A little bit of history…
The massif of Monte Perdido (3.355m) is the highest limestone massif in Europe and the best canyons of the Pyrenees. In the massif of Monte Perdido we will find different valleys of glacial origin such as the Ordesa Valley, the Añisclo Canyon, Escuain or the Pineta Valley.
In the 19th century, it already attracted the attention of its first explorers who were fascinated by its forests, waterfalls and walls. These explorers called “Pyrenees explorers” made known to the world the beauty hidden in this place. In August 1802, Ramond de Carbonnières conquered the summit of Monte Perdido for the first time. In 1891, Lucien Briet, came to Ordesa for the first time and spent more than 20 years photographing its gorges, valleys and villages. Towards the end of the 70’s and beginning of the 80’s, French mountaineers attracted by the photos and books of these Pyrenees climbers, began to discover and open the most spectacular gorges of Ordesa.
Among them we highlight Jean-Paul Pontroué, Jack Saint-Crit and Bernard Clos, who in the early 80s had opened numerous canyons in the Ordesa area, highlighting the Miraval, Consusa, Yesa and Gloces canyons. In the late 80’s and early 90’s, the French openers were joined by Spaniards, among them Fernando Biarge, Enrique Salamero, Alex Batllori and Ramón Bitrián, with openings such as the Furco canyon, Salto del Carpin, Foz de la Canal or Trigoniero.
In 1995, by Royal Decree the PRUG of the Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park was approved, prohibiting all the ravines inside the National Park, leaving only those on the periphery of the park for descent. My opinion is that it is always easier to prohibit than to regulate, when they allow aberrations such as climbing thousands of people a day to the cola de Caballo, allow thousands of cars to pass through the road of the Añisclo Canyon but do not allow you to pass walking with a backpack.
The most emblematic canyons of the Monte Perdido massif
In the massif of Monte Perdido are the best canyoning descents in the Pyrenees. We understand by the “great classics” those that are essential to schedule if we visit the area, for its aesthetics and its recreational character.
Gloces Gorge (Level 2)
La Garganta de las Gloces is a spectacular crevice where water has been making its way over the years, forming a deep and narrow gorge where sunlight barely reaches. It is located in Fanlo and its basin borders the Ordesa Valley.
Technically speaking it is an initiation canyon where we will find a 15 meter rappel at the entrance and some depressions inside where we will make small rappels. Some slides and a small jump of 4 meters will amuse us, while we enjoy the spectacular rock formations that we have inside.
+ Info: Gloces Canyon
Consusa Canyon (Level 4)
The Consusa Canyon is one of the mythical of Ordesa, which is divided into two sections, the Upper Consusa and the Lower Consusa. It is a staircase of rappels alternating with pools and marmitas, very vertical and maintained, which will give us magnificent views of the Escuain Valley.
If we make the integral, we have more than 1,000 meters of slope and about 45 rappels, some of 30 meters and technical. It is only suitable for experienced people in good physical condition. Very sensitive to storms and thawing, it is a perfect mousetrap with hardly any escape routes or points of shelter.
Sorrosal Canyon (Level 4)
The Sorrosal Canyon is well known by the inhabitants of Broto and many tourists, who visit its spectacular waterfall of 100 meters that falls in the same village, in two 50-meter waterfalls. In a framework of stratified rock Fliysh with original formations, where the strata look in all directions because of the strong geological activity that has suffered this area.
It is a short canyon for people with experience in canyoning because, apart from the great vertical, we find many jumps and large slides and, with a high flow we find dangerous water movements.
+ info: Sorrosal Canyon
Viandico Canyon (Level 1)
TheViandico Canyon has become a great classic of Ordesa. It is located in the area of the Añisclo Canyon and borders the National Park of Ordesa and Monte Perdido. The environment is fantastic and of great natural interest, where we can see birds of prey such as the bearded vulture, Egyptian vulture or griffon vulture.
It is an initiation canyon with a comfortable access and exit, where we will find jumps of up to 7 meters, slides and a rappel of 15 meters. There are no mandatory steps, not even the rappel, making it accessible to families and adults without any experience.
+ info: Viandico Canyon
Miraval Canyon (Level 2)
The Miraval Canyon is the most aquatic canyon of the Pyrenees that opens with 4 narrow and long corridors, forming large pools and badinas. It is the final collector of the huge valley formed by the Yaga River, with the villages of Escuain, Revilla and Tella.
It is a long canyon that will require a good physical condition if we make it integral. Continuous contact with the water, many jumps and slides and no rappel. The first section is for adults and the second section for families.
+ info: Miraval Canyon
Trigoniero Canyon (Level 3)
The Trigoniero canyon is a high mountain canyon located in the high valleys of Bielsa, in the north of the massif of Monte Perdido, at about 1,400 meters. Very young granite canyon with waters coming from ibones, where we alternate waterfalls with pools, in a very alpine environment.
It is a sports canyon, where we will find jumps and slides of up to 8 meters, and three abseils of about 20 meters. It begins with a first closed section in a gorge excavated to finish with two waterfalls open to the entire valley of Bielsa.
+ info: Trigoniero Canyon
Foz de la Canal (Level 4)
La Foz de la Canal is a technical canyon located in the Bielsa Valley. Possibly the 70-meter rappel at the top is one of the most aesthetic rappels in the Pyrenees.
This is a very well maintained rappel ladder that is differentiated by two sections separated by a solitary forest. We will find a total of 11 rappels of 70m to 15 meters with many of more than 30 meters. Technical and very slippery rappels that go through the active.
+ info: Foz de la Canal
Yesa Superior (Level 2)
The Yesa Superior is a canyon of initiation, simple and very nice, which stands out for its contrasting landscapes of the area. We will find small straits and curious rock formations.
The most complicated step is found at the beginning with a 12-meter rappel, which is jumpable. Once inside, many slides and small jumps, in a magical environment. At the end of the canyon, a narrow corridor will take us out.
+ info: Yesa Superior Canyon
