The Congosto de Olvena is a 300 m deep gorge crossed by the river Ésera. The via ferrata of Santo Cristo climbs up the walls of its right bank to the Olvena viewpoint, where you can enjoy impressive views of the gorge.

To access the via ferrata from the N-123 road, one have to cross the canyon over the impressive Sierra bridge. The first section runs between rock channels of easy level up to a monkey bridge (optional), which adds to the difficulty of the route. The channel continues with a steep slope until it reaches an intersection, where we can continue straight on to the Santo Cristo hermitage via an escape route, or cross over a tibetan bridge and do the most complex part of the ferrata, with a stretch of ridge and a slight overhang. The return is on foot, following the GR 18 signs to the starting point of the ferrata.

In order to climb the Via Ferrata is mandatory to use homologated safety equipment (helmet, harness, lanyard). Hiring a qualified guide is strongly recommended.

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Olvena Canyon is located in Southern Pyrenees and was formed by Ésera river in the area between Graus and Barbastro. It is 8 km long and features numerous walls and needles of top quality limestone rock combined with some conglomerate zones. It includes more than 20 different climbing areas and there are many possibilities of opening new ones. N-123 road runs along the canyon giving easy access to almost all sectors. There is also a local road giving access to Olvena village located on top of the rocks.

Olvena is known for combining good sport climbing areas such as Garrapatillos Alto and Garrapatillos Bajo as well as Crestas de la Cruz with multi-pitch climbing routes such as Pared del Santo Cristo (where the popular Frixis stands out).

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Map

Access

In Olvena follow the road A-2211 to Puebla de Castro. At about half a kilometre, make a right turn onto a dirt track, walk for about 600 metres and return along a track parallel to the road and the mountain pass which leads to the village (2,2 km in total). In addition, it is possible to stop at the Congosto balcony and in “Camino del Canaíllo” to better enjoy the views of the gorge and the rocky birds living there.

Route description

Circular route of 2,2 km. It starts covering 500 metres on the road from Olvena to Puebla de Castro, we then turn right onto a dirt track and, after about 600 metres, we take another track heading South that will lead us back to Olvena.

The route passes through cultivated fields, near the gorge, and it is easy to observe large predators that use these agricultural fields as forage area. We also recommend approaching the balcony of Congosto and the “Camino del Canalillo” to have best views of the gorge and the rocky birds living there.

Main Species

Representative bird: Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos)

Residents: Red-legged Partridge, Red Kite, Griffon Vulture, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, Common Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, Golden Eagle, Bonelli’s Eagle (rare), Rock Dove, Stock Dove, Wood Pigeon, Eagle Owl (rare), Little Owl, Long-eared Owl, Hoopoe, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Crested Lark, Thekla Lark, Wood Lark, Crag Martin, Pied Wagtail, Eurasian Wren, European Robin, Black Redstart, Blue Rock Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Blackbird, Dartford Warbler, Sardinian Warbler, Common Firecrest, Long-tailed Tit, Crested Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Eurasian Jay, Magpie Eurasian Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Common Raven, Spotless Starling, Common Starling, House Sparrow, Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Rock Sparrow, Chaffinch, European Serin, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch, Linnet, Cirl Bunting, Rock Bunting, Corn Bunting.

Summer migrants: Black Kite, Egyptian Vulture, Short-toed Snake Eagle, Booted Eagle, European Turtle Dove, Common Cuckoo, Red-necked Nightjar, Common Swift, Alpine Swift, European Bee-eater, Barn Swallow, House Martin, Common Nightingale, Black-eared Wheatear, Common Rock Thrush, Melodious Warbler, Subalpine Warbler, Western Orphean Warbler, Bonelli’s Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Eurasian Golden Oriole, Woodchat Shrike.

Winter visitors: Northern Goshawk, Merlin, Eurasian Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Alpine Accentor, Fieldfare, Song Thrush, Eurasian Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, wallcreeper (rare), Brambling (rare), Eurasian Siskin (irruptive), Hawfinch, Yellowhammer.

Passage migrants: European Honey-buzzard, Harriers, Common Crane, Eurasian Woodcock (rare), Tree Pipit, Water Pipit, Common Redstart, Northern Wheatear, Redwing, Willow Warbler, Garden Warbler, Common Whitethroat,  Pied Flycatcher.

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Map 

The Pre-Pyrenees (which constitute the outer ranges of the Pyrenees mountains) and the Somontano region (which lies in the foothills of the Pyrenees ) are the two geomorphic units that mark the transition between the Mediterranean and Atlantic climate zones. This implies the observation of a wide biodiversity of species both in terms of flora and fauna. You may come across species on the same excursion that are many kilometers apart in Europe, such as holm-oak groves (Quercus ilex) together with Scots pine forests (Pinus silvestrys), or rosemary (Rosmarinus oficinalis) together with Pyrenean-violets (Ramonda myconi).

The proposed trails will lead us through a contrast of landscapes, from the arid steppes of the south of the Somontano region to the rocky limestone peaks of the pre-Pyrenees, in less than 50 km. This will allow us to discover four different habitats including steppe, riverbank, the Somontano region, and the Pre-Pyrenees.

• Mediterranean Landscape. Adahuesca
• Harmony in the contrasts. Alquézar
• Oligocene Gypsums and the Barbastro Anticline. Barbastro
• The Estada Diapir. Estadilla - Estada
• Rocky outcrops, tabletop hills and sandstone cliffs in la Clamor Valley. El Tormillo
• Geobotanical Walk. Olvena
• The Orchid Garden. Pozán de Vero - Castillazuelo
• River Canyons in the Gulley of the Virgin. Rodellar
• Torreta Hill. Salinas de Hoz

Below, you can download our nature calendar which explains the species of flora and fauna that are common for each month the year. 

Discover the landscapes of Guara Somontano 365 days a year!