Posets-Maladeta Natural Park

Region: Aragón
Province: Huesca
Declared a Natural Park: 1994
Park surface area: 33,000 hectares
Local towns and Villages: Benasque, Gistaín, Montanuy, Sahún, San Juan de Plan

Points of interest

The Posets-Maladeta Natural Park is a protected natural area located in the north of the Ribagorza region and northeast of Sobrarbe in the province of Huesca. It encompasses two of the highest massifs in the Pyrenees. Heights range from 1,500 m in the valley to 3404 m at the summit of Aneto which is the highest peak in the Pyrenees. The moraines and mountain lakes of Vallibierna, Cregüeña, Batisielles, Millares and Remuñe are home to flora and fauna of the high mountain climate. Along with the Benasque valley there are other valleys within the natural park such as the Estós and Vallibierna.

In addition to Aneto there are also quite a few more high peaks in the area:

Pico Posets (3369 m)
Punta d’Astorg (3055 m)
Pico Maldito (3350 m)
Pico del Medio (3346 m)
Pico de Coronas (3,293 m)
Pico de Tempestades (3,290 m)
Pico del Alba (3,118 m)

Take a look at this stunning drone footage of Aneto and surrounding peaks in the Posets-Maladeta Natural Park

Find a hotel in the Posets-Maladeta Natural Park

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Flora:

Staggered according to altitude and other environmental conditions, at lower altitudes tree cover is mostly rowan, hazelnut and birch. On the more humid slopes, beech, pines and firs and at the highest levels scots pine gives way to black pine.

Aragón Active Holidays close to the Ordesa National Park

Aragón Active Holidays

Fauna:

Marmots are faily easy to spot if you sit quietly and listen for their high pitched whistles. Wild boar and chamois are the easiest to observe mammals, but also keep an eye open for ptarmigan, Pyrenean newt, Asp viper, Griffon vulture, Bearded vulture and Golden eagle.

Natural monument of the Pyrenean Glaciers

The natural monument of the Pyrenean Glaciers is a natural monument in the regions of Alto Gállego, Sobrarbe and Ribagorza in Aragón. The protected area is 3,190 hectares and is surrounded by a further 13,000 hectares of peripheral protection zone. Altitude ranges between 2,700 and 3,000 meters above sea level.

Declared as such the 21 of March of 1990 and includes the following peaks:

Massif of Balaitús (Sallent de Gállego).
Picos del Infierno (Panticosa and Sallent de Gállego).
Viñamala Peak (Torla-Ordesa).
La Munia (Bielsa).
Pico Posets (San Juan de Plan , Sahún and Benasque).
Pico Perdiguero (Benasque).
Pico Maladeta and Aneto (Benasque and Montanuy).
Monte Perdido (Bielsa and Fanlo).

In addition to the large volumes of ice, other unique glacier morphologies such as moraines , lakes and U-shaped valleys can be found. Some of these glaciers experienced an expansion during the small ice age but they are currently in the process of total disappearance. The extreme climate means that there are not many animal and plant species found in these glaciers.

The Cuenca Moral Botanical Trail

(A very easy trail indroducing you to some of the plants of the area.)

Duration: 25 min.
Slope: From 1,540 to 1,670 m.
Markings: Two parallel stripes of deep green and light green.
Difficulty: None.

Starting point: From Benasque (Benás) go up the main road to the Los Baños detour then follow the asphalt forest road. Once you have passed the Los Baños campsite and the bridge over the Ésera river, walk about 20 meters. and enter the meadow on the left following the signs.

End: The forest road from los Baños to the Hospital (Espital de Benás), 600 mts. before the bridge over the Ésera river.

The Posest-Maladeta Natural Park Botanical Trail runs along part of the old path that linked the Kingdom of Aragón with the south of France through the Bal de Benás (Benasque Valley), taking advantage of the diversity of its natural landscape. It starts next to the Camping de los Baños, the Pllano d’es Bañs o de Turpi, and ends on the forest road that connects the Baños with the Hospital de Benasque. It is representative of the Montane Floor of the Natural Park, with forests of yew, black pine, fir and beech.

The path winds through small pastures surrounded by box trees (Buxus sempervirens), Black pine, Ash (Fraxinus excelsior), Wild dog rose (Rosa canina), wild strawberries (Fragaria vesca) and Asphodel (Asphodelus albus). The path runs parallel to the Ésera river. Here there are rowan (Sorbus aucuparia) and abundant thickets of boxwood, holly, rododrendron (Rododendron ferrugineum), blueberry (Vaccinium myrtillus), heather (Calluna Vulgaris) , and flowers such as Lilium martagon and Primula veris

Guides in the area of Posets-Maladeta Natural Park

Walking holidays in the Pyrenees – Guided and self guided walking holidays with the Pyrenees specialists Hike Pyrenees

Based in the heart of the Spanish Pyrenees surrounded by stunning scenery and superb hiking routes. A local company and They’ll show you fantastic hiking routes, traditional villages, the wonderful wildlife of the area and all about the local customs and culture.

https://wildsideholidays.co.uk/hike-pyrenees/

Alpine Skiing and Snowboarding

The Aramón Cerler Ski Resort located in the Benasque Valley, is undoubtedly the ideal place to practice Alpine Skiing and Snow Boarding. It has 68 ski slopes, of which 9 are green, 17 blue, 26 red and 15 black, gathering a total of 79 skiable kilometers, which are accessed by 18 lifts. The minimum height of the station is located at 1,540 meters from the town of Cerler, and the maximum reaches 2,630 meters.

More information on the website here.

Information/Visitors Centers

Benasque Visitor Center (OBLIGATORY VISIT!)

Access: On the road from Benasque to Anciles. Taking the first road on the left. (Located less than 10 minutes from Benasque village.)

Benasque Visitor Center has an excellent interpretation exhibition detailing the four main environments that exist in the Posets-Maladeta Natural Park. Rock, ice and snow. Grasslands and meadows. High mountain forests and the inhabited valleys. Excellent services and staff that will help you get the most out of a visit to the area. Staff will also help you with footpaths and the best places to visit depending on the time of year you are visiting.

Web: https://turismobenasque.com/

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The Caminito del Rey

Find tickets for the Caminito del Rey: https://www.caminodelrey.es/

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Iberia Nature Forum

Struggling with identifying those bugs and beasties? Why not check out the Iberia nature Forum! https://iberianatureforum.com/

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