The best traffic-free bike rides around Zaragoza

Excellent destination for a road cycling outing. Good place to stop for a break and refuel or if you wish to extend the outing to complete the pass and reach Puebla de Albortón or Fuendetodos. The return can also be made via Muel.

La Balsa de Larralde (also called balsa de Torre Medina) is an artificial wetland of high ecological value protected as a "Singular Wetland" by the Government of Aragon. It is located next to the Torre Medina neighborhood, in the rural district of Garrapinillos, within the municipality of Zaragoza, 🛠️ Origin and history Old quarry: It originated more than 200 years ago as a clay extraction site for building the nearby Imperial Canal of Aragon. Humidal birth: When the subsoil was perforated, the water table was reached and the excavation was permanently flooded with water. Environmental recovery: After decades of abandonment serving as an uncontrolled landfill, it was recovered from 1995 thanks to the Hydrographic Confederation of the Ebro (CHE) and the Naturalist Association of Aragon (ANSAR). 🌿 Ecological characteristics Extension: It has a protected area of about 4 hectares. Inverted water cycle: Being mainly fed by groundwater influenced by the irrigation of the Imperial Canal, it has more water in summer and spring than in winter, unlike most Mediterranean wetlands. Biodiversity refuge: It is surrounded by abundant riparian vegetation (reeds, cattails, poplars, and elms) that serves as a habitat and breeding ground for about 100 species of aquatic birds such as coots, moorhens, and ducks. 🚶 Visit and equipment It is a space open to the public, ideal for hiking and environmental education. The surroundings have: A perimeter path with wooden planks and walkways. A covered viewpoint-observatory for spotting birds without disturbing them. Interpretive panels explaining the local fauna and flora. (Note: As a local curiosity, it stands out for being the only protected wetland in Zaragoza that can be reached directly by public bus)

Cartuja Baja is a historic neighborhood in Zaragoza, located along the Ebro River and known for preserving a large part of the old 17th-century Carthusian monastery, whose layout still marks its streets. The complex, declared a monument, includes the gatehouse, church, guesthouse, and remains of the large cloister, creating a unique atmosphere for a leisurely stroll.

The Larralde raft is worth seeing, but not the rest.

Bridge over drying river

huge bridge over a real gully

The Valdegurriana locks are locks of the Imperial Canal of Aragon located in the municipality of Zaragoza, Spain. They were used for the navigation of the canal transporting people and goods for decades. They are not currently in use because the gates were removed years ago. The locks were built at the end of the 18th century with the aim of bridging a gap in the Imperial Canal of Aragon and making it navigable. Valdegurriana is located within the extensive wooded mass known as Pinares de Venecia. The path that runs through Valdegurriana and that connects the neighborhood of La Paz with La Cartuja is part of the Green Belt of Zaragoza.

Parque Lineal de Plaza, a nice area to enjoy nature near Zaragoza. Different paths will lead us to a large lake inhabited by various species of birds such as ducks or swans or to the Solar Labyrinth or the Baroque Labyrinth