From Santa Elena to Hoz de Jaca

The starting point is at the Santa Elena Bridge. Leave the A-136 at the ‘Dolmen de Santa Elena’ sign and park just before the bridge. Another, smaller car park is available, about 200 metres further up, at the hairpin bend to the right.

(S/E) Continue along the road to the second car park.

(1) Turn right to follow the path which runs alongside the first defensive line of the Linea P and leads to the Santa Elena bunker.

(2) Turn back.

(1) Turn right to start the route that follows the^PR®-HU 78.

(3) Pass an alternative route to this path on your right (which also leads to Hoz de Jaca), but with a steeper gradient. A few minutes later, you’ll emerge from the forest and head back down towards the river.

(4) Pass the Tibetan bridge on your left. A little further on, you’ll find a small pebble beach where you can dip your feet… or more. Continue along the path.

(5) From this point, the slope becomes steeper. Watch out for the gully forming on your right after you’ve crossed an iron bridge and a step secured by a cable. The path then continues gently downhill and joins the tarmac road leading to the dam. Follow it for a few dozen metres.

(6) Take the path on the right and join a track suitable for vehicles.

(7) You can follow it down to the dam: a lovely photo opportunity if the reservoir is full. Otherwise, continue to the right along the track.

(8) Pass the end of the zip line (see ‘Places to see’) before leaving the forest. Continue along the path which crosses the Barranco del Plantio and leads to a junction.

(9) Pass a path on your left, then, once you’ve left the forest, pass the path signposted “Mirador de Cenisarruebo” on your right and you’ll come out onto a narrow road.

(10) Follow it towards the centre of Hoz de Jaca (Avenida del Mirador). Carry on straight ahead to reach the starting point of the zip line and the Mirador de Peña Blanca.

(11) Turn round and retrace your steps along the ascent route, in the opposite direction, until you reach the track below the dam.

(6) Ignore the alternative route suggested by some websites, which crosses the river to the right (see ‘Practical information’ section). Keep to the left, following the route in the opposite direction to the outward journey, and return to the starting car park (S/E).

(4) Tibetan bridge: some online guides suggest crossing the river at point (6), but you would then have to cross it again via the Tibetan bridge on the way down… and without a harness or carabiners, that’s impossible!

The Linea P (Pyrenean Defence Organisation) was built by Franco’s army between 1939 and 1953 in the utmost secrecy to protect Spain from an invasion across its Pyrenean border by the Allies, the Germans or Republican resistance fighters during and after the Second World War.

Tirolina del Valle de Tena: if it’s open, you can speed up your return journey using the 1 km-long zip line

Santa Elena Dolmens: further down (visible on the IGN map), two modest dolmens (1.5 metres high) dating back 5,000 years