Guide to walking in the Ordesa National Park

Established in 1918 the Parque Nacional de Ordesa y Monte Perdido was Spain’s first protected area and an undisputed highlight of the Pyrenees. Covering an area of 156 square kilometres the park contains the showcase valleys of Ordesa and Anisclo.

At 3355m the limestone summit of  Monte Perdido is the parks highest peak (and the third tallest in the Pyrenees) and the park contains a dozen or so other summits of over 3000m.

Our Discover Ordesa walking holiday is an ideal way to explore the park.

Geography

A karstic limestone layer covers the park. This layer was lifted from the sea bed fifty million years ago and was tilted and folded as it rose. Glaciers then carved the landscape creating the dramatic peaks and the steep sided valleys.

As the limestone layers have eroded, ledges have been created in the cliffs. Some of these are walkable and these paths (called ‘Fajas’) are some of the most dramatic in Europe.

Highlights

The Ordesa Valley is one of the most dramatic in the park with cliffs rising over eight hundred metres rising on each side and Monte Perdido perched majestically at the valleys end. The cliffs of the Anisclo Canyon may not be as high but the narrow, winding nature of the valley makes it just as spectacular.

The three peaks of Las Treserols - Monte Perdido, Cilindro and Pico Anisclo are the most recognisable in the park and form an impressive skyline for many walks.

The plateau covering much of the higher reaches of the park resembles a moonscape of gnarled rock in some places. Look up though and the dramatic peaks against the (usually!) blue sky make for an impressive site. A string of 3000m peaks run along the French border with the unmistakable cleft of Breche de Roland the only passable point.

Walking in the park

The Ordesa National Park has some of the best hiking in the Pyrenees. It’s varied terrain means there are superb trails for walkers of all levels.

If you like gentler hikes and rambles there are great trails along both the Ordesa and Anisclo valleys. Good tracks follow the valley floor alongside clear blue rivers interspersed with waterfalls. High cliffs flank you on either side. In Ordesa the path starts among beech and birch woods which open up to meadows that are filled with flowers in early summer. The trail ends at the waterfall in the Circo de Soasa with Monte Perdido dominating the skyline above. These walks are featured in our Discover Ordesa or Lakes & Valleys walking holidays.

For those with a head for heights the Faja de Flores is a must. A steep climb leads to the entrance of the Faja nearly a kilometre above the valley floor. At first there looks no place for a path but as you get closer the eroded band shows itself and you can see it winding it’s way along the cliff face. The views change around every corner as you get views of the Sierra de Guara, the southern cliffs of the valley and then the Breche de Roland and the highest peaks in the park. This truly spectacular days hiking is undertaken on our Peaks and Passes guided walking holiday.

Several peaks make good objectives, especially when combined with a night in Refugio Goriz - visited in our Refugio Week. As the highest peak around Monte Perdido is a popular route and the panoramic views from the summit worth the early start. The summit is covered in ice and snow throughout the summer and good boots and crampons are required. If you are passing through the Breche de Roland the neighbouring peak of Taillon (3144m) makes for an excellent side trip.

Your Hike Pyrenees holiday

Our Discover Ordesa walking holiday gives us time to explore the park in detail. Based in the Hotel Ordesa in view of the cliffs of the canyon we walk each day in the park or its immediate surroundings.

Our other guided walking holidays will spend at least one day in the Ordesa National Park. The Lakes and Valleys week will visit either the Ordesa Valley or Anisclo Canyon and walk the valley floor paths. The Faja de Flores will often be visited on our Peaks and Passes week. Our Refugio Week spends three days discovering the high reaches of the park spending two nights in Refugio Goriz and tackling one of the three thousanders.

Wildlife

Colonies of Griffon Vultures roost high in the cliffs of the Anisclo Canyon. This massive brown bird has length of one metre and groups are easily seen rising on the thermals created by the sun beating on the rock faces. They often fly in close formation in twos, threes or fours and make a magnificent sight as the sweep overhead searching for food.

The Ordesa valley is home to Sarrios (Pyrenean Chamois). Growing to just eighty centimetres with short horns these shy animals congregate in the upper slopes to graze in the summer. Almost hunted to extinction, Sarrio are now protected and thrive in many Pyrenean valleys.

One of the rarest and spectacular vultures - the Lammergeier (or Bearded Vulture) can often be seen in the park. The Spanish Pyrenees are home to approximately 55 breeding pairs - the largest population in Europe. At over a metre in length the Lammergeier uses it’s incredible wingspan to cover huge distances searching for food. This vulture is most famous for the unique behaviour of dropping bones from a great height to smash them open and expose the nutritious marrow inside.

The park is also home to 5 breeding pairs of Golden Eagles. This elegant bird of prey, while smaller than the Griffon Vulture, is majestic and expert in the air.

Resources

Wikipedia has an excellent article on the Ordesa National Park.

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Walking in the Ordesa National Park

Monte Perdido at the head of the Ordesa Valley

The Faja de las Flores high in the Ordesa Canyon

The Breche de Roland on the border with France

View over Ordesa from the Faja de Pelay

A Sarrios or Southern Chamois

On the approach to the Faja de las Flores

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