Aínsa, Benasque and Guara — Spain’s paradise for MTB (enduro)

Huesca is my favourite Spanish province and that of many enduro riders in the country. The Zona Zero MTB centre in Aínsa has been a pioneer in the recovery of traditional MTB trails since 2005; the Benasque Valley, which is higher and steeper, has followed suit and the Sierra de Guara, which is rugged and rocky, are just a couple of examples of what Huesca has to offer mountain bikers. In this Collection, I offer five routes for you to try the best of the three locations.

In 2005, a group of local bikers from Aínsa started to clear old trails that connected villages, many of them now abandoned, to enjoy enduro riding in its purest form. In 2011, the project took on a new dimension when local entrepreneurs, also bikers, joined forces to create the Zona Zero MTB centre. The centre’s first Enduro World Series in 2015 was awarded race of the year by PinkBike. Aínsa is simply one of the best places for enduro in Spain.

The success of Zona Zero has drawn the interest of other regions and the neighbouring Guara, famous for its canyoning, has also decided to recover its abandoned trails so that we bikers can enjoy our bikes on the rocky paths of its mountains. In this Collection, I present a route around the iconic Salto Roldán, one of the most famous natural monuments of Guara. Heading down the path that skirts the Peña San Miguel is an experience that simply has to be lived.

Famous for skiing, the Benasque Valley is vertical and alpine. The routes of the Puro Pirineo MTB centre are very demanding but, with the lift service, I saved myself the wear and tear of the ascent and used all my available energy for the descent. I needed the extra energy on the integral del Gallinero – it’s ‘only’ 17.4 kilometres (10.8 mi), but only experts can do it all the way down without stopping.

Most of the routes are accessible at any time of the year, except for deep winter, when only skiing is possible. It’s best to schedule your visit for spring or autumn, as Aínsa and Guara are very hot in summer.

If you don't mind pedalling uphill with a heavy bike, an enduro bike is the perfect option. If you prefer a lighter bike though, an all-mountain bike is more than enough. I’ve done the downhill of the integral del Gallinero route with a 130/120 millimetre trail bike perfectly. Don’t forget your water bottles; it’s essential to carry enough hydration as some of the routes are in remote places.

The best way to do all the routes is to set aside a week. Each route isn’t particularly long and one route a day is enough. Reaching any of the areas takes between four and five hours by car from Madrid or Barcelona, which is the best way to get there by bike. Aínsa and Benasque have more than enough accommodation and restaurants, as well as ski lift services if you prefer to avoid the climbs.

The crags of Salto Roldán can be seen from Huesca, only 20 minutes away by car. In my opinion, it’s better to start with the routes from Ainsa, continue to Benasque and finish in Guara. For these days, it’s essential to have your bike serviced before you go as well as carrying new brake pads and a spare set in your luggage.