Sierra de Guara

The essentials of Sierra de Guara

  • • Canyoning in the Vero gorge and Mascún canyon, Europe's canyoning capital
  • • Levantine rock art at Fuente del Trucho and Mallata, UNESCO World Heritage 1998
  • • Alquézar: 12th-century Romanesque collegiate church above the Vero canyon
  • • Salto de Bierge: natural swimming pool in the Alcanadre river below a waterfall
  • • Griffon vulture, bearded vulture and golden eagle colonies on limestone cliffs
DisconnectionAdventurePhotography

Description

The Sierra de Guara rises in the Pre-Pyrenees of Huesca province in Aragon, between the Ebro depression to the south and the main Pyrenean massif to the north. The park covers 47,453 hectares of relief carved over millions of years by the Vero, Mascún, Formiga, Alcanadre and Guatizalema rivers, which have cut canyons with vertical walls up to 500 metres deep into the limestone. This concentration of deep gorges with permanent water and abseils of up to 60 metres has made Sierra de Guara the canyoning capital of Europe: each season between May and October, thousands of practitioners from across the continent come to the Vero, Aso and Fuenmayor gorges.

The cultural dimension of the territory is as significant as the natural one. The Parque Cultural del Río Vero, declared by the Aragonese government in 1994, includes the most important collection of Levantine rock art in the world: the caves of Fuente del Trucho, Mallata and Lecina hold depictions of animals and human figures dated between 10,000 and 1,500 years ago, recognized by UNESCO as World Heritage in 1998 as part of the Rock Art of the Mediterranean Basin on the Iberian Peninsula. Access to the main sites requires a compulsory guide booked through the park cultural office in Colungo.

Alquézar, declared a Historic-Artistic Complex, stands on a promontory above the Vero canyon. Its ochre sandstone streets, the Romanesque collegiate church with a 12th-century cloister and the views of the river flowing 150 metres below in an enclosed meander create an image that stays with most visitors. The village is also the starting point for the Mascún Viaduct walk and the descent of the Mascún gorge, widely considered the classic canyoning route in Guara. The Salto de Bierge swimming hole, 12 km from Alquézar, is a natural pool of clear water formed by an Alcanadre waterfall; in summer it operates as a bathing area with controlled capacity.

The park's fauna includes griffon vulture, bearded vulture, golden eagle, Egyptian vulture and peregrine falcon, all of which find ideal nesting conditions on the limestone cliffs. Stone marten and genet are the most common nocturnal mammals in the holm oak and downy oak forests covering the mid-slopes. Vegetation changes sharply between north-facing slopes, with black pine and isolated beech trees in cooler corners, and south-facing slopes where kermes oak and rosemary resist the summer drought. The gorges maintain dense riparian vegetation of ash, poplar and bramble that contrasts with the aridity of the plateaus between canyons.

Practical information

Everything you need to know for your visit to Sierra de Guara

How to get there

How to get there

By car Public transport
From Huesca, the A-1207 reaches Alquézar in 50 km (1 hour). From Barbastro, 25 km via the A-1232. There is no regular public transport to Alquézar or the main gorges; a private vehicle or organised excursion from Huesca or Barbastro is recommended.
Area Information
The park is in the Somontano de Barbastro comarca, with Alquézar as the main hub. Barbastro (25 km) is the nearest city with full services. The Parque Cultural del Río Vero manages the rock art sites and territorial facilities.
Geography
Pre-Pyrenean limestone massif with a maximum altitude at Tozal de Guara (2,077 m). The Vero, Mascún, Formiga, Alcanadre and Guatizalema rivers have carved canyons up to 500 m deep. Relief of limestone plateaus with karst erosion.
Flora & Fauna
Holm oak and downy oak on mid-slopes, black pine on north-facing slopes, riparian vegetation in gorges. Birds: griffon vulture, bearded vulture, golden eagle, Egyptian vulture, peregrine falcon. Mammals: stone marten, genet, wild boar, roe deer.

Things to do

Find the best plans and things to do in Sierra de Guara

20

Accommodations

Best accommodation options in Sierra de Guara

Loading accommodation options...

Frequently Asked Questions

Get answers about Sierra de Guara

For most gorges, it is necessary or strongly advisable. Technical descents such as the Vero, Mascún or Fuenmayor canyons require abseiling gear, progression technique and the ability to read water levels. Several companies with qualified guides operate from Alquézar and Rodellar, offering descents adapted to different levels from beginner to advanced technical. The Ferrería gorge and some sections of the Alcanadre are accessible for hikers without technical equipment.
Visits to the main sites (Fuente del Trucho, Mallata, Lecina-Barfaluy) are compulsorily guided and must be booked at the Parque Cultural office in Colungo (A-1232, km 39). Places are limited; in high season it is worth booking several days in advance by phone or in person. Each visit lasts between 2 and 3 hours depending on the site. Routes follow natural paths with moderate gradients.
Access to Salto de Bierge is regulated by the Bierge Town Hall and in summer (July-August) operates with limited capacity and paid parking. Arriving before 10:00 is advisable to secure a spot. Outside the peak season, access is free, though the water may be colder. The pool bottom has slippery rocks; jumping from the surrounding cliffs is not recommended.
Yes. Heavy rainfall in the upper catchment can trigger flash floods in the gorges even when the sky is clear over Alquézar. The risk is highest from November to May. Before any descent, you must check the weather forecast for the entire basin and the hydrological alert from the SAIH-Ebro automatic information system. Local companies cancel outings when the risk is elevated.
Alquézar is the larger hub with more accommodation, restaurants and canyoning companies. It is the gateway to the Vero canyon and the rock art. Rodellar, 30 km north along a mountain road, is a much smaller village focused on rock climbing and Mascún canyoning; it has several campings and hostels aimed at athletes. Regular Mascún climbers often prefer Rodellar for its proximity to the climbing sector.