The cliffs of Peña Oroel

Peña Oroel at 1769m stands just outside Jaca and it’s cliffs are home to dozens of Griffon vultures. Being slightly south of the main chain means that you get fantastic views across a vast number of peaks. In fact Aneto, Possets and Perdido – the three highest peaks in the Pyrenees can be seen from the summit. I was surprised to hear that our friend George whose lived in the area for almost 30 years and climbed more peaks than I can name hadn’t been up there so last Friday we took a quick trip to the summit.

The walk starts at a lovely restaurant and bar called ‘El Parador’ and the views are already pretty good from here and it’s a great place to lunch outside on the terrace. From here the summit looks pretty imposing and fairly impossible to reach but in fact a well graded path snakes it’s way through the woods and it only takes about an hour to gain the summit ridge. Spring has arrived to the lower altitudes of the Pyrenees and the woods were full of Hepatica as we wandered up.

George on the summit ridge

Once you reach the ridge it’s about a kilometre walk to the highest point which is marked with a large cross. The views on this section are fantastic both to the north to the snow capped higher peaks and to the south to the cliffs of Riglos.

Views north to the main Pyrenean peaks

As you walk you can peer over the edge for a 500m vertical drop to the woods below. It’s a popular vulture roosting point too and you’re almost guaranteed to see Griffons there. On the southern side of the ridge the weathers quite warm and you get some flowers that aren’t seen so often in the main range. There were some lovely wild daffodils out with really large flower heads – usually we get the much smaller narcissus only 10 cm or so high. Crocus Nevadensis is another flower that you get here and further south but rarely in the higher mountains.

Wild daffodils (narcissus pseudonarcissus)

Crocus Nevadensis

As well as all of the peaks you get great views down onto the town of Jaca. The pentagonal citadela is really obviuos as is the bright shiny new ice skating rink.

Looking down onto Jaca

We sat and had lunch on the summit taking in the views and the sunshine before making our way back down. Complete route is around 7km with 600m of ascent and takes about 4 hours.

Peña Oroel is just one of the many routes that we have route cards for on our self guided walking holidays – why not come over and see the views for yourself?