Route to Peña Oroel

The Peña Oroel is one of those places with magic and legend. It is said that the bonfires lit on its summit were the signal for the beginning of the Reconquest and also that it is one of the vertices of the magical triangle that forms, together with San Adrián de Sasabe and San Juan de la Peña. And of course, a visit and a must for locals and visitors alike.

If you've ever been curious about this mountain and wondered if you could climb it, this hike is perfect to get you started and see how you feel. It's a family-friendly hike and may be the start of a long friendship.

This is a basic route in the Pyrenees, although strictly speaking Peña Oroel is not part of the Pyrenees, but is nestled in the outer mountain range. However, if the day is clear, the view of the Pyrenees mountain range is spectacular.

How to get there

Access is very easy: from Jaca take the A-1205 road and, before reaching Bernués, you will see a turn-off indicating the Parador de Oroel. There we go, just nine kilometres from Jaca. We take a narrow, beautiful road that leaves us in the car park of the Paradorwhere we left the car.

Itinerary: Ascent of Peña Oroel

The route is easy to follow: from the car park, opposite the stone fountain, you will see a path and a sign with the route we are going to follow, marked PR-HU 66 and S7.

We start our route winding through a forest of pine, fir and beech trees, which we cross and leave behind us. Then the path clears and we reach the old snow pits. You will be able to see the constructions that were once used to store snow, and which allowed ice to be available in summer.

We are already in the Collado de las NeverasYou know where it gets its name from. From here you have a nice view in a southerly direction.

We continue. We reach the turn-off for the hermitage of the Virgin of the CaveA place that is also worth a visit. It has its own legendary tradition, according to which a shepherd, surprised that every day one of his sheep disappears only to return at the last minute, one day decides to follow it and discovers a cave with a sacred find, the image of the virgin.

Our ascent ends at the summit of the Peña Oroel (1.770 m). In addition to the impressive views of the Pyrenees that the information panels explain to you, you will be able to see the Oroel Crossmade of iron and with a height of almost nine metres.

Enjoy the views of the Aragón valley, a large part of the Pyrenees and, of course, Jaca.

All in all, the walk took us a little over two and a half hours (there and back), a sweet walk -which you can do on snowshoes if the path is covered with snow-, culminating in a landscape that, no matter how many times you visit it, never ceases to be beautiful.