Canyon Balces (superior) II in Aragón/España v1-a2-III 2.85/5*

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Country: España / Spain

Region: Aragón

Subregion: Huesca

Town: Las Almunias

v1 a2 III

6h45

2h30

3h30

45min

710m

650m

60m

Notseil

0

5000m

on Foot

Rating:

★★★★★

2.9 (1)

Info:

★★★

0 ()

Belay:

★★★

0 ()

Summary: machine translated ➜

Hiking canyon with swimming passages

Parts

Name

Difficulty

Approach

Tour

Return

Balces (superior) II

2h30

Oscuros de Balcés

45min

South

Summary: machine translated ➜

Hiking canyon with swimming passages

Access: machine translated ➜

From the road Barbastro - Huesca (N 240) about 25 km after Barbastro turn right on the A 1229 direction Abiego, Rodellar. A few hundred meters after Abiego, turn left towards Bierge. A few meters before reaching Bierge, turn right and immediately left towards Rodellar ( Bco. de Mascun). After about 10 km, we reach a saddle where, at a sign 'Barranco Fondo 840 m' (large trash cans), a dirt road branches off to the right in a northerly direction. We follow it, coming across a plateau (which offers good views and overview), then slightly downhill again to Collado de Colmenares (about 2.5 km from the beginning of the slope). Here on the saddle we park the car (the same if you go the Balcés Oscuros).

Approach (2 h 30): machine translated ➜

We follow the dirt road. In the first switchback, the path to Balcés Oscuros turns off in a southerly direction. However, we stay on the dirt road and go to its exit. We continue on the following path and arrive at the ridge at 1320 m above sea level (up to here from the car about 1.25 hrs.).The path continues on the ridge, although slightly below on its eastern flank. At a cairn (approx. 15 min. after crossing the ridge) the path branches. To the left (westwards) it goes up to the Collado de Balcéd (1371 m a.s.l. - you can also climb here from Rodellar), but we go down to the right into the western flank of the Balcés, first eastwards in several serpentines downwards, until the path turns to the north at about 1200 m a.s.l.. It crosses two branches of the Bco. A Lera. After the second branch, the path continues towards it again (direction OSO). Now one descends in the Bco. A Lera (alternative 1) down to the Rio Isuala. Although there is also a path north of La Glera and almost parallel to it (above the lower wall break) that leads down in an easterly direction to the river (alternative 2), you should only look for it and take it if you can orientate yourself safely.

Tour (3 h 30): machine translated ➜

We hike, wade and swim downstream. A tremendous landscape experience.

Return (45 min): machine translated ➜

After about 3.5 hours, 2 longer narrows, after passing through a rock chaos and two short narrows (one immediately after the other), you reach a prominent flat meadow area (with bushes) to the right of the river. Here comes down the path that you have to go to the entry of Balcés Oscuros. We can now go up this and come after about 1 hour to the car or we (if still fit and time available) still cross in 2 hours the Balcés Oscuros (then the emergency rope is not enough !) and pull at their exit in 30 minutes right up to the car.

Coordinates:

Canyon Start

42.2809°, -0.02925° ↓

Canyon End

42.2473°, -0.0464° ↓

Literatures:

Map

Editorial Alpina - Sierra de Guara II - 1:40.000

Map

IGN MTN50 249 (30-11) Alquézar 1:50.000

1:50000

Map