the funds to replace it. The lifts and facilities sat unused for over a decade. In 2020, Ponferrada's city council decided to fully dismantle what remained of the station, though the process dragged on for years. In the summer of 2025, a wildfire swept through the surrounding hills, further damaging what was left of the old installations and effectively sealing the fate of the original ski infrastructure.

What can visitors do here today?

Despite the closure, the Morredero area hasn't lost its tourism potential. The Ponferrada municipality has plans to turn the former ski grounds into a recreational area geared toward hiking, with a network of trails and an environmental education point. Earlier proposals also floated the idea of a stargazing observation area, taking advantage of the clear skies at this altitude, far from city light pollution. For visitors, that means Morredero today is best approached as a hiking destination and viewpoint in the Montes Aquilianos, not as an active winter sports center.

What is the history behind this place?

The station was built in the late 1980s by local enthusiasts who spent nearly two decades constructing and maintaining the facilities themselves, drawing thousands of skiers from the Bierzo region and beyond over the years. It never had major institutional backing, so its survival depended on a small group of committed people. Once the main lift failed and no funds were found to fix it, the station stopped operating - and despite repeated talk of reopening, it has never returned to service as a ski resort.

Is it worth visiting?

If you're looking for an active ski resort, Morredero is not the answer - León province and the wider Bierzo area have other operating stations for that. But for hikers, stargazers, or anyone curious about what abandoned mountain sports infrastructure looks like against a dramatic backdrop, it holds real appeal. It's a place that combines the story of a regional tourism ambition with the everyday difficulty of keeping small, niche ski stations running in Spain.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Morredero ski station still operating? No, it has been closed since February 2008, after its main lift broke down and funds to repair it were never secured.

At what altitude was the station located? The runs sat between 1,750 and 2,140 meters above sea level, in the Montes Aquilianos range.

What are the future plans for the site? Ponferrada intends to convert the area into a recreational space with hiking trails and an environmental education point, especially after a 2025 wildfire damaged part of the site.

How many ski runs did the station have? It was a small operation with roughly 4 kilometers of runs in total, served by two drag lifts.