Pico el Forato loop from Formigal

Park in the car park of the Hotel HG Alto Aragón.

(S/E) From there, take a road that climbs and turns sharply for about 100 metres.

(1) At the end, go through a fence with lowered crossbars. Then a second one a few metres further on. Turn left to join the path that climbs to the Col Forata (sign: Collado Forata). You will pass through an iron gate (make sure you close it behind you).

(2) Turn right a few metres further on to join the path, which is marked with fairly sparse white and yellow signs. However, it is fairly easy to follow as it is clearly visible, heading due north. The path can sometimes be waterlogged.

(3) Turn right to go around El Forato on the right. The slope becomes steeper until you reach a fence (make sure you close it behind you).

(4) At the pass, leave the trail and continue straight downhill (northwest). Stay to the right (my route) as the scree between the trail and El Forato (on the left) can be slippery.

(5) You have two options:
- continue west to go around El Forato. Go to the marker.
- climb south towards the peak. The climb is relatively difficult ( 39.5% gradient, or 21.5°) on scree with no real trail (trail).

(6) At this point, it is easier to continue climbing on the right along a short rock face than to continue straight ahead. After a few metres, the slope levels out and several peaks come into view. Pico El Forato is the one on the left (recognisable by a cairn at its summit).

(7) Descend by the same route.

(5) Turn left. Very quickly, the path disappears in many places until you reach the point (3). Do not take the path that can be seen 50 m below, as it will not take you back to your starting point. Don't panic, the trail descends south-southwest to bypass El Forato and follow (roughly) the 1900 m contour line.

(3) Take the same route back to the car park (S/E).