The Botanical Trail is a short walk with a purpose: under an hour, a little over two kilometres, and a loop that passes through three kinds of woodland before reaching the viewpoint over the Gorgas de Alba, where the water drops through a narrow gorge in the rock. It’s worth doing for the scenery, but also for what you learn along the way — plenty of the species you pass are labelled, so you can identify them as you go. A good way to teach children something while they’re having fun.
Starting point
The route leaves from the Hotel Turpi car park, on the A-139 north of Benasque (see it on the map). The path starts just past the bridge over the Río Ésera and is signposted from the car park itself: green posts point the way to the “Sendero botánico” and the “Gorgas de Alba” at each junction.
What the walk is like
The first stretch crosses meadows and then comes a short, slightly rocky section, the only place where you need to watch your footing. After that the path enters pine forest, with yews and firs among the pines, and you reach the optional detour down towards the Gorgas de Alba. The return leg runs through beech wood, and on the way back you pass the viewing platform, with the waterfalls directly below.
Highlights
- The viewpoint over the gorge, with the waterfalls hemmed in by rock a few metres from the path
- The labelled species along the way, which turn the walk into something educational — trees and plants to identify with the children as you go
- Three kinds of woodland in two kilometres: meadow, pine forest with yews and firs, and beech on the descent
- Very little climbing — 150 metres spread over a short loop, fine with children who are walking confidently
When to go
It works nearly all year, except with snow or ice on the rocky section. The beech wood is at its best in October, and the waterfalls run hardest in spring, with the snowmelt.
What to bring
Walking shoes with some grip — the rocky section and the beech leaves are slippery when wet — and water. Not much else: it’s a short walk at low altitude.
Route data: Ayuntamiento de Benasque / Parque Natural Posets-Maladeta.
More information at turismobenasque.com.
Updated: August 22, 2026