The best MTB trails around Sobradiel

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)

Cycle/pedestrian bridge crossing the Rio Jalon, adjacent to a rest area.

Sobradiel is a town steeped in history, where the Palace of the Counts—now the town hall—and a 17th-century Baroque church dedicated to Saint James, built with distinctive red brick, are still preserved. The town center invites a leisurely stroll to discover this past while making a stop along your route. The town offers all basic amenities, making it a good place to rest and recharge during your adventure.

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

Puente de Alfocea: the only bridge over the Ebro on a great cycling tour from Zaragoza to the exciting wetlands near the Juslibol Mountains (Galachos de Juslibol) with a return trip via Monzalbarba.

Architecturally, it's stunning, but we couldn't find a way to follow the canal without getting our feet wet. In the end, we crossed the Jalón River under the canal and then rejoined it. The question remains whether we could have crossed the canal walls on foot. On the left side, there was an open metal gate (we were already on the right side), but on the other side of the Jalón River, we saw another metal gate locked with a padlock.

Gas gas and enjoy!!

Highly recommended for a day out