Formiga Gorge

ByTravesía Pirenaica

Useful Data

  • Level: v3 to 4 III
  • Type of Rock: Calcareous and conglomerate.
  • Epoch: Spring, Summer, Autumn
  • Length: 1500m
  • Unevenness: 100m
  • Flow rate: Variable according to time of year
  • Approach: 30-45 min
  • Descent: 2-3h
  • Return: 10-15 min
  • Material: Neoprene, Harness, Helmet and Rope
  • Longer rappel: 14m * Recommended X3

How to get there

To get there we have several options:

  • From Huesca we can also take the detour to the Sierra de Guara a few kilometres past Angües. To do this canyon we will first reach Bierge, take the HU-332 towards the village of Aguas. We will pass the Bierge dam (end of the Peonera) and continue until we pass the villages of Morrano, Yaso and Bastaras. Continue 4 km until you pass a bridge that crosses the Formiga Canyon, and just after, on the right is the car park where you can leave your car. Maximum of 32 vehicles.
  • From Huesca we take the road to Lerida, until we reach Angües, where we turn left towards Aguas. In Aguas we continue towards Bierge, about 2 km from Panzano we find a sharp bend to the right, which crosses the Formiga river. We will park the vehicle.

Approach

From the car and towards the river, cross a small wooden bridge to go up the right side of the canyon (orographic left) and leave the orchards on the left. Shortly after, we will see a beautiful badina (end of the ravine). We will go up and arrive at the Cueva de las Polvorosas (we will observe small constructions made with stones inside the cave). We continue to the end of the cave and climb a narrower path until we find a handrail of about 50m that crosses several very easy ledges, although it is advisable to wear a harness with the anchor ropes, and secure it as if it were a via ferrata. Then there is a small cliff and at the end there are 2 options to access the canyon.

The first on the right by a small abseil of four metres from (slightly old installations) or abseil from a tree located on a ledge on the left orographic somewhat higher up than the first option. Rappel of about 20 metres, installed with tapes in a strong Sabina. From here and in a few more very slippery metres we are in the ravine.30-40min.

Descent

After descending one of the two abseils mentioned above, we put on our wetsuits and get into the water. We start to descend, the canyon is boxed in and cold, narrow, and sometimes the sky is covered. We will find two abseils of 8 and 7m (chemicals below in both for guided abseil and nail more in front of the parabolt on the left to divert the abseil), the second, also destrepable that leaves us in a dark and narrow pool with three obstacles and possible siphons: two trees (2m each and very close together) and a recessed block (1m), which depend on the flow (be careful with much, strong siphon in the block), always value it carefully, or dodge them above.

Continuing downstream we reach the fourth abseil (6 m.) with 2 installations, the one on the footbridge, where we have a clear escape immediately before on the left. This can also be jumped, it is quite deep between the rock walls, with a small cave below. From here on there are only small jumps and slides (2-4 m.). There are two places with their own name: "el paso del conejo" (the rabbit's pass), a pass in the middle of a small waterfall - a slide down the ravine to the left, which is a kind of siphon slide or waterfall where we have to pass through the rock just as we go down the site, and "el paso del mecánico" (the mechanic's pass), where we pass a siphon-siphon-siphon upside down. Shortly we arrive at a greenish pool, in the shape of a figure of eight, where there is a slide and a jump to this pool from the right of about 3m, pay attention to the edges, a one-step jump. We will arrive after the dam to the last pool where there is a jump from the right margin of about three metres and a perfect place for the last bath and to change for the return. We will take the return path on the left side of the canyon. 2-3h.

Return

After the last abseil and an area of reeds and open ground, after passing the dam (piled up sacks) we will find the last interesting badina at the foot of the path. 10-15min.

You may be interested in: Canyoning in the Huesca Pyrenees>>>>>>>>>.