Discovering the interior of the peninsula in peace always brings rewards, but few are as unexpected as this one. Aragonese Gorges which, without seeking glory or queues, has hard-earned its place among the country’s most spectacular landscapes. At first glance, no one would say that, starting from the small town of Squida natural corridor appears comparable, while saving distances and dimensions, to an authentic Spanish Colorado Canyoneven if here the rock coexists with vegetation which climbs, breathes and breaks any preconceived idea about aridity. The result is a route that winds its way between reddish walls, suspended walkways and crystal clear waters, a perfect setting for those seeking hiking in Aragon without crowds.
Where the surprise begins: Calomarde and access to the ravine
The starting point is Squida small town of barely sixty inhabitants, built in stone and silence. From his place, no one would imagine that in a few minutes, the terrain would be completely transformed. There begins the Hoz Ravinean erosive gorge created by the Blanco River which has shaped the rock for centuries. To understand why many compare it to a Spanish Colorado CanyonYou just have to walk a few meters: the vegetation climbs up the natural walls, the reddish tones intensify with the light and the path steepens to create a landscape that is as steep as it is harmonious.
It’s a journey that not only surprises, but also dismantles clichés. While other large gorges in the country are today subject to immense tourist pressure, this one Aragonese Gorges He maintains a calm which is appreciated. And that, combined with such expressive geology, makes the path a much closer experience than the iconic routes where you advance single file. Not here: here we walk in silence, or at least in the silence allowed by the murmur of the water.
Walkways, vertical walls and a landscape that changes with every turn
The layout of the Hoz Ravine It mixes classic trail and sections on footbridges clinging to the rock. What was once an inaccessible pass is now crossed without difficulty, advancing through wooden and metal structures in complete safety. In some places the ground narrows and forces you to look at the emptiness beneath your feet, but always in the comfort of a route designed to enjoy and not to suffer.
The visual play is constant: areas where one walks a few meters from the Blanco River, others in which the gorge closes like a mineral funnel, and moments where the ravine suddenly opens to reveal vertical walls that remind – once again – why many call it the Spanish Colorado Canyon. In these sections, the vegetation breaks up the verticality and provides something that does not exist in other similar landscapes: shade, humidity and a permanent contrast between bare rock and climbing life.
Those who seek hiking in Aragon varied, you will find in this circuit a perfect balance between emotion and accessibility. It is not a technical route, but it is an evolving route; It does not require intense preparation, but it invites you to move forward calmly to appreciate the erosion, the tones of the stone and the cavities created by thousands of years of water work.
A half-secret… which deserves to remain so
One of the most emblematic points of Hoz Ravine This is the metal bridge that crosses the gorge halfway up. From here you can see, almost from an aerial perspective, the scale of this gorge that many identify as the Aragonese Gorges the most underrated in the country. The view from above of the Blanco River allows us to better understand the force that shaped the landscape and confirms why this route is beginning to appear timidly on the list of must-see places in hiking in Aragon.
The route can be done as a round trip or extended to Frías de Albarracín, adding forests, more open sections and new trails. This longer version offers another reading of the landscape without losing the essence: a spectacular ravine which, for some reason, has not yet experienced the overpopulation of other enclaves of Aragon.
Perhaps its magic lies precisely in this. In this, it is always an authentic experience, in that sense Squid has not changed its rhythm to adapt to tourists, and in that the Hoz Ravine maintains an aura of discovery that is already rare in times of excessive exposure. Whoever makes it this far usually sums it up the same way: “How can this not be more famous?” » Perhaps the answer is that he doesn’t want to be. And it’s perfect.
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