Canfranc, Agüaré & Gabardito

(S/E) The route is described starting from the car park in the centre of the village of Canfranc. Take the main street in Canfranc heading north.

(1) Turn right onto Calle del Fournil (Barrio del Hornero) to reach the road running alongside the river (Río Aragón), and follow it upstream (to the left, therefore). At the very end, you’ll come to a small green space where a flight of steps leads back up to the main road at the bridge.

You should then walk carefully alongside the N330 for about 150 metres, on the right-hand side (as you go uphill), keeping a safe distance from the carriageway and, as far as possible, outside the crash barrier (there is a path suitable for this).

(2) When you reach a shed marked ‘MANCOMUNIDAD DEL ALTO VALLE DEL ARAGON’, you must cross the N330 with extreme caution (heavy traffic). A small path opens up directly opposite. Follow it for about twenty metres, then head towards the river flowing just to your right (Aguaré ravine). If crossing the river proves difficult (due to high water levels), turn back as you will need to cross it again further upstream. Otherwise, join the signposted path (yellow and white) that runs alongside the river on the other side and follow it uphill (to the left). This path enters the forest and winds its way uphill with a steady gradient. You’ll come across a few junctions: be sure to follow the sign for ‘Barranco de Aguaré (clavijas)’.

(3) At one point, you’ll come to a junction with a path on the left, heading across the valley, and another on the right, climbing in switchbacks. You must follow the path on the left! Make sure to check for the regular presence of yellow and white markings. The traverse ends with a descent towards the river.

(4) Now is the time to cross the river. Look carefully for the markers on a large rock, which show you where to cross. Do not attempt to cross if the current is strong! After crossing, the path starts straight ahead (markers) and is quite steep.

(5) The slope levels out and the path runs horizontally beneath the cliff… this is the highlight! A short rocky section awaits you, with footrests (clavijas) to place your feet on and chains (cadenas) to hold onto with both hands. It’s fun and fairly easy. Best avoided if you suffer from severe vertigo, but otherwise it’s fine. Afterwards, the path winds through a shady pine wood.

(6) You emerge from the woods onto a sheep track (marked GR®11). Follow this track to the right across the pasture (majada de Gabardito).

(7) Shortly afterwards, you’ll reach the Gabardito Forest Refuge. There’s a table, benches and a fireplace, but no mattresses. Please take care of the facilities. Continue along the track for a further 100 metres.

(8) You then need to turn left into the pasture, onto a small, poorly marked path, after a tree but before a dead fir tree (see photo). The path crosses the pastures almost level with the hillside. You’ll find markers again at the entrance to a pine forest (see photo). From there, the path is better marked. You’ll walk alongside and cross an irrigation canal before joining the downhill path (still signposted). This path winds in a series of hairpin bends, designed to maintain a gentle gradient.

(9) On one of the hairpin bends turning to the left, you’ll spot a path branching off to the right. You can explore this area, where you’ll discover some impressive engineering structures designed to protect the village of Canfranc from floods and avalanches.

(10) You will eventually rejoin the track you saw earlier, but at a much lower altitude. Take the path opposite leading towards the village of Canfranc (signposted and marked on the GR®11). This path will take you past a spring in the rock (Fuente de la Pajeta, 1,230 m).

(11) After an easy but somewhat long descent, you’ll reach a series of terraces surrounded by walls. This is a nursery (vivero) which, over a century ago, was used to grow pine trees that were later transplanted onto the hillside. All that remains is to make your way down… and rejoin the N330 main road.

(S/E) Cross the N330 carefully at the junction to return to the starting point.

• Remember to take plenty of water with you! The rivers (barrancos) carry water in which livestock may have been wallowing further upstream. You’ll find water at the fountains in the village of Canfranc.
• The village of Canfranc is not served by the train (which stops at Canfranc-Estación) but by a bus service: https://valledecanfranc.com/canfranc-estacion/servicios-en-canfranc-estacion/autobus-jaca-canfranc-astun

• The village of Canfranc, which was devastated by fire in 1944 and rebuilt very slowly (ruins still remain) following the misappropriation of solidarity funds.
• The old bridge over the River Aragon, the ‘puente de los peregrinos’ (at the bottom of the village) https://www.romanicodigital.com