Bujaruelo Valley

What it is

The Bujaruelo valley is the upper valley of the River Ara, north of Torla, next to the Ordesa valley but without a compulsory bus. Its centre is San Nicolás de Bujaruelo, at 1,338 m, where there is a Romanesque bridge over the Ara, the hermitage of San Nicolás and the Bujaruelo refuge, with a restaurant. From there a short circular walk of 3.4 km follows both banks of the river: about 50 minutes without stops and 55 m of cumulative ascent. It is an easy outing for families and for days when Ordesa is full.

Getting there by car

Leave Torla heading north on the A-135. After about 3 km you reach the Puente de los Navarros. Just after the bridge, leave the road, which carries on towards Ordesa, and take the track that climbs through the Bujaruelo valley. According to Rutas Pirineos:

• 2.5 km along the east bank, semi-paved at first, to the Abetos bridge (puente de los Abetos), where you cross the river.
• 1.3 km more, passing a campsite and a metal gate.
• 2.5 km to the refuge. In total, 6.3 km from the Puente de los Navarros.

In front of the refuge there is an open area for parking. Beyond it, a chain and a sign close the track to unauthorised vehicles. The Ordesa bus does not stop at the Puente de los Navarros on the way up, so you get to Bujaruelo by car or on foot.

The circular walk, step by step

1. Refuge (0:00). Take the path to the right of the refuge, which joins the track along the right bank of the Ara.
2. North along the track. You leave the Bujaruelo bridge on your right and carry on with the river on your right.
3. Otal junction (0:20, 1,368 m). The track on the left climbs to the Otal valley; you keep to the one on the right, signposted to the Oncins bridge and San Nicolás on the GR 11.
4. Oncins bridge (0:25, 1,363 m). You cross to the left bank and follow the GR 11 south-east.
5. Second junction, about 100 m later. Take the path on the right, the GR 11 towards San Nicolás; the one on the left climbs to the Ordiso valley and Panticosa.
6. Return through the forest and meadows. You follow the white and red waymarks, with the river on your right, cross the metal footbridge at Sandaruelo and a cattle fence with a gap for walkers.
7. Romanesque bridge (0:50). You cross the Ara by the San Nicolás bridge and return to the refuge.

Along the way there are panels from the Bujaruelo Ornithological Trail about the birds of the valley. The route can be done in either direction.

When to go

From spring to autumn, according to Rutas Pirineos. In summer, the valley is a good afternoon outing or a plan B when Ordesa reaches capacity. In November 2026, the refuge announced that its accommodation and restaurant were open until 3 January 2027; its campsite was closed.

Water, food and services

The refuge has a restaurant and rooms; it is the only service in the valley. Bring water if you plan to extend the walk. If you want to sleep closer to Ordesa, the Hotel Bujaruelo, despite its name, is at the entrance to Torla.

With children or a dog

It is a flat, short walk, suitable for children. With a dog, keep it on a lead: the path crosses a cattle fence. The valley is outside the National Park, but it is a protected area (ZEC Bujaruelo-Garganta de los Navarros): stay on the path.

If you want more

At the Otal junction, the track that zigzags up to the Otal valley lets you lengthen the walk. From the second junction, another path climbs to the Ordiso valley, towards Panticosa. And along the GR 11, passing the Puente de los Navarros and the Pradera de Ordesa, you reach the Góriz refuge: the refuge estimates 6 hours.