Trail 3: Salto de Roldán
The Salto de Roldán Trail is a journey to the past, to unknown and little-travelled territory. Two giant rocks more than 300 metres high will be centre of attention on this route in which the amazing variety of landscapes, plants, rocks and birds will definitely make an impression. During the excursion, you will climb to the top of a fortress from where you will see Hoya de Huesca in its entirety and see a spectacular colony of vultures that inhabits these formations. Then you will descend to a ravine that goes through extremely thin layers of conglomerates and limestone. Its natural and scenic diversity is what makes this route one of the best and most spectacular in the Pre-Pyrenees.
The so-called “Salto de Roldán”, a rocky formation within the region of Hoya de Huesca, in the Pre-Pyrenees of Huesca in Upper Aragon, is a protected natural area. It consists of two immense blocks of conglomerate that serve as the gateway to Sierra de Guara, sailing forward like boats amidst the flat landscape of Huesca. The one on the left is called Peña San Miguel (1123 m) and the one on the right is Peña Amán (1124 m), between which flows the River Flumen. It is found on the extreme left side of Sierra y Cañones de Guara Natural Reserve.
The natural area of Salto de Roldán is an SPA (special protection area for birds) and one of the largest colonies of vultures in the region nests in its surroundings, specifically in the vertical walls of Peña San Miguel, Peña Amán and Peña El Fraile. From the top of Peña San Miguel, you can observe these majestic animals up close, which practically graze the conglomerate walls with their wings. Most of the time, you will see them flying underneath you as you are at the top of a rock with almost 400 metres of cliff. The feeling you’ll get is simply indescribable. There are also birds of prey such as kites, short-toed snake eagles, Bonelli’s eagles, kestrels and other species like hoopoes in the area.
Salto de Roldán is located in Flumen Valley and is the natural entrance from the mountainous areas to the lowlands of the region of Hoya de Huesca. These are blocks of conglomerate almost 400 meters high, which are separated by the River Flumen. Downstream, towards the south, there are softer materials such as sandstone or clay, but upstream, towards the north, you will find limestone rocks such as those that make up the walls of Cienfuens. Dry and arid area with drought-resistant vegetation (juniper, common box, kermes oak, thorny broom, rosemary, etc.) except in the area at the bottom of the valley where the humidity of the river and the few hours of sunlight completely change the vegetation present.
Trail with great elevation change and paths with loose stones—not suitable for people afraid of heights. For about 50 metres, you will have to walk through the river in waist-deep water.
Salto de Roldán is located in Flumen Valley and is the natural entrance from the mountainous areas to the lowlands of the region of Hoya de Huesca. These are blocks of conglomerate almost 400 meters high, which are separated by the River Flumen. Downstream, towards the south, there are softer materials such as sandstone or clay, but upstream, towards the north, you will find limestone rocks such as those that make up the walls of Cienfuens. Dry and arid area with drought-resistant vegetation (juniper, common box, kermes oak, thorny broom, rosemary, etc.) except in the area at the bottom of the valley where the humidity of the river and the few hours of sunlight completely change the vegetation present.
Trail with great elevation change and paths with loose stones—not suitable for people afraid of heights. For about 50 metres, you will have to walk through the river in waist-deep water.
The natural area of Salto de Roldán is an SPA (special protection area for birds) and one of the largest colonies of vultures in the region nests in its surroundings, specifically in the vertical walls of Peña San Miguel, Peña Amán and Peña El Fraile. From the top of Peña San Miguel, you can observe these majestic animals up close, which practically graze the conglomerate walls with their wings. Most of the time, you will see them flying underneath you as you are at the top of a rock with almost 400 metres of cliff. The feeling you’ll get is simply indescribable. There are also birds of prey such as kites, short-toed snake eagles, Bonelli’s eagles, kestrels and other species like hoopoes in the area.
