Arguis: Reservoir, Mountain Trails and Cultural Heritage

Arguis lies at the entrance to the Parque Natural de la Sierra y los Cañones de Guara. The reservoir, trails in the Sierra de Bonés and Sierra de Gratal, and historic buildings offer different ways to spend your stay: time by the water, a mountain hike, or exploring the history of the town and its surroundings. The Arguis Reservoir was built in 1704. The Centro de Interpretación del Parque Natural de la Sierra y los Cañones de Guara is also located by the lake, housed in a former forester’s lodge.

Reservoir and landscape

The reservoir’s calm, clear waters can be explored by canoe. The lake is also known for fishing: it is considered an important and popular fishing spot for brown trout, rainbow trout and largemouth bass. A fishing licence is required.

On the Sierra de Bonés and Ermita de la Malena trail, you’ll experience a landscape with marked differences between its sunny and shady sides. Boxwood and holm oak scrub grows on the sunny side; the shady side is characterised by mixed woodland of beech and Scots pine. The trail ends at the Ermita de la Malena, the same chapel also known as the Ermita de la Magdalena. It dates from the 16th to 18th centuries.

The official Arguis–Belsué–Nocito driving route offers another regional perspective. On the northern side of the Sierra de Guara, it brings together nature and art, with enduring traces of human settlement. The Hayedo de Peiró is protected as the Zona Especial de Conservación Monte Peiró-Arguis.

Hikes and trails to Arguis

The hike from the Centro de Interpretación de Arguis to Pico del Águila is 5.3 kilometres long and takes about 5 hours and 5 minutes. At the destination, viewing tables offer views of the central and western Pyrenees and the Ebro Valley. The stated duration is a specific guide for the hike; trail conditions may vary.

The fourth stage of the Camino Natural de la Hoya de Huesca also leads to Arguis, ending there after crossing the Sierra de Gratal. Along the way, panoramic views open up over the Hoya de Huesca, the Sierra de Gratal, the Sierra de Bonés and the Pyrenees. The Camino Natural to Arguis crosses the Isuela River at two points. Depending on water levels, these crossings may be impassable, so check local conditions before setting out.

Architecture, history and events

The parish church of San Miguel is Romanesque and dates from the 12th century; it was remodelled in the 16th century. An altarpiece from the 15th century, originally from the church, can be seen at the Museo del Prado. The stone houses also shape the townscape: their traditional chimneys are topped with so-called Espantabrujas or Chamineras.

In Las Calmas in the Sierra de Gratal, there is an exceptional group of eight snow wells. They were used to store and sell snow and to supply Huesca and nearby settlements with it. Alongside the churches and houses, they also draw attention to the former use of the mountain landscape for supply and trade.

The Perimetrail de Arguis takes place every year in two trail-running formats and passes through notable locations in Arguis and its surroundings. Dates and formats may change. The Reunión Invernal de Arguis has been held without interruption since 1974. Both events add a distinct perspective on the town’s sporting history to its hiking trails.

For the broader travel overview: Huesca.