Bielsa Tunnel (BIE)
Height: French tunnel entrance a.1820m, Spanish end a. 1680m.
Location: Links Arreau in France to Ainsa in Spain
General Comments
3 km tunnel completed 1978. Long main road approaches both sides. One report said it was shut to cyclists but some members have used it.
Roughstuff alternatives to tunnel include difficult Port Vieux, 2378m. On French side start at the tunnel mouth or back at le Plan (apparently less difficult); on scenic Spanish side, start at the tunnel opening. Port de Barroude, 2534m is the alternative rough route. For both see RS page 8.
Road Condition and Hazards
Tunnel is unlit.
Facilities
No reports by Cycloclimbing OCD members.
Bonansa/Coll de Plano (BON/SER)
In fact two cols in between Campo and Pont de Suert: Puerto de Serrate and Alto de Bonansa.
Puerto de Serrate (SER)
Height : 1112m
Location: East from Campo in the direction of Las Villas de Turbón
Alto de Bonansa (BON)
Height: 1370m
Location: Northwest of Pont de Suert.
General Comments
A less obvious alternative to Coll de Fadas/Coll de Espina route. No reports by Cycloclimbing OCD members. Detailed map shows a part-wooded shallow climb with a short short tunnel on each side. Bonansa village is at 1250m on the upper east side, some way before the pass. Neither col is really steep; both are very quiet and scenic in places.
Road Condition and Hazards
(2003) The west side of the Puerto de Serrate is well surfaced but the east side all the way from the A1605 (the road from Graus to Pont de Suert) to the col is bumpy with occasionally quite some potholes. Some sections were under reconstruction.
The well surfaced A1605 over the Alto de Bonansa is being upgraded and widened downstream of the Obarra gorge.
Facilities
Pont de Suert and Campo have a supermarket, hotel and several bars. There is a nice camping below Bonansa village in the direction of Pont de Suert at the intersection of the N260 and the A1605. The rest of the 50 kms between Campo and Pont de Suert there is nothing but a handful of hamlets.
Puerto de Bujaruelo (Port de Gavarnie or Boucharo) (BUJ)
Height: 2270m
Location: South of Lourdes, via touristy Gavarnie, with its amazing cirque.
General Comments
Spectacular border pass. High, wild and desolate surfaced road from France. Beyond Gavarnie the road becomes quiet. Greatly recommended, especially for the boulder-strewn road traversing above another cirque (between the subsidiary Col des Tentes, 2208m, and the summit). However, all traffic (including cycles) is banned beyond the Col des Tentes car park. One member was ‘booked’ by mounted park rangers for ignoring the ban in July 1998; others have crossed this way unchallenged. By whatever means, reach the Puerto de Bujaruelo itself - a dramatic cleft in the mountains with tremendous views both ways - walk if you have to! Projected Spanish road from the south is abandoned to protect Ordesa Park.
For detail of roughstuff on Spanish side see RS page 6. Start at Torla and follow (quite good) unsurfaced road to San Nicolas de Bujaruelo, 1300m (refuge/café/camping). Cross ancient bridge, then 4 hours hard going to col, steep with a lot of scree. ‘Little more than a goat track’. Magnificent scenery, especially in Ordesa Park. NB. col follows line of the valley and not route taken by pylons.
Road Condition and Hazards
Beyond Gavarnie the road is wide and well surfaced for ski run access.
Facilities
No reports by Cycloclimbing OCD members.
Puerto de Cotefablo (COT)
Height: 1423m
Location: NW of Ainsa.
General Comments
Never very steep. Can be quite busy at weekends. Summit in straight 500m-long tunnel (now lit). Moderately scenic west side (long fast descent). East side has good views of peaks to the north.
Cruz de Guardia, 2113m Roughstuff to the SE of Bielsa.
Road Condition and Hazards
See comments above for tunnel.
Facilities
No summit facilities. Hotels/camping at Biescas in the west and at Torla, Linas de Broto and Oto in the east.
Coll. de Espina
Coll. de Espina, 1407m. The summit is next to and scarcely separate from Coll de Fadas, 1470m.
Coll. de Fadas (FAD)
Height: Coll. de Fadas, 1470m / Coll. de Espina, 1407m
Location: East of Castejon de Sos.
General Comments
Part of a recommended east-west route. Quiet, well-surfaced and attractive road with views to high border peaks, though ‘pleasant and nothing more’ to one member. Long and fast descent of west side to Castejon. Best however, is the really spectacular gorge below Castejon (Congosto de Ventamillo). A shorter climb on the east side amongst very green hills from Pont el Suert. The climb incorporates the grassy Coll de Espina (ESP), which scarcely dips en route to Laspaules.
Road Condition and Hazards
Well-surfaced.
Facilities
Hotels in Castejon. Plenty of hotels in Pont el Suert (‘Modesta’ recommended in 1996). Camping at Laspaules, ‘Hostal Isabena’ recommended, 1998.
Fanlo/Coll. de Senor Bano (FAN)
Height: Fanlo/Coll. de Senor Banos, a.1370m or a.1430m
Location: NE of Ainsa, SW of Torla.
General Comments
This recent road pass (first OCD report 1994) runs east from Sarvise.The true pass (Senor Banos) at a.1300m is some way north of the higher road crossing on a spur. A short cul de sac south from the road summit at a.1370m to touristic old Fanlo village goes to a.1430m. Both sides easy, with a series of hairpins on the west side. Eastward descent was via southerly alternative (junction at a.1000m) climbing to ridge at a.1250m near Buerba, before continued descent to Puyarruego at 650m.
