Fitness level: Moderate
Distance: 19Km
Elevation gain: 1278m
Lowest to highest elevation: 1239m.
Map View of route.
Torla Village
We start our walk in the village of Torla.
You can either park in the village car-park and walk down to the river, or like us, drive down towards the "Camping Rio Ara" campsite. There is a small parking area next to the little bridge.
Start your walk northwards on the camino de Turieto with the river to your left, for about 1.1 Km.
At the fork, keep right, up a hill, that switches back on itself. This is the "Camino de Torla-Ordesa a Nerin".
The gradient starts increasing now, and will become quite steep in the next for kilometers.
At the 2.3km mark, you can either stay on the road, as it switches back on itself up the hill, or follow the footpath up the steeper slope, to short-cut the switch-backs.
The gradient here can be quite steep, and in the rainy season, could be quite muddy and wet.
If you've stayed on the steep path, you will cross the road 4 times, and after that, at the 3.3km mark, you should come to a small church (Ermita de Santa Ana).
This has a lovely lookout, and is great for a rest. (and a bite to eat).
The Ermita de Santa Ana church.
Follow the path northwest, up a steep climb, along a ridge, that switches back again, as it climbs.
you should see a great view of the meadows next the church, and the valley far below where you started.
At the 4.3 km mark, after an even steeper climb, you get to the road again, at the point of a hairpin bend.
This again has a great view of the valley, and makes the tiresome climb worthwhile.
Follow the road up, for about 100m , you will see the path, go left, up into a woodland.
You lose the views now, and only get a glimpse ever so often.
The lookout from the hairpin bend on the road.
At the 5.1km mark, you join the road again, and this time, you will stay on the road for a good few kilometers.
Thankfully the gradient becomes much less steep, and the climb is now much better.
After just over a kilometer, at the 6.6km mark, you can turn left, to the 'Mirador' (lookout) called "Miradores del Molar"
I highly recommend a stop here, as the views are well worth the small detour.
We were lucky enough, to see a Lammergeier (Bearded Vulture), float gently by, as we arrived at the 'mirador'...
Unfortunately I was unable to get my camera out quick enough, and couldn't get a good shot.
The best picture I could get of the vulture.
You can see almost the whole Ordesa valley, in all its glory from here.
This 'mirador' is a great place to sit and have some lunch. It can get a bit cold, and is quite exposed, so a coat is recommended (even in summer).
After lunch, and a rest, you can head for the summit.
Looking out over the Ordesa Valley from the Miradores del Molar.
The summit of 'Punta Cuta' should have been within sight before reaching the lookout, but don't be too daunted. it looks heavy going, but its well worth it.
Follow the road onwards from the mirador for another 1.4km,
We decided to approach the hill, from the southern side, so that we could see what the view looked like beyond the peak, but fair warning, it is quite steep.
At the 9km mark, there is a small 'parking' area on the road, in a saddle between 'Punta Cuta' and another hill nearby called 'Pico de Enmedio'
This is where you turn off the road, and scramble up the steep ridge up towards the summit.
Its only 600m , but its very steep, and can be slippery, so be careful.
Once at the summit, you have a great view. Although when we arrived , the fog had rolled in, and visibility was very poor. it was also quite cold.
On the summit of Punta Cuta. (once some of the fog had cleared)
Being quite exposed, and windy, we didnt stay there very long, and headed back down the opposite side, towards the northwest, and down the ridge.
After a quick 400m descent down from the summit, the foot path reaches a cross, and you can right (to, somehwere?), straight to the 'Punta Diazas' mirador, or like us, just go left, back down towards the road.
From here on out, just follow the same path back down to where you started.
I must say, the downhill can, at times, be worse than the uphill.
Once we got back down in the woodland area, we were treated to the sight of a eurasian kestrel, landing in some brush near us, and i got a few nice photos.
The Kestrel
We arrived back at our car after 8 and a half hours, just as it was getting dark.
Thoroughly exhaused, we made our way back to camp, for well deserved meal, and a few beers.