Mallos de Riglos

The Mallos are towers of conglomerate, rounded pebbles set in a red iron-rich matrix laid down by rivers off the rising Pyrenees, later eroded into vertical pillars that rise up to about 275 metres straight above the village of Riglos, which sits at their foot. The rock is unlike granite or limestone to climb, with holds formed by protruding pebbles, and Riglos is a well-known destination in European climbing with a climbing history that began in 1935 on the Fire; the Pison was first climbed in 1946 and the Puro in 1953. A large griffon vulture colony nests on the faces, and climbing is restricted on some routes during the breeding season to avoid disturbance. A walking path circles the base of the towers from the village, and in 2016 the Mallos de Riglos, Aguero and Pena Rueba were declared a natural monument.

Highlights

• The conglomerate towers - pillars of pebble-set rock up to some 275 metres high.
• The village beneath - Riglos standing directly at the foot of the walls.
• The vulture colony - griffons nesting on the faces and circling constantly.
• The base path - a walking circuit around the towers from the village.

When to go

March to June and September to November for walking and climbing; summer is very hot on the exposed red rock, and climbing restrictions apply on some routes during the vulture nesting season.

Good to know

Riglos is a tiny village with almost no facilities beyond a bar and a climbers' refuge. Parking is limited and fills at weekends. Rockfall from the conglomerate is a real hazard at the base of the walls.

Nearby

Loarre castle lies east; the Sierra de Guara canyons are further east.

Key facts