We have a very hot summer ahead of us and many people opt for natural pools to cool off. The morphology of Aragon keeps many bathing areas from the Pyrenees of Huesca to the Sierra de Albarracín. You can enjoy from reservoirs, where you can practice adventure sports such as jet skis or kayaks, to pools with waterfalls in the middle of nature, without forgetting the backwaters that leave the rivers for bathing.
In Go Aragón we bring you a list of nine natural pools perfect to spend a day there, all framed in a natural setting like no other:
Huesca
The Gorga of Boltaña
If you are looking to enjoy a place very close to an urban center, your place is La Gorga de Boltaña. It is a large natural pool that the Ara river has created under the bridge of Boltaña on its way through this village. It was included in the program “Rivers with Magic” for the 2008 Water Expo. It sought to promote the rivers as a tourist attraction.
It is part of 12 points that were improved on the banks of the Ara, Cinca and Esera rivers. It can be easily accessed from both banks and is adapted for everyone, including children and the elderly. Nearby is the camping La Gorga, which offers parking for caravans, camping grounds and accommodation in bungalows.
Pools of Belsué
The Flumen river forms in the surroundings of the village the Pozas de Belsué. This locality belongs to the region Hoya de Huesca and is framed in a rock surrounded by mountains. They are pools dug by the current that leave natural pools of crystalline water. They are very popular but accommodate many visitors.
It is located 40 kilometers from the city of Huesca. From the parking lot you only have to walk fifteen minutes to enjoy these refreshing waters. There are several hiking trails of the Sierra de Guara that run through there for example to the Domen de Belsué or to the cliffs of Cienfuens.
Lanuza Reservoir
The Lanuza reservoir is located in the Tena Valley, and stands out for the impressive scenery that we can see thanks to the path that surrounds it. This majestic reservoir collects the waters of the Gállego river and other streams coming from the mountains.
Its construction covered part of the town of Lanuza and the village was left without inhabitants in 1978. In the last decade, part of the municipality has been recovered and now hosts events such as the Pirineos Sur. Nearby, there is also Sallent de Gállego. You can first visit this beautiful cobbled village and then walk from there to the reservoir.
Los Chorros Waterfall
The Cascada de los Chorros waterfall on the Manubles river, located in the municipality of Bijuesca in the Calatayud region, stands out for its two-meter high waterfall. It flows into the bathing area. Around it there is a ruined house, small rocky cavities and terraces of cultivation of the neighbors.
A great diversity of fauna and flora can be observed. Birds such as the griffon vulture, the kestrel or the owl inhabit this place. In the Manubles there are trout and barbels. The flora is represented by poplars, blackberries, ash trees and poplars. The nearest town is Bijuesca: about 300 meters of track.
Pigalo Well
The river Arba de Luesia forms the Pozo Pigalo at the height in the term of the municipality of Luesia of the region of the Cinco Villas. It is framed by almost vertical limestone and conglomerate walls and is surrounded by waterfalls, oak and pine forests. It is an ideal place to climb the walls and jump from them. It is also a Special Protection Area for Birds.
Nearby you have at your disposal the Pigalo Camping and picnic areas. At about 150 meters you can park. One option there is to take a 2.5 km route that connects you to another natural pool: the Poza de Santa Maria, less frequented. It follows the path of the riverbed upstream from the waterfall.
Well of the Aguasvivas Jets
This well is located halfway between Belchite and Almonacid de la Cuba. The erosion of the Aguasvivas river has shaped different natural pools that end in the waterfall in the waterfall of this well. It has formed two vertical side walls, which contrast with the flat orography of this region.
The public is attracted by the characteristic fauna of the area such as mountain goats, or several species of birds such as the griffon vulture, the marsh harrier or the peregrine falcon. The trip can also be used to visit Belchite, both the old and the new town.
Teruel
Arquillo Reservoir
The Arquillo reservoir belongs to the San Blas district of Teruel. It supplies water to the capital and the Carburo hydroelectric plant. It is a perfect place to spend the day with the family or with your group of friends. At nothing and less the people of Teruel can enjoy riding on different boats.
The more sporty ones can go canoeing. For people who want a more relaxed activity, there is always the popular option of renting a pedal boat. There are also several places from which you can jump into the water. There is ample parking and a snack bar in case you don’t bring your own drink. For this reason it is normal that it is called the beach of Teruel.
Pools of Aguaviva
The Pozas de Aguaviva are a set of natural pools formed by the waters of the Bergantes river. It is a perfect place for children as the waters are calm and very accessible. These caves and natural beaches are surrounded by the rocks eroded by the current and pine forests that embellish the whole set.
The village to which it owes its name belongs to the region of Lower Aragon. You can take advantage of the visit to contemplate its hydraulic heritage as the old flour mill, the refrigerator and the bridge of Cananillas, dating from the seventeenth century.
Waterfall of the San Pedro Mill
The municipality of El Vallecillo, a small town in the Sierra de Albarracín, keeps a quiet and beautiful place: the Cascada del Molino de San Pedro. Its name was given to the nearby mill. These crystal clear waters are perfect for a relaxing bath, where the waterfall falls about 6 meters high.
It is also great for hiking while enjoying the views and flora. If you park in the village itself you can walk the Ojos del Cabriel hiking route of about 8.5 km round trip. You can also stop by the Herrería waterfall, less known but equally beautiful.
We leave you a map with all the locations of these natural pools:
