TOPO Via ferrata | CLIMBING7.COM

Cubilillo os Fils, Riglos

Publié le 28 October 2010 | Aragon Eng, Spain

The Mallos de Riglos are an incredible site. Improbable cigar-shaped walls 300m high and more, with iron-red hues, have been piled up here for 20 million years. At their foot lies the small village of Riglos (620m), authentic despite the constant influx of climbers. The via ferrata de Riglos is a great way to admire the view from the mirador de los buitres on the Massif de los Fils, a large cliff to the east of the village. The route is accessible and, above all, is done against a backdrop of the Mallos de Riglos, the Mallos d'Agüeros and the Peña Rueba, with imposing griffon vultures circling nearby. The way back is also part of the adventure, with a section equipped to the edge of the void and a passage behind the Peña San Justo. In short, a tour not to be missed to discover the area.

Technical summary

Type ✦ Via ferrata
Location ✦ Riglos
Region ✦ Aragon
Country ✦ Spain
Height difference ✦ 390m
Difficulty ✦ K2
Duration ✦ 3h to 3h30

Access to the place

From Lleida, which you bypass on the right to get to the other side of the N240/A22 (autovia under construction) towards Barbastro and Huesca. Pass Huesca and continue on the A-132 towards Ayerbe and Pamplona. After Ayerbe, go as far as Concilio and, after the village, turn right onto the road to Riglos. Park in the large parking lot on the right at the entrance to the village.

Map & topo

Itinerary description

Hiking to the start 1h

From the parking lot, walk up into the village to the El Puro bar (50m) and take the alleyway that climbs just opposite. After a small fountain on the right, you'll find a small square further up, from which the GR-1 road goes off to the right, quickly becoming a stony track. Follow it, you leave the village and immediately see the large Los Fils massif opposite. After 30′ of walking, take the turning to the right (signposted Cubilillo, clavijas) and follow the path which crosses a small stream and then climbs steeply up to the cliffs. First views of the Mallos! Higher up, on a flatter section, leave the turn-off to Peña San Justo (return path) and continue through burnt trees. The path then bends steeply to the left to arrive, with a good sweat, at the foot of the ferrata.

Course 45' à 1h

The west-facing via ferrata has a vertical drop of almost 400m. In the end, it's quite short (less than an hour). The equipment is excellent, with nails (clavijas) and rungs.

1st part

A series of clavijas and rungs to be crossed without difficulty to reach a small path at the edge of the void and an incredible panorama of the Mallos. The equipment is new and very safe. We then climb up this little high-altitude path, taking care where we put our feet, as our eyes are drawn to the landscape and the great vultures that approach from time to time...

Part 2

It's more vertical, with a slight overhang a little higher up. You soon reach the top of the wall, and there are still a few dozen metres of path to the mirador de los buitres.

Back

From the mirador, follow the ridge due north to the end. At this point, the path descends steeply to the right through trees and earth. Follow the signs and kairns to the turn-off on the left towards Peña San Justo. This is the part of the path equipped mainly with cables. You pass level with the void and then behind the huge Peña San Justo. There's also a small bridge over a huge fault, a ladder from the 40s and a few rungs. Once you've completely bypassed the Peña San Justo from behind, the trail heads back to the right, skirting the foot of the Peña before finally dropping down to join the path on our approach walk. All that remains is to retrace the outward path to the village in the opposite direction.