NATURAL PARK OF THE SIERRA AND CANYONS OF GUARA
Where adventure and history meet
Protected nature, unforgettable landscapes, shared culture
Declared in 1990, the Sierra y Cañones de Guara Natural Park is the largest Protected Natural Area of the Natural Network of Aragon. Its total surface area covers 47,637 hectares and, in addition to the Somontano de Barbastro region, it extends over three other regions: Hoya de Huesca, Sobrarbe and Alto Gállego. Within the Somontano region, the park is distributed among five municipalities: Abiego, Adahuesca, Alquézar, Bierge and Colungo.
It is located in the central part of the Pyrenean Outer Sierras, the Pre-Pyrenees, which gives it a great diversity of ecosystems with exclusive and endemic species of these mountains such as the bear's ear, the king's crown or the Pyrenean newt.
The hallmark of this natural park is the spectacular nature of its morphology, as it is dominated by a "Karstic" landscape modeled by water. This means that the action of water on the limestone rock has been sculpting the mountain range; hence the existence of the famous canyons and ravines of Guara or impressive straits, springs, chasms, caves, siphons or waterfalls. Curious and hypnotic at the same time are the waters of its rivers of a beautiful turquoise color.
As forthe flora, oaks, gall oaks, beech forests, firs and black pines predominate on the northern slope while large kermes oaks, laricio pine, boxwood, kermes oak or juniper are present on the slope.
With respect to the fauna, common trout and barbel culirroyo, mammals such as wild boar, fox, wild cat, dormouse or marten, and on the steep slopes of the mountains, theThe steep rocky walls are inhabited by bearded vultures, griffon vultures, Egyptian vultures, peregrine falcons, kestrels, golden eagles, golden swifts, rock thrushes and alpine accentors.
The Sierra de Guara Natural Park has a Master Plan for Use and Management, one of its objectives being "to determine the management actions necessary for the conservation and restoration of the existing ecosystems and biological balances".
It also has the Q for Tourism Quality certification, thus facilitating the inclusion of all visitors; here you can find small trails, viewpoints and an accessible bird observatory. It received the European Destinations of Excellence (EDEN) award for its adaptation to tourist accessibility.
Guara Park is part of the Natural Network of Aragon, which integrates 18 protected natural areas in whose interior a very high ecological richness is guarded as a result of the great diversity of environments and landscapes of this territory. Throughout the year, the network organizes different activities in the park such as talks, botanical walks, workshops...
The Interpretation Center of the Natural Park of the Sierra and Canyons of Guara located in the town of Bierge is an interactive and exhibition space and an ideal starting point to begin to know the natural and cultural values of this protected natural area.