A few kilometers from some of the best-known landscapes of the Huesca Pyrenees there is a route in which the hiker passes through the medieval streets of Alquézar to walk suspended over the waters of the Vero River. They are the Vero Footbridgesa route located in the Sierra y Cañones de Guara Natural Park that concentrates a good part of its attraction in just three kilometers.
Here the landscape changes in a very short space. The road progressively leaves the town, loses height and ends up enclosed between large rock walls. Below is the river, with areas of clear water and small pools, while several metal sections allow you to continue through places where doing so on foot would otherwise be much more complicated.
It is that combination that explains the comparisons with the Caminito del Rey. They are not equivalent routes nor do they have the same dimensions, but both allow you to contemplate a canyon from walkways installed on the rock. In Alquézar, furthermore, the Vero accompanies the hiker for much of the experience.
A three-kilometer route through the Sierra de Guara
The official route of the Alquézar walkways It has a circular route of approximately three kilometers, accumulates about 175 meters of elevation gain and requires around two hours to complete. The access point is located on Iglesia Street, in front of the Alquézar Town Hall.
The route begins by leaving the town center behind to gradually enter the river environment. The descent leads to a completely different area than what can be seen from the streets of the town, with the rock and vegetation closing in around the riverbed.
The walkways appear at different times along the route. They are installed on the walls of the canyon and allow you to advance above the Vero while contemplating the landscape from a perspective that is difficult to find on a conventional trail.
Crystal clear waters, pools and a tour between canyons
Water accompanies much of the excursion. From the elevated areas you can see different sections of the Vero Riverwith pools and spaces where the channel is wedged between the rock walls.
One of the places that appear during the tour is the Vero weir. The waterfall and the pool located at its feet form one of the characteristic images of this area, especially when observed from the highest points of the path.
The route alternates these spaces with others where the ravine narrows. The result is a route in which the landscape constantly changes despite its short distance, going from more open areas to points where the hiker is practically surrounded by the canyon walls.
The Picamartillo cave, one of the stops along the way
Another possibility that the route offers is to get closer to the Picamartillo cave. It is located next to the riverbed and is accessed through a small detour from the main route.
This large cavity is one of the natural corners that can be found on the descent towards Vero. After visiting it, the hiker can return to the route to continue towards the next sections of walkways.
The itinerary thus allows you to combine different elements of the Sierra de Guara landscape in the same outing. It’s not just about walking on metal structures. The river, the walls of the ravine, the cavities and the vegetation are part of an excursion that takes place almost completely away from traffic and the urban environment.
The tour ends returning to Alquézar
After crossing the canyon, the path begins to gain altitude again to return towards Alquézar. This allows you to complete the day with a visit to the town itself, whose historic center preserves much of its medieval appearance.
Among its best-known places is the collegiate church of Santa María la Mayorlocated in the upper part of the town. Its narrow streets and stone buildings complete an excursion in which the historical heritage is a very short distance from the natural landscape.
In the surroundings there is also the Fuente del Trucho caveincluded within the group of rock art of the Mediterranean arc of the Iberian Peninsula recognized as a World Heritage Site. Cave paintings of great antiquity are preserved inside.
What you should know before visiting the Vero Footbridges
The distance may make you think that it is an easy excursion, but the characteristics of the terrain require you to be prepared. It is advisable to use suitable footwear for hiking in the mountains and exercise extreme caution in those points that may be humid.
River and course conditions can also change after rain events. For this reason, before traveling to Alquézar it is advisable to check the weather and check if there is any warning that could affect the opening of the walkways.
Access is regulated and the organization has Ticketingso it is also advisable to check in advance the availability and schedules for the chosen date.
The Vero Footbridges They thus offer a different way of getting to know the Sierra de Guara. In just three kilometers you can go from a medieval town to a canyon crossed by crystal-clear waters, walk through structures installed on the rock and then return to the streets of Alquézar.