Great views on the mountains from the road over the Buerba ridge
Road Condition and Hazards
Recently surfaced west side. The east side in 1994 was poorly surfaced (much loose stone), but most likely improved since. By 1999 the lower section through a gorge was one-way only (upwards).
(2003) The west side from Sarvise is well surfaced until the bridge over the Barranco de Chate. From there to the summit (4 kms) the road surface is mostly gone. Some sections have one lane gravel (the right lane when climbing) and one lane tarmac but at some other sections it is just gravel. The east side on the other hand is well surfaced. The road passing through the Anisclo gorge is one way; the climbing direction. When descending on the east side, one has to climb the Buerba ridge (a tough and unexpected climb) to get to Puyarruego.
Facilities
Fanlo (at the summit) has a bar, and so does Buerba. There is a camping along the river in Puyarruego.
Coll. de Foradada (FOR)
Height: 1020m
Location: East of Ainsa.
General Comments
Part of useful E-W route. Unspectacular, but quite attractive in a dry and barren way. Short climb from Campo, longer climb from Ainsa. Ainsa has historic interest.
Road Condition and Hazards
Route may become busier - extensively re-built since 1997 (new tunnels, road-straightening etc).
Facilities
Hotels at Ainsa and Campo. Hotels at Castejon de Sos and ‘Fonda’ (pension) at Siera on road south of Castejon. Reported small cafe just east of summit not seen by members in 1998.
Puerto de Monrepos (MON)
Height: 1262m
Location: In far south of area, linking Sabinanigo with Huesca.
General Comments
Summit approaches now drastically re-engineered with completely new roads. By-passed old road may therefore be pleasantly quiet (unconfirmed).
Road Condition and Hazards
As above.
Facilities
As above.
Alto Navasa (NAV)
Height: 1070m
Location: SE of Jaca.
General Comments
Newly reported by members in 1998. Very minor col on secondary road. Quite steep with lovely scenery.
(Gavarnie - see Bujaruelo, 2270m.)
Coll. de Guardia, 2113m. See RS page 9. Collado Gulliver, a1440m See RS page 10. Montanesa, a1530m See RS page 10. Puerto de la Muria, 1620m See RS page 10. Port d’Ourdissetou, 2403m See RS page 9. Collado de Pino Negro, a1725m Roughstuff to the SE of the Bielsa Tunnel. Collado de Sahun, a2010m. Roughstuff well to the east of the Bielsa Tunnel. A recent Spanish map suggests that these may both now be surfaced. For both see RS page 9.
Road Condition and Hazards
Good enough condition for Tour of Spain to use.
Facilities
‘Hostal Olimpic’ in nearby Sabinanigo highly recommended (1998).
Puerto de Pourtalet (Col du Pourtalet) (POU)
Height: 1794m
Location: Major border traverse from Biescas to Pau (France).
General Comments
Probably kept open all year for ski traffic. Fairly busy in August. Beautiful green summit area has classic view of Pic du Midi d’Ossau and other peaks, snowy even in July. Spanish side is long and attractive (never steep, but mixed reports on difficulty). French side is steeper but never severe, giving spectacular and scenic descent. Good views above the dam (avalanche galleries) and pleasant but less exciting steep-sided valley lower down. Scenic but steep diversion possible to Lac de Bious-Artigues, 1427m (No reports by Cycloclimbing OCD members.).
The roughstuff guide, page 5, shows routes to the west of the Pourtalet summit e.g. Puerto de la Canal Roya, 2116m. links with Col du Somport.
Road Condition and Hazards
Surface on Spanish side good in 1995. Escarrilla tunnel now well lit (1997). No reports on diversion to Banos de Panticosa spa, 1650m. Surface on French side good in 1998.
Facilities
Cafes both sides of frontier - tacky souvenir shops and a supermarket! Several hotels, including ski resorts with shops near the top.
Plana Carrera (PLA)
Height: 1080m?
Location: SE of Ainsa.
General Comments
Leave Ainsa on N260 then go right on C140 at river junction. Climb gently to another junction marked ‘Palo’; turn right then left towards Morillo. At another left surface deteriorates (1997) and narrows beyond Formigales. Steeper climb to Troncedo and the summit. Wooded ridge road continues for a while before long descent to Graus.
Road Condition and Hazards
No reports by Cycloclimbing OCD members.
Facilities
Hotels in Ainsa.
Puerto de Sahun (SAH)
Height: 1989 or 2010m
Location: West of Castejon de Sos
General Comments
A much tougher and rewarding northerly alternative to the Coll de Foradada, 1020m if touring the Spanish Pyrenees E-W or vice versa. Rideable all the way on a steepish good route (1999). Article in Cycling Plus magazine, 1998 says it is ‘a most fantastic day’s cycling’. Not many reports from members yet.
Road Condition and Hazards
Unsurfaced, but smooth enough track for cars.
Facilities
No reports by Cycloclimbing OCD members.
Puerto del Sarablo (SRB)
Height: 1291m
Location: West of Ainsa.
General Comments
West side climbs gently beside the Guarga river via pinewoods, for 31km. Steeper last 5km to summit. East side from Boltana is 16km, on a steeper and hairpinned road.
Road Condition and Hazards
No reports by Cycloclimbing OCD members.
Facilities
Hotels in Boltana.