El Turbón
2,492 m
Spain
Also known as El Turbó, TurbónAlso known as
El Turbó · Turbón
- Elevation
- 2,492 m
- Prominence
- 1,021 m
- Difficulty
- 2/10
- Hike
- Best Season
- Sep–Oct
- Routes
- 2
Routes
2Sources differ: MIDE 2-3-3-4 (Montaña Segura)
The waymarked route from the spa hamlet of Vilas del Turbón (about 1,360 m): PR paths and tracks to the Fuente de Canals and the Collado de l'Olla, a grassy gully onto the Turbonet slopes, a traverse and steep drop to Fon Torruego, then a steep slope to the summit ridge. About 1,190 m of ascent and 4 hours up by Montaña Segura timings.
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- 8.1 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +1,208 m
- −84 m lost on the way up
- High Point
- 2,492 m
- Time Up
- 5h 12m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 3h 42m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
Start at the balneario (spa) in Vilas del Turbón, reached by road from Campo in the Ésera valley. Cross the Barranco de la Torcida, pass the church and climb north on the PR-HU 133/123 to a track. Follow the PR-HU 133 towards the Aras and Abella pass, then soon turn left onto a track signed for the Turbón. After some bends take a right-hand branch that climbs about 1.5 km through meadows and woods to open ground and a junction at the Fuente de Canals. From here cairns and red marks lead to the Collado de l'Olla at the head of the Barranco Canals, about 2 h 20 from the start. Climb the ridge on the left to the foot of a grassy gully and go up it onto the slopes of the Turbonet (2,346 m). Traverse the Turbonet with little height change, then drop steeply to the Paso de Fon Torruego (La Portella), about 3 h 25 from the start. A steep slope leads to the ridge, followed north to the summit trig point, about 4 hours from Vilas. Antennas and a panorama table stand on the fore-summit just north of the top. Return the same way, about 3¼ hours. The massif is limestone with little water above the Canals spring, and the route-finding on the open upper slopes needs care in mist.
Start
Balneario Vilas del Turbón1,364 m
- No practical public transport to Vilas del Turbón; buses run up the Ésera valley road (Barbastro–Graus–Campo–Benasque) but not to the village.
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Balneario Vilas del Turbón → El Turbón | 8.1 | 1,208 | 84 | 5h 12m |
Waypoints
- Trailhead: Balneario Vilas del Turbón1,364 m
- Waypoint: Fuente de Canals1,779 m
Spring and junction
- Shoulder: Turbonet2,325 m
Traversed on its slopes
- Summit: El Turbón2,492 m
Key Passages
- Grassy gully above the Collado de l'Olla
- Steep descent to the Paso de Fon Torruego
- Steep slope from Fon Torruego to the summit ridge
Equipment
0/6 packedDownloads
Route confidence 65%Overview
A 2,492 m limestone massif in the Ribagorza Pre-Pyrenees, standing apart between the Ésera and Isábena valleys. Waymarked paths from Vilas del Turbón and a shorter line from the Plana refuge lead to a summit with views across the whole central Pyrenees.
El Turbón is an isolated limestone massif in the Ribagorza district of Huesca, south of the main Pyrenean chain between the Ésera and Isábena rivers. Its top is a broad, karstic upland ringed by cliffs, including a south-west wall popular with rock climbers, with the summit (the 'Castillo del Turbón') at its western end. Because it stands alone, the summit view is among the widest in the region, from the Aneto and Posets massifs to Cotiella, Guara and the Montsec.
The hamlet of Vilas del Turbón at its eastern foot has a spa (balneario). There is no technical climbing on the walking routes, but they involve steep grass and scree, little water and open ground where navigation in mist needs care.
The main approaches are the waymarked route from Vilas del Turbón (about 1,190 m of ascent), the route from Serrate via the free Refugio de la Plana on the west side and the crest traverse from La Muria to the north. In winter it is a snowshoe and ski-touring destination.
Climbing Notes
A full day for fit walkers: from Vilas del Turbón allow about 4 hours up and 3¼ down (Montaña Segura timings), with 1,190 m of ascent on steep grass, scree and a grassy gully. Navigation is the main skill required; carry a map or GPS track and enough water, as springs are few and low on the mountain.
For a shorter day, walk up the track from Serrate to the free Refugio de la Plana and climb the west gully (about 1½ hours from the refuge). The refuge also makes a good base for an overnight; it has a fireplace but no firewood nearby. Best from late May to October; in winter and spring the steep slopes hold snow and need crampons and an ice axe.
History
The first ascent is unknown; local tradition holds that a monk built a chapel on the summit in 1138. Spanish geodesists under Colonel Francisco Coello probably climbed it between 1859 and 1863, the geodetic engineer Fernando Monet in July 1874, and Franz Schrader in September 1880, when he drew one of his panoramas from the top.
Season
Best Sep–Oct- January: Possible
- February: Possible
- March: Possible
- April: Possible
- May: Good
- June: Best
- July: Good
- August: Good
- September: Best (best window)
- October: Best (best window)
- November: Possible
- December: Possible
- Jan
- Winter ascent with snowshoes or skis; crampons and ice axe
- Feb
- Winter conditions
- Mar
- Snow on the upper slopes
- Apr
- Spring snow in the gullies
- May
- Mostly clear; snow patches possible
- Jun
- Good conditions; long days
- Jul
- Hot on the lower slopes; afternoon storms
- Aug
- Hot; start early; storms possible
- Sep
- Often the best month
- Oct
- Clear autumn days
- Nov
- First snow possible
- Dec
- Winter conditions
Access & Permits
- Hut Booking
- No booking: the Refugio de la Plana is free and unstaffed.
- Rules
- The Serrate–La Plana track is reported to be for authorised vehicles only and is in very poor condition; walk it
- The Refugio de la Plana is a free unstaffed shelter; leave it clean
- Getting There
Campo (Ésera valley); Graus for wider services
Zaragoza (ZAZ); Lleida-Alguaire (ILD) has limited flights; Barcelona–El Prat (BCN)
- Car: A-139 up the Ésera valley to Campo, then the road to Vilas del Turbón; Serrate is reached by a minor road from the Vilas del Turbón road
- No public transport to Vilas del Turbón or Serrate
Hazards
- Weather
- Rockfall
Huts & Shelters
1- 2,010 m
Refugio del TurbónRefugeUnstaffed
Open all year (unstaffed)