Ainsa MTB

Aínsa and the surrounding region, known as Zona Zero, offer a wide variety of mountain bike trails with different levels of difficulty. The trail network is located in the area called Zona Zero and the town itself and it's incredible town square and ancient building sit on the central hill called Ainsa. The Zona Zero trails and the riding area has grown considerably over the past ten years with the Enduro World Series (EDR) bringing fame and fortune to the area and now covers a much larger area than just Zona Zero. 

The local riders and the business owners have developed the mountain bike trails in Zona Zero and Ainsa over the past decade and they have done an incredible job. With the huge amount of riders that visit the area now and the Enduro World Series events, a lot of stress and damage occurs to the trails especially when freak storms hit the area in the middle of the race and the riders kept on pushing through riding the trails for a period of time. This trail management is so important to maintaining the quality of the trail sand it is one fo the main reasons riders keep coming back to ride Ainsa and Zona Zero. 

The Variety of trails in Ainsa and Zona Zero is huge and varied with everything from smooth, big rocky slabs that roll and dip and dive down all the way along the trail to some that are more XC focuses with some pedal sections and other more downhill focused. One thing you can be sure of it that Ainsa is rocky and you'll need some serious tyres if you venture off any of the smooth rock and into the boulder fields which is very likely. The variety of terrain here for mountain biking is one of the main appeals for the area, you can ride all day and not see the same trail twice. 

Facts and Figures of some MTB Tails in Ainsa and Zona Zero

• Collado de los Muertos 1 - A blue trail that is 1.2 km in distance with a 170m descent starting up in the trees and dropping down into some of the most fun swooping rocky mounds finish at the river bed! A classic MTB trail in Zona Zero used in the 2018 Enduro World Series events. 
• El Cerro de la Coasta - A red-grade trail used in the 2018 EWS races with amazing views and a tricky ridgeline, this trail descends 2.4 km in distance and drops 406 m in elevation.
• La Cresta del Cuervo - Short and sweet this ridge line is tricky and you will have to ride it several times to get the right line down it. 654.7 m in length and with a 75 m drop in elevation. Used in the 2015 EWS. 
• La Madalena - Surrounded by the mountain of La Madalena. The first part is uphill with some demanding sections, the second part is a singletrack descent with a lot of flow. Mainly forest land with little stone. 1.8 km in distance with an 84 m drop but 190 m climb! 
• Peñas Cinglas - A mix of Red and Blue trails, until you reach two steep sections with steps, roots, and a big gulley, that is what gives it the red point. 1.2 km in distance with a drop of 246 m
   

The riding in Ainsa is varied but we would say that it is suited to intermediate to advanced riders who are strong at pedalling and have very good bike skills. Some of the trail can change from blue to red to black quickly and some short sections pack quite a punch. Ainsa is not the destination where you want to blast down trails blind as over the top of each rock or roller there can be drops and technical descents. Take your time, hire a guide and make the most of the stunning mtb destination. 

Getting to Ainsa is not the easiest task but we have worked out that if you fly into Tolouse and out of Barcelona and you combine Ainsa, Tremp and La Pobla as we do on our Ainsa E-MTB Tour it cuts out a lot of travel time and you do not have to loop back on your self to get to any of the destinations. 

Travelling from Toulouse, France, to Aínsa, Spain, involves crossing the border between the two countries and this is pretty cool. On our Pyrenees Big Mountain Tour we hike from the Spanish side and descent an epic trail into France. Renting a car in Toulouse and driving to Aínsa is a convenient option. The distance between Toulouse and Aínsa is approximately 200 kilometers, and the journey typically takes around 2.5 to 3 hours, depending on traffic and road conditions. Follow the A64 highway from Toulouse toward Tarbes until you reach the border. After crossing the border into Spain, follow the signs to Aínsa.

To get home fly out of Barcelona and why not spend the night in this amazing city seeing the sites, eating and drinking amazing food and drink and having a good time. From Tremp or La Pobla you can expect a 25hr drive. 

Ainsa is a small town in the Pyrenees, mountain biking has had a positive impact on the local economy in Aínsa, attracting tourists and outdoor enthusiasts to the region. The sport has also contributed to the development of bike shops, bike rental services, and other businesses catering to mountain biking enthusiasts. Efforts have been made to promote responsible and sustainable mountain biking practices to protect the natural environment while enjoying the sport. We operate two tours that pass through Ainsa and we use local companies with guides and shuttle vans to run the logistical elements of our tours. We eat in small local restaurants and sample some of the best traditional Spanish food from the region. We always leave a destination better than we found it and try to give back to the community as much as we can. 

Working with Altitude Rides we can also offer E-Bike hire and guiding and individual shuttle days alongside our epic long weekend and week-long MTB tours in the area. Spain has the perfect weather for winter riding also and being so close to Barcelona a mountain bike trip to Ainsa really does make sense. 
 

If you have any questions about Ainsa and the Mountain Tours we operate in this region please use the contact form below and one of our friendly team will get back to you as soon as possible.