Carved by water for ages the limestone massifs of Sierra de Guara have formed endless canyons that are frequented today by tourists from all over the world. Canyoning has been for decades the main active tourism activity in these mountains that are the preface of the higher Pyrenees in northern Spain province of Huesca.
Huesca province is the crown jewel of mountain biking in Spain. With world famous Zona Zero (Aínsa) trail center at the head after organizing one Enduro World Series race and waiting for another on 2018 and Puro Pirineo trail center on Benasque valley, home of epic Trans Nomad enduro stage race riding high Pyrenees ridges and peaks the tourism business owners of Sierra de Guara knew they had a new niche to look at.
As much as other areas in Spain, mostly in Aragón autonomous community, there are thousands of kilometers of trails abandoned and unused as the villages they used to connect. With the industrialization in the 60's and the post-war migration, many towns were left uninhabited. Trails once used to move livestock, goods over mules or commerce by foot are there waiting for some care. The boom of Mountain Biking is good, not only for the cycling and tourism industry, but for the restoration of the patrimony in shape of trails.
The water has carved deep canyons and traversing by mountain bike means steep climbs and, sometimes, hike-a-bikes. But everything has its reward, on top of the hill, there's always a vista and a nice descent.
As mountain bike guides we are always looking for new and awesome places to ride. We go many places indeed but Huesca province is haunting with its remote trails, during three days riding we only met some hikers close in the trails closer to a rod to Huesca city. Riding 7 hours daily on steep rough terrain with some flow mind-blowing sections. Winter is friendly and sunny here, riding at an average height of 600 meters over the sea level you'll hardly find snow or extremely low temperatures.
Many of the trails are really loose, covered by a layer of thick gravel that might give you the feeling of no grip at all, but if you just let yourself go and try to "surf" with your bike you'll end thrilled grinding at the end of every descent.
More info on Sierra de Guara trail center:
http://www.bguara.comMore info on riding in Spain:
http://www.trackmtb.com/
If any time you come and need some guides, check our site. Merry christmas!