Moderate
Aragon · Spain
- Distance
- 4.7 km / 2.9 mi
- Elevation gain
- 384 m
- Typical duration
- 1 hr 42 min
- Waymarked route
Arco de Piedrafita de Jaca
HardAragon · Spain
- Distance
- 12.8 km (8.0 mi)
- Elevation gain
- 719 m (2,359 ft)
- Typical time
- 3 hr 45 min
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Route type
- Loop
- Highest point
- 1,826 m (5,991 ft)
About Arco de Piedrafita de Jaca
Arco de Piedrafita de Jaca is a 12.8 km hiking route in Aragon, Spain. It climbs roughly 719 m (2,359 ft) along the way, topping out at 1,826 m (5,991 ft). Most people take around 3 hr 45 min at a comfortable pace, plus stops. Treat it as a full day out: the ascent is relentless in places and there are few easy escape points.
The character of the walk comes from the landscape it crosses rather than a single headline sight, which is exactly why it stays quiet even in high season.
It is a 12.8 km loop, so you finish where you started and never repeat a section. The route is waymarked and marked on the ground with its own symbol, so navigation is straightforward in good visibility.
The route usually comes into condition in June and stays good until the first serious autumn weather.
In short, Arco de Piedrafita de Jaca suits fit hikers with a habit of long days and an eye on the forecast. Dog access is not formally recorded here, so check locally before bringing one.
Route map
Hard12.8 km719 m1,826 m
Numbered marks every 5 km
Route line from OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL. View the source relation
Elevation
Elevation profile
- Ascent
- +719 m
- Descent
- −719 m
- High
- 1,826 m (5,991 ft)
- Low
- 1,260 m (4,134 ft)
The route in detail
The loop is usually walked clockwise from the main trailhead. The first third does most of the climbing, so settle into a slow rhythm early rather than trying to hold a flat-ground pace. The steepest pitch runs at roughly 39 percent, short but enough to slow most people to a crawl. The return leg is the reverse of the outward journey, which makes it easy to judge remaining time.
Highlights
- High point of 1,826 m (5,991 ft)
- Waymarked route
- Circular route, no backtracking
- Waymarked and signposted
Know before you go
- Best season
- June to October
- Waymarked
- Yes, signed on the ground
- Surface
- Mixed natural surface
- Dogs
- Not recorded, check locally
- Wheelchair access
- Not accessible
- Entrance fee
- No fee recorded
- Camping
- Not recorded
- Drinking water
- Carry your own
- Toilets
- Not recorded
- Mobile coverage
- Patchy on the upper sections
- Parking
- Park at the trailhead, arrive early in high season
- Emergency
- 112 in Europe, 911 in North America
How this trail scores
Computed from distance, ascent, terrain features, surface and access data.
- Scenery
- 52/100
- Adventure
- 33/100
- Difficulty
- 48/100
- Accessibility
- 37/100
- Family
- 20/100
- Dogs
- 62/100
Terrain features, relief and photographic interest
Distance, ascent and how wild the ground is
Effort index from distance and climbing
Surface, gradient and ease of reaching it
Suitability for children who already walk
Access rules, terrain and water along the way
Tips from the trail
- Early morning and late afternoon give the best light and the quietest paths.
- Aim for june to october for the most reliable conditions.
- Leave nothing behind, including fruit peel, and stay on the marked line to protect the ground either side.
Warnings
- This route is long and sustained. Turn back early rather than late if the weather closes in.
- Some sections are steep enough to be awkward in the wet, particularly on the way down.
- At this altitude the weather can turn in under an hour, and temperatures drop fast once cloud arrives.
- Outside the main season expect snow, ice or closed access on the higher sections.
Safety
Emergency services in Spain are reached on 112. Tell someone your route and expected finish time before you set off, particularly if you are walking alone. Mobile coverage in the upper sections is patchy at best, so do not count on being able to call for help from the summit. If the weather deteriorates, descending the way you came is almost always the safer option.
What to bring
- Comfortable, broken-in hiking shoes or boots
- Weatherproof jacket
- At least 1.5 litres of water
- Trekking poles for the descent
- Offline map and compass
- Head torch and spare battery
- Extra warm layer
- Sun hat, sunglasses and high-factor sun cream
- Small first aid kit including blister plasters
Photography
Overcast light suits this route better than harsh midday sun, especially under tree cover. Because it is a loop, the light changes direction as you go, so save some memory for the back half. A wide lens captures the scale, but a short telephoto is what turns a good view into a photograph.
Frequently asked questions
Reviews
No one has reviewed Arco de Piedrafita de Jaca yet. Be the first.
Trails near Arco de Piedrafita de Jaca
Other routes within a short drive, ranked by distance from this trailhead.
Moderate
Aragon · Spain
- Distance
- 4.3 km / 2.7 mi
- Elevation gain
- 194 m
- Typical duration
- 1 hr 11 min
- Waymarked route
Moderate
Aragon · Spain
- Distance
- 4.9 km / 3.0 mi
- Elevation gain
- 437 m
- Typical duration
- 1 hr 50 min
- Waymarked route
Easy
Aragon · Spain
- Distance
- 2.0 km / 1.3 mi
- Elevation gain
- 218 m
- Typical duration
- 30 min
- Waymarked route
Easy
Aragon · Spain
- Distance
- 1.6 km / 1.0 mi
- Elevation gain
- 174 m
- Typical duration
- 24 min
- Panoramic viewpoint
- Waymarked route
Easy
Aragon · Spain
- Distance
- 5.9 km / 3.7 mi
- Elevation gain
- 458 m
- Typical duration
- 1 hr 25 min
- Waymarked route