Loporzano, Spain
Canal del Palomo is a narrow, twisting rock corridor via ferrata in the Sierra y Cañones de Guara Natural Park, near the Vadiello reservoir north of Huesca. It's one of the oldest routes in Spain: first descended by climbers in 1954 and rigged with makeshift pegs shortly after, then properly re-equipped in 2008 with a stainless steel cable. What makes it fun is the contortionist feel of squeezing and climbing up a tight canyon rather than a big open rock face, working through a series of narrow steps and short walls before popping out to sweeping views over the Circo de Ligüerri on the way back down. Keep an eye out (and your feet out) for Pyrenean newts in the canyon's rock pools, they're a protected species and it's forbidden to step in the water where they live. The via itself is graded K4, though the individual steps feel closer to K3+, and takes about 1.5 hours to climb after a short 5 minute approach, with a further 30 minute equipped descent (K2) back to the parking area. Total distance is around 1.25 km with roughly 193 m of ascent. Access is free, no ticket or booking needed, you park near the tunnels before the Vadiello dam and walk in yourself. One practical gripe from regular visitors: the long traversing return path gets exposed to full sun and feels endless in summer heat, so bring water and consider an early start.
