
Is the road to Pedras Blancas in Aragón paved?
Spain, europe
11 km
2,358 m
hard
Year-round
Okay adventurers, ready for an off-road escapade in the Spanish Pyrenees? Let me tell you about Pedras Blancas, a peak sitting pretty at 2,359m (7,736ft) in Aragón's Huesca province.
The road up—or rather, the *pista* as they call it—starts from Arasán and stretches for 11km (6.83 miles). Don’t let the first few paved curves fool you; this quickly turns into a well-maintained gravel track, Pista Pedras Blancas, so bring your 4x4 with high clearance.
Why "Pedras Blancas?" The name comes from some striking white rocks near the Bisaurri refuge, about 2km from the top. It's a major paragliding spot, so keep an eye on the skies!
This climb is no joke. Expect a real workout with hairpin turns and seriously steep sections, hitting a maximum gradient of 10.2%. The average gradient is around 9.68%, so get ready to earn those views. Word to the wise: this road is totally off-limits in winter.
At the summit, marked by a wind flag, you'll be rewarded with panoramic views and the chance to share the space with paragliding daredevils and mountain biking fanatics (weather permitting, of course). Get ready for 1,065m of elevation gain, this trek isn't for the faint of heart.
Road Details
- Country
- Spain
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 11 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,358 m
- Difficulty
- hard
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