VAL DE ZAFÁN GREENWAY AND EBRO NATURE TRAIL (GR-99)

Val de Zafán Greenway and Ebro Nature Trail (GR-99)
This tour includes the Val de Zafán Greenway and the last stretch of the Ebro Nature Trail (GR-99) from Tortosa to Riumar and it is about 195 km.
This activity can be presented in different ways. The route can be done in 2, 3 or 4 stages depending on each individual's physical condition.
- 2 stages - 100 km per day- high physical level
◦ 1st day: Puebla de Híjar to Horta de Sant Joan. The route goes up and down. The last part goes downhill.
◦ 2nd day: Horta de Sant Joan to Riumar. Slope down to Xerta and then practically flat.
- 3 stages - 65 km per day – medium physical level.
- 1st day: Puebla de Híjar to Torre del Compte. The route goes up and down.
◦ 2nd day: Torre del Compte to Tortosa. 10 km slope, then the route goes downhill to Xerta and is flat until Tortosa.
◦ 3rd day: Tortosa to Riumar. A flat route.
- 4 stages - 50 km per day – low-medium physical level.
- 1st day: Puebla de Híjar to Valdealgorfa. The route goes up and down.
- 2nd day: Valdealgorfa to Horta de Sant Joan. The route goes up and down. The last part goes downhill.
◦ 3rd day: Horta de Sant Joan to Tortosa. The route goes downhill to Xerta and is flat until Tortosa.
◦ 4th day: Tortosa to Riumar. A flat route.



 

In addition, you always can enjoy the Val de Zafán at your own pace to discover Bajo Aragón and Terres de l'Ebre regions in depth. Some of the most interesting points on the route are within a short distance.
• Laguna de la Estanca in Alcañiz. KM 30.
• Alcañiz. KM 37. A castle crowns the city.
• Valdealgorfa. KM 50. The Túnel del Equinoccio is located 2 km away (currently cut-tunnel so this tunnel has been diverted to one side).



• Matarraña River. KM 67. Cross it over the bridge.
• Valderrobres. KM 76. Go 7 km away from the Greenway and visit the castle, the church or the stone bridge over the Matarraña River.
• Cretas. KM 78. Go 2 km away from the Greenway and you will find some of the most charming alleyways.
• Arnes. KM 85. Go 6 km away from the Greenway. The town has been declared Historic Artistic Site.
• Algars River and Algars natural pools (before they were named former Estación Arnes-Lledó pools). Located 85 km from the beginning of the Greenway. A good way to cool down during the hottest months of the year.
• Horta de Sant Joan. Located 89 km from the beginning of the Greenway. Located 2 km from the Greenway. Horta de Sant Joan has been declared an Artistic and Historic Site. Here, stands Lo Parot. This olive tree is 2,000 years old.
• Olles de Bot. Located 99 km from the beginning of the Greenway and 5 km from Bot.
• Hermitage of Sant Josep in Bot. Located 99 km from the beginning of the Greenway and 2 km from Bot. Cool down in the pools with crystal-clear water.
• Estrets del Canaletes. Located 102 km from the beginning of the Greenway. You will see it for 20 km.
• Mare de Déu de la Fontcalda. Located 104 km from the beginning of the Greenway. Once there, you will turn off the Greenway for 50 meters. The old sanctuary of Mare de Déu de la Fontcalda is located here. The water that comes from La Fontcalda spring is 28 degrees throughout the year. Cool off in the Canaletes River estrets (natural swimming pools.
• Benifallet. The former Benifallet train station is located 113 km from the beginning of the Greenway. In about 4 km away from Benifallet you get to the Coves Meravelles (cave with stalactites and stalagmites).



• L’ Assut (Lock). Located 119 km from the beginning of the Greenway. Small lock where the right and left channel of the Ebro River are born.
• Xerta. Located 120 km from the beginning of the Greenway that goes along the streets of the village.
• Aldover. Located 125 km from the beginning of the Greenway. Get closer to the fluvial beach.



• Tortosa. Located 135 km from the beginning of the Greenway. Tortosa has been declared an Artistic and Historic Site. Visit the Zuda castle, the cathedral, the Royal Colleges, the Jewish quarter, and so on. Val de Zafán Greenway ends in Tortosa. The final part of the Ebro Nature Trail (GR-99) starts here.

 


• Torre de Font de Quinto. Located 145 km from the beginning of the Greenway. Turn off 500 meters on the left.
• Torre de l’Aldea. Located 155 km from the beginning of the Greenway. You can visit this defense tower or the square bullring.
• Ecomuseu in Deltebre. Located 165 km from the beginning of the Greenway.
• Delta ecosystems museum. L’Ecomuseu offers visitors an aquarium with fish and amphibians.



• Ebro river mouth. Located 180 km from the beginning of the Greenway. Final section of the river.
• Garxal lagoon. Located 182 km from the beginning of the Greenway. You can see halophilous typical vegetation and lagoons. Different species of birds live in this area.
• Ebreterra Centre d'Inspiració Turística. Located 194 km from the beginning of the Greenway. End of the route.

Carry water and food during the route. A front light or bicycle light is essential as there are many tunnels on the route. Although many tunnels are enlightened always carry bike lights for riding.
The trail is on Wikiloc but its unevenness is not real because of the tunnels under the mountains – this mashup counts the meters as if you go up and down.
Real positive unevenness 1000 M and negative unevenness 1,300 M.