Cola de Caballo via the Gradas de Soaso
5 h 30With some fitnessDog-friendly
The classic Ordesa route: from La Pradera to the Cola de Caballo via the Gradas de Soaso, 2 h 30 to 3 h each way and 550 m of climb.
AccessBus from Torla
Best timeJun · Sep · Oct
Minimum time1 day
Overall difficultyMedium
Bus compulsory in season. The ticket is bought at the booth in the Torla car park or at some accommodation in the village, and cannot be reserved. The first one leaves at 6:00, and at 7:00 in October. If there are 1,800 people in the valley at once, the trips up are suspended.
What to do
What to do in Ordesa Valley
Each plan says how long it takes, who it's for and whether you can book.
Estrecho and Arripas Waterfalls
2 hFamiliesDog-friendly
A one-hour walk each way with 100 m of climb through Ordesa's beech forest to the Arripas, Cueva and Estrecho waterfalls; return along the other bank.
Sorrosal Via Ferrata
2 h 30From age 10March to November
Via ferrata · 2 h 30 · From age 10 · From €55
From €55
See the activity
Itineraries
Itineraries that pass through
Days and weekends already planned out, with how to get between each stop and who to book with.
Day itinerary
Ordesa: red beech forest and Cola de Caballo
Day itinerary
Ordesa: easy waterfalls and lamb in Torla
Day itinerary
Broto: Sorrosal ferrata and valley kid
Itinerary · 2 nights
Faja de Pelay, Góriz and the Perdido
Itinerary · 2 nights
A weekend in Ordesa, 1 h 20 from Huesca
Itinerary · 2 nights
Snowshoes and the Estatón viewpoints
Plan the trip
Ordesa Valley, step by step
Each choice narrows the next: the season shapes how best to travel, and how you travel decides where you stay and where you eat.
When to go
When to go to Ordesa Valley
In October, when the beech forest turns red. June brings the waterfalls at their fullest. In winter there is snow and you need equipment.
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Best timeGood timeLow season
How you travel
Ordesa Valley your way
Choose how you're travelling and we'll tell you where to stay, how to get around, where to eat and which services you'll need. We only show the ways of travelling that make sense here.
Easy, with one rule worth knowing
In the Torla car park you can leave the motorhome during the day, free of charge, but not spend the night. Sleep at a campsite in the valley and go up to the Pradera on the bus.
45–65 €per person per day, approximate
- SleepingCamping Oto motorhome area, from…
- Getting aroundPark in Torla and go…
- EatingGrocery shop at Camping Río…
- ServicesWater and emptying at the…
Sleeping
- Camping Oto motorhome area, from about €20 for two adults, no reservation
- Camping Río Ara, in Torla, from 22 May to 16 October
Getting around
- Park in Torla and go up by bus on the days it runs
- Bujaruelo: dirt track from the Puente de los Navarros
Eating
- Grocery shop at Camping Río Ara
- Restaurant in the Pradera de Ordesa
Services
- Water and emptying at the Camping Oto area, according to users
- Repsol petrol station in Broto, from 8:00 to 21:00
The valley as a gateway to the high mountains
Ordesa is the entrance to Góriz and Monte Perdido, and the GR 11 crosses the valley from Bujaruelo. With two staffed refuges you can link together several days in the mountains.
55–75 €per person per day, approximate
- SleepingGóriz refuge, at 2,200 m…
- Getting aroundFrom the Pradera to Góriz…
- EatingAt Góriz, breakfast from 6:30…
- SafetyMonte Perdido is high mountain…
Sleeping
- Góriz refuge, at 2,200 m, open all year; booking online only
- Bujaruelo refuge, on the GR 11, with shared rooms
Getting around
- From the Pradera to Góriz, about 4 hours on the GR 11
- Bus from Torla to the Pradera in season, €6 return
Eating
- At Góriz, breakfast from 6:30 to 8:30, dinner at 19:30 and packed lunches to take away
- Lunch with no booking at Góriz, from 12:30 to 15:30
Safety
- Monte Perdido is high mountain terrain: without experience, go with a guide
- In winter and spring, check the avalanche danger bulletin before setting out
One track for your car and another you can only climb with a guide
Here your 4x4 is of little use: the La Caña track, the one that climbs to the viewpoints over the canyon, is closed to private traffic, and you cannot drive to the Pradera on bus days. With your own car you can do the Bujaruelo track, which does not require a 4x4; you reach the viewpoints in the excursion's off-road vehicle from Broto.
