Cola de Caballo by the Hunter's Trail – circular from the Ordesa Meadow

That young deer, he was probably given up by his mother because he couldn't walk anymore or something. He just lay there. So sad, but I couldn't do anything. 😢

Sublime hike in the heart of the Ordesa National Park in Spain.

Start at the mega hiking car park Pradera de Ordesa. The journey to the hiking car park alone is spectacular! However, the huge space was already crowded at nine in the morning. It's crazy what's going on. After a few hundred meters we moved the tour to the other side of the river, away from the mainstream hiking trail, and there was almost nothing going on there. The canyon and the landscape are simply breathtaking and the highlight is the final entry into the gigantic valley basin with the “Ponytail Waterfall” (Cola de Caballo) at the end. Bombastic scenario! However, there is also a lot going on there. We decided to return along the steep face because there is less traffic and the views are fantastic. Sure-footedness and a head for heights are more than necessary, and at the end there is a nasty descent over approx. 600 m which demands pretty much everything from the experienced flatlander with such a mediocre head for heights over scree and high steps. Once we got to the bottom, the legs had to be trained to run straight again, awesome! Conclusion: The landscape literally overwhelms you with its huge dimensions and its wild beauty. However, in parts today there was complete mass tourism, and it is not for nothing that access to all types of cars is closed in the summer months. The final descent requires a lot of fitness, especially after the previous tour and above all there is a great risk of falling rocks. A couple above us accidentally kicked a stone that passed just in front of us. Absolutely and unreservedly recommended, you should see it!

During the summer, vehicles are not allowed to go up to the Ordesa meadow (the starting point of the route). Access is by bus. We took the bus from the Torla-Ordesa parking lot, next to the National Park Visitor Center, although there are stops in between (please inquire if you're interested; I'm not including the locations in case they change).

Marvellous route in National Park. Well maintained and easy to follow. Starts with about 2hrs zig zag up hill to 2200m. Sendero de los Cazadores. Bravo

Circular route from Pradera de Ordesa passing through: - Cazadores Bridge (0.5 km) - Calcilarruego Viewpoint (2.6 km) - Malla ta Abe Shelter (5.4 km) - Abé Shelter (5.9 km) - Fuente Del Abé (8.2 km) - Cola de Caballo (11.9 km) - Cave of the Shepherds' Shelter (12.5 km) - Bridge and Shepherds' Shelter (13.6 km) - Soaso Steps (14.6 km) - Frachinal Cave (16.2 km) - Estrecho Waterfall (18.2 km) - Arripas Waterfall (18.9 km) - Cotatuero Viewpoint (20.7 km) - Virgen del Pilar (21.4 km)

The mountain calls, calls and calls. Yes, I let myself get carried away. Today I just want to go hiking without distraction. I like it when you get over the climb quickly at the beginning and then stroll to the finish. The elevation profile is to my liking. I start the hike at the Pradera de Ordesa. This is a large and very popular car park that is used as a starting point for many hikes here in the Ordesa National Park. Access to the Pradera is closed in summer. A bus shuttle then runs from Torla. No more than 1800 people are allowed in the park at the same time.

The toughest part is getting up to the viewpoint Refugio de Calzilarruego, we spent 2 hrs on the steep ascent to this 750 m high point. After that, it's a pleasant walk with a slight decline to the base of the Ordesa valley - with abolutely spectacular views along the way. Total walking time 5,5 hrs but with picture stops and resting we were out for 8,5 hrs.