Expert
Aragon · Spain
- Distance
- 98.0 km / 60.9 mi
- Elevation gain
- 4,444 m
- Typical duration
- 29 hr
- Mountain
- Long-distance path
el Gran Bucle
ExpertAragon · Spain
- Distance
- 145 km (90.1 mi)
- Elevation gain
- 6,130 m (20,112 ft)
- Typical time
- 43 hr
- Difficulty
- Expert
- Route type
- Loop
- Highest point
- 2,512 m (8,241 ft)
About el Gran Bucle
el Gran Bucle is a 145 km hiking route in Aragon, Spain. It climbs roughly 6,130 m (20,112 ft) along the way, topping out at 2,512 m (8,241 ft). Most people take around 7 days at a comfortable pace, plus stops. This is a committing route for experienced hikers only, with serious ascent and long stretches far from help.
This is mountain terrain, and the scale of the surroundings is the reason to come. Most people walk it in stages, using the waymarking and accommodation built up along the corridor.
The circuit closes on itself, which makes logistics simple: one car park, one round of 90.1 mi. It is not consistently waymarked, so carry a map or a downloaded track rather than relying on signs.
The high sections hold snow long after the valleys are green, which keeps the usable season to high summer.
In short, el Gran Bucle suits experienced mountain walkers who are comfortable with exposure, navigation and long descents. Dog access is not formally recorded here, so check locally before bringing one.
Route map
Expert145 km6,130 m2,512 m
Numbered marks every 25 km
Route line from OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL. View the source relation
Elevation
Elevation profile
- Ascent
- +6,130 m
- Descent
- −6,130 m
- High
- 2,512 m (8,241 ft)
- Low
- 634 m (2,080 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 32 percent, short but enough to slow most people to a crawl. The upper section is where the route earns its reputation, and it is also where weather changes fastest. The return leg is the reverse of the outward journey, which makes it easy to judge remaining time.
Highlights
- High point of 2,512 m (8,241 ft)
- Long-distance path
- Mountain
- Circular route, no backtracking
- Part of a long-distance path
- Over 1,000 m (3,281 ft) of ascent
Know before you go
- Best season
- July to September
- Waymarked
- Not consistently
- 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
- 84/100
- Adventure
- 94/100
- Difficulty
- 100/100
- Accessibility
- 13/100
- Family
- 7/100
- Dogs
- 47/100
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
- Start at first light. A long day is far more pleasant when you are not racing the sunset on the descent.
- Aim for july to september for the most reliable conditions.
- Download the track to your phone before you leave. Signal is not guaranteed.
- Break the route into stages and decide your turnaround time before you set off.
- 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
- Microspikes if you are walking at the edges of the season
Photography
Shoot the first hour after sunrise from the higher ground: the low angle picks out every ridge and the valleys still hold mist. 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
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