How to drive the scenic road through Aliaga Gorge in Teruel?
Desfiladero de Aliaga is a dramatic limestone canyon located in the province of Teruel, Aragon, Spain. Carved by the Guadalope River, the gorge is crossed by the spectacular A-2403 road, a route known for its narrow rock-hewn passages and sharp mountain corners.
| Road facts: Desfiladero de Aliaga (A-2403) | |
|---|---|
| Location | Aliaga, Cuencas Mineras, Teruel, Spain |
| Road Code | A-2403 |
| Mountain Section Length | 12 km (7.45 miles) |
| Surface | Fully paved (Narrow segments) |
Where is Desfiladero de Aliaga?
The canyon is situated within the rugged landscape of the Comarca Cuencas Mineras, in the eastern part of Teruel province. The A-2403 highway runs along the deep riverbed, wedged between towering vertical rock strata that make this route one of the most distinctive canyon roads in Spain.
Is the road through Desfiladero de Aliaga paved?
The A-2403 is fully paved with asphalt, but it narrows significantly as it penetrates the deep walls of the gorge. In the tightest sections near the river level, the road lacks a central line and becomes too tight for two large vehicles to pass simultaneously. The drive features a couple of very narrow, short tunnels blasted directly into the solid cliffside, forcing drivers to slow down to a crawl. Heavy rain poses a double threat here: water levels rise quickly next to the tarmac, and loose shale frequently breaks off the vertical walls, dropping jagged stones directly onto the driving lane.
How long is the road through Desfiladero de Aliaga?
The entire mountain segment of the A-2403 spans 12 km (7.45 miles), running west-to-east from Hinojosa de Jarque down toward the neighborhood of La Aldehuela and the Embalse de Aliaga reservoir. This end point holds major industrial history: La Aldehuela was built in the late 1940s to house workers for the local thermal power plant, which opened in 1950. The plant utilized the reservoir water for cooling and received coal via overhead cable wagons. When local supply ran short, fuel had to be trucked in continuously over this narrow 12 km road until operations ceased in 1982.
Road suggested by: jorge manuel gómez sánchez