70–100 €per person per day, approximate
- SleepingRefugio de Bujaruelo, at the…
- TracksBujaruelo: 6.3 km, half paved…
- RulesIn Aragón it is forbidden…
- EatingRestaurant at the Refugio de…
- SafetyThe Bujaruelo track is narrow…
Sleeping
- Refugio de Bujaruelo, at the end of the track, with an open area to park in front; open until 3 January 2027
- Camping Río Ara, in Torla, about 3 km from the Puente de los Navarros; from 22 May to 16 October
Tracks
- Bujaruelo: 6.3 km, half paved, from the Puente de los Navarros; an ordinary car is enough
- Beyond the refuge, a chain: authorised vehicles only
- La Caña, from Broto or Buesa to the Estatón peak: about 28 km, only with Miradores de Ordesa, from €49.50
- The excursion runs all year if the weather allows; best from spring to autumn
Rules
- In Aragón it is forbidden to drive off paths and tracks
- Tracks open to traffic: up to 30 km/h and in groups of five vehicles at most
- Those not open require permission from the landowner or the authorities
- In bus season, you can only go up to the Pradera on the shuttle from Torla
Eating
- Restaurant at the Refugio de Bujaruelo
- Grocery shop at Camping Río Ara
Safety
- The Bujaruelo track is narrow, with blind bends and few passing places: in summer, go up early
- Fill up at the Broto petrol station, open from 8:00 to 21:00
- Check the forecast: in summer there are storms and flash floods; take water
- Tell someone which track you are doing and when you will be back; emergencies, 112
How much does it cost?
People2
Nights3
Who you're with
Ordesa Valley for whoever you're with
A trip with a toddler is not the same as one with a teenager. Pick yours to see what works and what to bear in mind.
A valley for short legs
The valley floor is wide and with little climb up to the first waterfalls. With children of different ages, it works to go as far as the Estrecho and decide there whether to carry on.
- What works bestThe Estrecho waterfalls: an hour…
- Where to sleepCamping Río Ara, at the…
- Where to eatBring your own food for…
- Worth knowingIn season you go up…
What works best
- The Estrecho waterfalls: an hour each way and 100 m of ascent
- The Bujaruelo circular walk: 3.4 km along both banks of the Ara
- 4x4 viewpoint tours, from age 6 and 1.20 m, to see the canyon from above
- One-hour horse rides in Sarvisé, at €15 for under-12s
Where to sleep
- Camping Río Ara, at the foot of Torla and the bus
- Motorhome area at Camping Oto, next to Broto
Where to eat
- Bring your own food for the walk; there is a restaurant at the Pradera
- A grocery shop at Camping Río Ara
Worth knowing
- In season you go up by bus; under-10s don’t pay, with ID
- Bring water for everyone
- The Cola de Caballo is 2 h 30 to 3 h each way: only with children used to walking
What to do as a family
Here there is a challenge
Ordesa gives a teenager the chance to get properly tired and come back with something to tell. The ferrata, the canyon and the long walks are the argument.
