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Lanuza Reservoir Nature Trail
Description
World music and melting waters
This walk through the heart of the Aragonese Pyrenees offers trail users not only the monumental nature of its valleys, its extraordinary biodiversity, its thousand-year old traditions and unique gastronomy, but also the possibility of practising all types of adventure and mountain sports all the year round.
The route begins before you cross the river, on the A-136 highway that accesses Sallent de Gállego. After a few metres, it ascends a small slope and carries on bordered by common box (Buxus sempervirens) and sorbs (Sorbus sp.), between terraces of farmland, as far as some livestock sheds where it turns towards the reservoir. This first upward leg continues through a corridor of walnut trees (Juglans regia), as far as the first of the two resting areas which are features of this Nature Trail. From here, you can calmly enjoy the ever-changing scenery of the mountains, which griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus), and, on occasions, the odd short-toed eagle (Circaetus gallicus) fly over. If you glance behind you, you will have an excellent view of the 2,341 m-high Peña Foratata with Sallent de Gállego located at its foot.
As the reservoir gradually becomes wider, the Trail narrows until it turns into a pathway covered by luxuriant vegetation. Following a first stand of birch trees (Betula sp.), which will be joined by hazel-nut (Corylus avellana), cherry (Prunus avium), ash (Fraxinus sp.) and willow (Salix sp.) trees, you will come to some livestock-filled meadows where the municipality of Lanuza can be spotted on the other side of the reservoir. This town, which was rebuilt at the end of last century, is the venue for the Pyrenees South Music Festival, which is held every summer in the second fortnight of July. Once you have reached the second resting area, it is worth taking a break from your walk to enjoy the views, in spite of the fact that the route is short.
From this end point of the Nature Trail, you can choose between returning along the same route towards Sallent de Gállego, under the watchful eye of the Peña Foratata, or going back along the banks of the reservoir, taking a quiet stroll around Lanuza, and in this way rounding off a route of almost seven kilometres.
Sites of interest
Profile
MIDE (Method for the Information of Excursions)
Harshness of natural environment- 1. The environment is not risk-free
- 2. There are more than one risk factors
- 3. There are various risk factors
- 4. There are quite a lot of risk factors
- 5. There are many risk factors
Guidance along the route- 1. Well defined trails and crossings
- 2. There is a clearly marked trail and signage
- 3. Requires the identification of geographic features and cardinal points
- 4. Requires off-path navigation
- 5. The trail is interrupted by obstacles that have to be gone around
Route difficulty- 1. Walking on a flat surface
- 2. Trails with different types of path
- 3. Walking on stepped paths or irregular terrain
- 4. The use of hands or jumping over the terrain is necessary
- 5. The use of hands is required to progress
Amount of effort needed- 1. Up to 1 hour of continuous walking
- 2. Between 1 and 3 hours of continuous walking
- 3. Between 3 and 6 hours of continuous walking
- 4. Between 6 and 10 hours of actual walking
- 5. More than 10 hours of continuous walking
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Further information
Sallent de Gállego
Sallent de Gállego is located at the beginning of the valley of Tena, at a height of 1,305 m at the tail end of the Lanuza reservoir and at the foot of Peña Foratata.
This small town in the Aragonese Pyrenees, equipped with numerous places to stay and all types of services, offers the visitor not only the rich biodiversity of its environment, which can be enjoyed thanks to the many mountain routes that begin here, but also the chance to go skiing at the nearby resort of Formigal.
In the town centre, which combines the essential characteristics of traditional high-mountain architecture, worthy of note is the Gothic church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, built in the 16th century, and the mediaeval bridge over the River Gállego.
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