Routes through the Ordesa Valley

Doing routes through the Ordesa valley allows you to discover a territory so spectacular and valuable that it has been classified as Heritage by UNESCO. Not in vain, furthermore, it is the central core of the National Park of Ordesa and Monte Perdido.

By being included in this, you enjoy protection figures such as Biosphere Reserve, Special Bird Protection Area and Site of Community Importance. All this will give you an idea of ​​its fundamental ecological value. So that you can enjoy this unique territory, we are going to show you the main routes through the Ordesa Valley. But first we must locate it and provide you with some information of interest.

Where is the Ordesa Valley?

As we told you, the Ordesa valley is the most emblematic and visited point of the natural park to which it gives its name. It is located in the Sobrarbe region, which is included in the Pyrenees from the province of Huesca and whose administrative capital is Boltaña, although the monumental and beautiful will sound more familiar to you Ainsa.

The way to get to the valley is by highway. If you travel by your own car, the best access point to it is the town of Torla. In turn, to travel to it from Huesca, you must take the direction Sabinanigo awarded by the A-23. Then you have two alternatives. You can take the N-260a and go through Biescas and Gavín until you arrive. Or you can choose the N-260 and pass through Fiscal and Borto until reaching Torla.

Furthermore, in this last population you have a visitor reception center. From it, you can not only take routes through the Ordesa valley. You can also enter the Bujaruelo, which is located outside the park, but is also wonderful.

Likewise, after passing through Torla, you have a vehicle parking where you can leave yours. However, keep in mind that, if it is summer or Easter, access to the car park is cut. You can only get there and start your route through the valley on a bus that you catch in Torla itself and that leaves every fifteen or twenty minutes.

What the Ordesa Valley is like

This spectacular area is made up of areas of valleys and ravines that make their way between plateaus and peaks, some more than three thousand meters high. They limit it Monte Perdido, which also marks the border with France, to the north; the Sierra Custody to the south; the aforementioned Bujaruelo Valley at its confluence with the one from Ara to the west and Sierra de las Sucas and Pineta Valley and Escuaín Gorge To the East.

All of this creates a river basin through which the river Arazas. This is born from the water from the peaks that falls into the valley in the Horsetail waterfall, which we will talk to you about later because one of the best routes through the Ordesa valley reaches it.

As we told you, the high areas are made up of high peaks between which the mythical Roland Gap. To the south of this, you have the Casteret Grotto, in which waterfalls and ice columns can be seen. However, it is currently closed. It can only be visited with special permission from the Ordesa Park management. Likewise, the heights of the northern area descend in a succession of cirques and glacial valleys, each more impressive. For example, those of Soaso and Cotatuero.

For its part, the low areas are marked by the Arazas River, from whose banks you can see the impressive vertical walls that form the valley. In these there are several strips or ledges through which paths run that offer you spectacular views of the entire area. For example, the Hunters Path and Faja de las Flores. However, they are not suitable for people with vertigo, since the first of them reaches six hundred meters in height.

The best routes through the Ordesa Valley

Once we have explained where it is located, how to get there and its main characteristics, it is time to talk to you about the best routes through the Ordesa Valley. If you dare to do them, you will see spectacular scenery ass and unique flora and fauna, as rich as they are varied.

As for the first, more than fifteen hundred species have been counted in the area. Likewise, eighty-three of them are endemisms of the Pyrenees, that is, native to it. Among them, the honeysuckle of the Pyrenees or the king's crown. Lilies, gentians, immortelles and primroses are also abundant in this area. Likewise, in the lower areas you will find beech, fir and pine forests.

With regards to fauna, we have already told you that the valley and its park are classified as Special Protection Area for Birds. This is due to species such as the bearded vulture, the golden eagle or the griffon vulture. For its part, among mammals, there are many mountain goats, marmots and Pyrenean chamois.

Route to the Cola de Caballo

It is one of the classics and reaches the spectacular waterfall that gives it its name and that we have already mentioned. Get out of Ordesa meadow, where the parking lot is and has an approximate length of sixteen and a half kilometers. Its gradient is about four hundred meters as it runs in an upward direction.

All this means that the estimated time to do it is four and a half hours round trip, since it is circular. The route runs along the right bank of the Arazas River and allows you to see some of the most spectacular waterfalls in the valley. For example, that of Arripas or Soaso stands. The latter are a set of water falls that have great beauty. But, above all, you have the final prize of the spectacular Horse tail.

Senda de los Cazadores, one of the most spectacular routes through the Ordesa Valley

We have also mentioned this tour before. Like all the others, it starts from the Ordesa meadow and, after crossing the bridge over the Arazas, takes us to an imposing beech forest. After a steep climb, we reached the Calcilarruego viewpoint. Next, we will begin the descent to Cola de Caballo itself to return through the valley to the starting point.

The route has a length of about eighteen kilometers and a cumulative difference of about six hundred meters. Its difficulty is medium and, as for the time it takes to do it, it is between five and six hours depending on how trained we are.

Strait waterfall route

It is simpler than the previous one, since it has, approximately, seven kilometers long and two hundred meters uneven. It is also circular and begins on the forest path that you will see at the bottom of the Ordesa meadow. It is also known as the waterfall route, as it passes through those of Arripas, the Cave and the Strait. The outward route is along the right bank of the Arazas River, while the return runs along the left. Likewise, due to its simplicity, it is an ideal route through the Ordesa Valley to do with your children.

Racón Belt Route

It is another of the most spectacular routes you can do in the Ordesa Valley and it is not very difficult either. It has a length of about nine kilometers and is classified as medium difficulty. However, due to the height it reaches, it is not recommended for people who suffer from vertigo.

The path begins by entering a forest that takes you to the call Olivan House. Next to it, a steep zigzag ascent begins to reach XNUMX meters. However, it is bearable, although in winter and in the rain you must be careful not to slip. When you reach the top, you will see the imposing peak of the Tozal del Mallo and, in front of him, the no less beautiful Carriata circus. From this point the route softens and allows you to appreciate wonderful views of the valley. You will also see the walls of the Gallinero and the Tobacor Peak, as well as the beautiful Cotatuero waterfall before returning to the starting point.

Route of the Molar viewpoints

This tour starts from Torla, on a path that you will find to the right of the parking lot, before the tunnel. In about five minutes, you will reach the Glera bridge, from which you must continue towards the hermitage of Santa Ana. Once you reach it, you just have to continue the path to the viewpoints to enjoy wonderful views.

It is a circular route that has about fifteen kilometers of length. For this reason and due to its difference in altitude, of more than a thousand meters, it is difficult, although not too much. In total, it will take you about five hours to do it.

Route to the Sorrosal waterfall

It is the simplest of all the routes through the Ordesa valley, as it only has seven hundred meters between round trip. Part of the town of Broto and a short walk follows. However, once you reach the Sorrosal waterfall, you can do the via ferrata what's in your ravine.

In any case, this waterfall is also very beautiful and the route is perfect to do with the little ones. It will only take you about twenty minutes in total and it doesn't even have a slope.

In conclusion, we have shown you some of the best routes through the Ordesa valley. However, you can also do others around the park in which it is included. For example, those who go to Añisclo canyon or to Escuaín gorges. But, above all, we advise you to visit localities in the area as beautiful as those already mentioned. Ainsa o Sabinanigoas well as others towns of the Aragonese Pyrenees. Come and discover this beautiful region.