Peña de Oroel in a loop

At the West exit of Jaca (towards Pamplona), at the petrol station traffic circle, head for Bernues via the Puerto de Oroel route A-1205. After 6.5 km, turn left onto the tarmac track leading to the Mirador de Oroel. Park in the Mirador car park; if you don't have enough space, continue a little further along the track, where there are parking spaces in the shade. This is no problem, as the return journey is via this track.

(S/E) With your back to the viewpoint, take the wide trail that begins on the other side of the track. This path twists and turns to reach the ridge.

(1) At a hairpin bend, arriving from the left, a narrower path joins the upward path. Follow the signs for "Cruz de Oroel", staying on the main path.

(2) At the Peña de Oroel crest, you'll find a signpost. To the West, there are two paths to the Cross. Take the one nearest the crest on the right to climb to the summit. The one below the ridge will be used on the way back. Climb towards the clearly visible cross.

(3) Pass the junction for the return path and continue to the cross.

(4) At the Cruz de Oroel (1770 m), the highest point of this hike, you can continue towards the western end of the ridge for 200 m to enjoy the view. Beware of the emptiness all around you.

(5) Retrace your steps and return to the cross.

(4) Continue along the same path for about 400 m.

(3) Bend right to take the path below. After approx. 700 m, ignore a start on the right towards the Ermita de la Virgen de la Cueva, and return to the signpost.

(2) Head in the direction of Punta Bacials, which is the Eastern end of the ridge. The path first rises over a rock to join the ridge, then passes through Punta de Sora and follows the ridge to a fork. On your left, at the very beginning, on the North-facing slope, you'll see some snow pits. Continue along this well-marked path towards Punta Barcials.

(6) At a collet marked 1645 m (cairn), there are two barely-marked paths. Take the one on the left and, after about 300 m, the path flattens out. Leave it and head right, due South, off-path, towards the summit, which can be seen a few dozen metres away (cairn).

(7) From the summit, you can see the whole of the 3.8 km ridge we've covered. Take the path below the summit due West and return to the collet.

(6) Turn right onto the Senda de los Lobos (Wolf Trail), on the North side, which begins with a steep descent for a few dozen metres, then turns North-West for 1.2 km to reach a junction of four trails.

(8) At first, you'll see a trail coming up below you, then about fifty metres further on, a Y. On the uphill left is the continuation of the Senda de los Lobos (Wolf Trail), which joins up almost level with the original itinerary at the initial junction, and on the downhill right is the path we'll follow to rejoin the trail. The descent becomes steeper, then the wood becomes lighter and the slope less steep. Stay on the better-marked path and join the tarmac track.

(9) Take this track slightly uphill to the left and after 1 km, join the Mirador car park (S/E).

The whole climb is shaded on the North side.
The Mirador - Cruz section is busy, the rest from (2) to (9) much less so.

There are no water points on this loop.

Good shoes are recommended, as the ascents and descents are quite steep.

This is not a Nature Park, dogs are allowed on leash, cattle may be present.

It is forbidden to spend the night on the Mirador car park, even in a camper van.

Numerous possibilities for refreshments or accommodation in Jaca, 10 km away.

Nevero or Pozo de Nieve (Nevero or Pozo de Nieve)
Neveros" are wells dug into the earth with retaining walls.
In spring, after the last snowfalls, the snow was cut into slabs and deposited in the snow pits, where it was compacted into ice. This compacting had a dual purpose: firstly to reduce the volume and secondly to ensure longer preservation. The ice was then covered with earth, leaves, straw or braided branches to form a lid. In summer, the inhabitants would cut this ice into blocks and transport them on horses during the night to limit melting.

Cruz de Oroel - 120 years at the summit of Mount Oroel
There used to be a wooden cross on the summit of Mount Oroel or Uruel, gnawed and shredded by the years and the weather. To commemorate the beginning of the twentieth century, a subscription has been launched in which all the faithful of the diocese will participate. The proceeds will be dedicated to the construction of a monumental iron cross on the summit of Mont Uruel, to be seen and venerated even from the furthest reaches of the bishopric.

Project selection and implementation delayed the inauguration by a year and a half. In the meantime, the material was chosen and the size was calculated to be visible from the town, and that it would be 10.40 meters high, of which 2 m would be buried in the rock, and that a lightning rod would be added. The cross was made at number 9 Calle del Obispo in Jaca by the prestigious blacksmith Juan Compairé and installed in 1901.

The fact that Pope Leo XIII decided, in his encyclical of May 25 1899, to proclaim the year 1900 as the Holy Year was a major factor in its installation, and it forms part of the so-called Crosses of the Century installed on the highest peaks of Christendom in the Alps, Andes and Pyrenees.