Faja de Pelay and Cola de Caballo

From the Pradera de Ordesa cross the Río Arazas and climb the Senda de los Cazadores, a relentless zigzag that gains more than 600 m in under 2 km, to the shelter and viewpoint of Calcilarruego. From there the Faja de Pelay runs almost level for kilometres along a ledge on the south wall of the valley, among black pines, with the cliffs opposite and Monte Perdido ahead. It comes down gently into the Circo de Soaso at the Cola de Caballo waterfall. Return down the valley floor by the Gradas de Soaso and the beech woods.

It is 19.3 km round with 742 m of climbing; allow about 7 hours. The grade is Hard: one very steep climb, then a narrow but good path and a long walk out.

Walk it in this direction only: the national park warns against coming down the Senda de los Cazadores, where there have been accidents. The park closes the Senda and the Faja in winter conditions, usually from November until late spring, so treat this as a walk for June to October and check before you go. There is little water on the faja.

At Easter, in summer and on most autumn weekends the road is closed to cars and a bus runs from Torla-Ordesa (€6 return).

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.