Anisclo Canyon circular loop via Col Arenas

Hike through the Anisclo Canyon, ascending via the Faja de la Pardina and Col Arenas.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 21.42 km
  • ◔
    Duration according to the author: 8 hrs 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Very difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,614 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,619 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,002 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 929 m

Photos

Description of the walk

After Escalona, walk through the canyon for quite some time (narrow road) until you reach the San Urbez car park.

(S/E) Take the path leading down to the San Urbez bridge.

(1) Cross the bridge and follow the path back up the canyon.

(2) Pass the San Urbez chapel.

(3) Cross the bridge to the right bank.

(4) Continue straight on at the fork.

(5) Pass a drinking fountain.

(6) Cumaz viewpoint.

(7) The rest of the route takes you through the forest.

(8) Arrival at Ripareta.
Start the climb up a scree slope (difficult) to overlook the Pardina Canyon, then follow the riverbed. The path is not signposted but numerous cairns will help you find your way.

(9) Exit the canyon on the left towards Col Arenas. Take one last look at the Faja de la Pardina.

(10) Head up to the left, towards the pass refuge.

(11) Join the road on your left to begin the ascent towards the domes at 2,000 m.

(12) Pass via the Pointe d’Estiba.

(13) Descend back towards the plateau.

(14) Turn left onto the southern flank. The path runs through a barren section and is therefore difficult to follow. However, you will find a few cairns to help you find your way.
Note: You can reach the village of Nérin by road and then follow the GR®15 towards the Anisclo Canyon. This adds a few kilometres of descent but the path is easier.

(15) Pass the church of San Martin and Sercué and take the GR®15 to reach the Anisclo Canyon.

(16) Descend into the Anisclo Canyon and rejoin the route on the ascent.

(4) Turn right, heading in the opposite direction to the outward journey, and join the (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 963 m - San Urbez car park
  2. 1 : km 0.23 - alt. 934 m - Roman bridge at San Urbez
  3. 2 : km 1.17 - alt. 959 m - San Urbez Hermitage
  4. 3 : km 2.17 - alt. 985 m - Bridge
  5. 4 : km 2.46 - alt. 1,013 m - Common junction for the out-and-back route. El Portillón
  6. 5 : km 2.55 - alt. 1,019 m - Drinking water fountain
  7. 6 : km 3.94 - alt. 1,132 m - Cumaz
  8. 7 : km 6.51 - alt. 1,439 m - Selva plana
  9. 8 : km 8.42 - alt. 1,418 m - Ripareta. Towards Col Arenas
  10. 9 : km 10.73 - alt. 1,798 m - Exit from the canyon
  11. 10 : km 11.45 - alt. 1,890 m - Mountain hut at the pass
  12. 11 : km 11.81 - alt. 1,915 m - Towards the summit
  13. 12 : km 13.71 - alt. 1,998 m - Punta Estiba
  14. 13 : km 14.15 - alt. 1,948 m - Descent
  15. 14 : km 15.39 - alt. 1,740 m - Hillside
  16. 15 : km 18.15 - alt. 1,203 m - Church of San Martin
  17. 16 : km 18.81 - alt. 1,186 m - Descent
  18. S/E : km 21.42 - alt. 963 m - San Urbez car park

Notes

Toilets are available at the car park (S/E).

Worth a visit

There is a Tourist Office hut in the car park. If you have a good grasp of Spanish, you can get information about the Ordesa and Monte Perdú National Park.

You may spot chamois in the Pardina Canyon and marmots in the Col Arenas meadow.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 4 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
5 / 5
oponcin
oponcin

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

One of the most beautiful canyons in Spain
Hiking above the canyon to whet your appetite
https://youtu.be/ZsNl8RIozi8?si=IegBDiMC...

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cantagrel
cantagrel

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 30, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A wonderful walk in lovely weather; I only came across one couple the whole way.
Access to the car park at the starting point was impossible due to roadworks (for how long?).
I set off from the little village of Sercué.
It is possible to avoid a return trip to the original starting point by turning off directly at point 4.
I decided to walk down at least as far as the San Urbez hermitage.
There’s a significant difference in elevation gain as I clocked up 1,221 m instead of 1,594 m, and it’s not the section from the car park to the hermitage that I skipped which explains this difference.
The path is very easy and pleasant throughout the first part, in the Selva Plana and up to Ripareta
it gets trickier on the scree slope, which I’m really glad I tackled on the way up.
I had difficulty following the path between points 13 and 14, despite having recorded the route on my watch: there were very few cairns and they were obscured by vegetation.
Over the 2–3 km before Sercué, the clearing of the undergrowth makes it very easy to identify the route and the cairns
In the end, it took me 6 hours and 6 minutes (excluding photo breaks and the lunch break), with a fairly significant difference in distance: 24.14 km instead of the 21.42 km indicated on the hike sheet; I can’t explain this discrepancy.
The fountain in Sercué is very welcome at the end of the route.

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vire
vire

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 01, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I think it’s better to do this route in the opposite direction and head up to Mondoto, which overlooks the canyon, in the cool of the morning. The descent via the Camino de la Pardina is more spectacular than the climb up it.
In the afternoon, we’ll enjoy the coolness of the canyon and the many pools of the Rio Bellos.

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moucheur.m
moucheur.m

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 21, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely hike for experienced walkers.

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vire
vire

Hello Olive
I walked up the Ripareta to the Col d'Arenas. This path follows the Baranco de la Pardina and does not go via the FAJA DE LA PARDINA.
This ledge (faya) runs along the upper edge of the small Pardina canyon and is only accessible from above.
The Faya is clearly marked on the map and on the ground by a sign; the climb up to the plateau is secured by chains and cables.
Please correct this.

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