Routes in Sierra de Guara: El Real del Mascún
The route through El Real del Mascún allows visitors to enter one of the most valued and prestigious natural landscapes in the country. The Mascún ravine is characterised by its incredible stone formations and other elements of national interest such as the famous church of Nasarre or the megalithic tomb of Mora slab.
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The Sierra de Guara is located between the Ebro valley and the Pyrenees. This is a pre-Pyrenean area in the province of Huesca, the northernmost of the three Autonomous Communities in the province of Aragon. More specifically, this area or transition land is called Somontano and welcomes every year thousands and thousands of tourists or nature lovers who want to discover all its beautiful landscapes.
Somontano is an area of northern Spain with a Mediterranean climate dominated by olive trees, almond trees, vines and kermes oaks (a type of acorn tree). It is a land of great wines, which is also well known for its impressive canyons excavated in the limestone rock by the rivers Flumen, Guatizalema, Calcón, Alcanadre, Isuela, Mascún and Vero. (READ ALSO: Sierra de Guara and Somontano: between water canyons, vertical walls and ancient paths.)
Within this area is the famous Sierra and Canyons of Guara Natural Park. It has been a Natural Park since it was declared as such in 1990. Specifically, the natural park covers a total of 47,450 hectares (excluding its peripheral area) in the north of the regional capital, Barbastro.
The Sierra de Guara, due to its vast extension, is divided into northern and southern areas. These two areas are clearly differentiated, as visitors can see at a glance the two types of vegetation present: dry vegetation with abundant holm oak groves in the south compared to vegetation with leafier species such as beeches.
In general, if we talk about the fauna present in the natural park, we can find the griffon vulture (a species of accipitriform bird), the bearded vulture (also belonging to the family of the previous one) and the famous golden eagle.
Its climate, vegetation, geology and geographical location make it an ideal place for activities such as canyoning, hiking and climbing. The so-called "Pico Guara" is the highest peak in the mountain range with an altitude of between 430 and 2,077 metres.
El Real del Mascun
Within the Sierra de Guara there is a very special canyon that has managed to captivate everyone who has visited it. El Real del Mascún is a truly privileged enclave that gives its name to one of the most famous, prestigious and renowned hiking routes in Spain.
Technical specifications
- Place: Huesca
- Type of route: hiking, circular
- Starting point: Rodellar
- Kilometres (KM): 17.4
- Days: 1
- Approximate duration: 5 hours
- Difference in altitude: 650m
- Measures 3-2-3-3
- Difficulty: medium
How to get there?
To get to the start of the trail, you have to take the N-240 road, specifically the turn-off to Abiego and Bierge. Once on this route, the direction is to continue along the HU-341 road to the municipality of Rodellar. Once there, head north towards the famous neighbourhood of La Honguera. It will not be difficult to find it because it is slightly separated from the centre of the village.
Route description
From Rodellar part of the itinerary of the route which lasts approximately 5 hours. Along the way you can see a variety of natural forms and incredible geology as well as the local fauna. On the way down the river you can see the climbers on the rock walls and on the way to the ravine there are also water supply points.
You get to Pardina Seral after overcoming a large part of the slope and the narrowing of the ravine. At this point it is even possible to see the remains of the landing of the slope that was formerly used for cultivation. One of the best views is undoubtedly the one that can be seen on reaching the pass, where there is a panoramic view of the Central Pyrenees that is admired by all those who are lucky enough to see it.
The road then leads to the village of Nasarre where its Romanesque church has been declared an Asset of Cultural Interest and, continuing further on, you will reach the village of Otín which is another favourite spot for walkers and hikers. It is in this uninhabited area where you will find the path that takes you directly to the starting point, in Rodellar.
Undoubtedly, this hiking route is one of the best known paths in the Sierra de la Guara, as from it you can admire all the beauty of the Mascún ravine, as well as emblematic geological formations that have been studied for years, such as the Ciudadela and the Cuca Bellostas.
¿A What are you waiting for to go and see for yourself?
Points of interest
Points of interest along the way include the following: The Mascún spring, the rocky spires, the Otín depopulation, the Romanesque church of Nasarre and the Losa Mora dolmen.
