Ordesa is a glacial canyon in the central Pyrenees cut by the Río Arazas, walled in by limestone cliffs beneath the Monte Perdido massif. It's one of Spain's oldest national parks and the day is built entirely around walking the canyon floor trail, which passes through beech and fir forest and past a series of waterfalls before climbing to the head of the valley. This is a hiking destination, not a sightseeing stop — the reward is the trail itself and the scale of the rock walls above it.
| Distance | 145 km from Zaragoza; 90 km from Huesca |
|---|---|
| Travel time | 1h45 by car from Zaragoza |
| Getting there | Car to Torla village; mandatory shuttle bus into park (June 20–Sept 15, €3 return/~$3.30) |
| Cost | Free–€4.50 (~$0–$4.90) |
| Address | Centro de Visitantes, Torla-Ordesa, 22376 Huesca |
How to get there
- Mode
- Car
- Duration
- 1h45 via A-23 north, then N-260 west to Torla
- Mode
- Bus
- Duration
- Zaragoza–Sabiñánigo by ALSA (~2.5 hrs €12/~$13.10), then taxi 40 km to Torla (~€40/~$43.75)
Location
Centro de Visitantes, Torla-Ordesa, 22376 Huesca
42.6281, -0.0614 View on map
Highlights
- Senda de los Cazadores / canyon floor trail from the Torla-Ordesa visitor centre — the standard route into the valley
- Gradas de Soaso — a stepped series of cascades partway up the valley
- Cola de Caballo waterfall — the horsetail fall at the head of the canyon where the classic there-and-back walk turns around
- Faja de Pelay — a higher balcony path along the canyon's south wall for those wanting a different perspective and fewer people