- What works bestThe Sorrosal via ferrata, with…
- Where to sleepCamping Río Ara, in Torla…
- Where to eatPacked sandwiches: on the trail…
- Worth knowingThe ferrata requires a minimum…
What works best
- The Sorrosal via ferrata, with a guide if it is the first time
- The Medio Forcos canyon, from age 12, with jumps that can be skipped
- The full Cola de Caballo: a whole day and the photo at the end
- The Faja de Pelay, for those who are already fit and don’t have vertigo
Where to sleep
- Camping Río Ara, in Torla, by the river
- Góriz refuge, for a night in the high mountains
Where to eat
- Packed sandwiches: on the trail they eat when they want
- The restaurant at the Pradera de Ordesa, on the way back
Worth knowing
- The ferrata requires a minimum height and closed shoes
- Early starts are part of the deal: the first bus leaves at 6:00 in summer
What to do with teenagers
Where to stay
Where to stay in a campervanif you're on footif you're in a 4x4
We show you what suits the way you travel.Change how you travel
Hotel
Hotel Bujaruelo
Why we like it: A hotel on the Ordesa road, at the entrance to Torla and close to the car park for the valley bus. Some rooms have a balcony with mountain views. It has its own car park, subject…
Camping Oto Motorhome Area
Why we like it: A budget area inside a large campsite Camping Oto is in Oto, next to Broto, in the Broto valley (Sobrarbe), 10 km from Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park. You get there on the N-260, taking…
From €20
View details
Campsite
Camping Río Ara
Why we like it: A family campsite at the foot of Torla, in woodland beside the river, with shaded and unshaded pitches and a grocery shop. It is open from 22 May to 16 October and admits dogs on a…
From €29
View details
Góriz Refuge
Why we like it: A staffed refuge at 2,200 m in Ordesa, open all year: 80 places in shared dormitories, set-menu dinner and camping only when it is full.
From €28
View details
Hotel Casa Frauca
Why we like it: A twelve-room hotel in Sarvisé, ten minutes from Torla, with its own restaurant, a lounge with a fireplace and a garden terrace. Breakfast included, from €80 for a double.
From €80
View details
Bujaruelo Refuge
Why we like it: A refuge at the end of the valley The Bujaruelo refuge stands beside the Romanesque bridge at San Nicolás de Bujaruelo, at the end of the track that climbs from the Puente de los Navarros, in…
Services for this trip
Areas, for any way of travelling
| Area | Who it's for | Average night |
|---|---|---|
| Torla | Take the first bus, walk to everything | |
| Broto and Oto | Families, apartments, campsite | |
| Fiscal and Aínsa | More choice, 30–45 min by car |
Where to eat
Where to eat in Ordesa Valley
From set lunch menus to Michelin stars. We mark the price level and what to order at each place.
Restaurante El Duende
What to order: the roast suckling ternasco lamb shoulder or the ox chop for two, and the house fritters for dessert
Restaurante Casa Frauca
What to order: whatever is in season, and when available the suckling kid from the Casa Bergua farm in Viu de Linás
Map
Everything on the map
The places to stay and services on the map are the ones for the way you travel. Turn on the layers you want and tap a point to see its details.
What to do
Eat
88 €Stay
Services
Nearby
Near Ordesa Valley
The closest places, whichever country they are in.
Tips
Worth knowing first
- 1Take the first bus
From 6:00 to 8:00 one leaves every half hour; after that, every 15 or 20 minutes. The earlier you go up, the fewer people you meet on the path.
- 2Bring water and food
At the Pradera there is a restaurant, which also sells the return ticket, cash only. On the path, don't count on anything else.
- 3Return by the other bank
On the waterfalls route, cross the Arazas over the Arripas waterfall and return to the Pradera along the left bank of the river.
Local tip
Sleep in Torla the night before. Taking the first bus is the difference between an empty valley and a pilgrimage crowd.
Can I drive in?
At Easter, in summer and on several long weekends and weekends in autumn, no. In 2026 the bus runs from 1 to 6 April, from 1 to 3 May, from 19 June to 20 September and on several dates from September to November. On those days you leave the car in the free car park at Torla and take the shuttle bus up to the Pradera. The rest of the year you can drive to the Pradera, and its car park fills up early at weekends.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Can I go with children?
Yes. The Estrecho waterfalls route is one hour each way with 100 m of ascent. The Cola de Caballo is 2 h 30 to 3 h each way: only for children used to walking.
Do I have to pay an entrance fee?
No. You only pay for the shuttle bus when it is compulsory: €6 return, free for under-10s.
Can I go with a dog?
Yes, always on a lead: loose dogs are banned in the National Park. On the bus they travel in the hold and pay €2 return; potentially dangerous breeds must be muzzled and on a short lead.
Do I need to book?
Accommodation in Torla, yes, in season. The Góriz refuge, well ahead and online only. The bus cannot be reserved.