Via Verde Cretas Pinell de Brai: 27km mostly downhill ride

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/7

Duration5h

GroupPrivate

Mobile ticketAccepted

Mostly downhill through tunnels, vineyards and a natural park

You cycle 27 kilometers downhill from Cretas through the Ports of Beceite Natural Park, passing vineyards, forests, and old railway tunnels with two swimming stops along the way. The van provides pickup, your bike with helmet and spotlight, a spare parts kit, and transport back at the end. Plan for a full day out — the descent takes time, and the tunnels and ravines are what make the route worth the ride.

Step-by-step itinerary

Bike from Cretas to Pinell de Brai

Depart from Cretas premises
Enjoy panoramic views of Ports of Beceite
Pass fields of vineyards and olive trees
See Rocas de Benet rock formations
Pass Horta de Sant Joan
Enter Natural Park of Ports of Beceite
Ride through forests, ravines, tunnels, bridges
Use good light for tunnels
Visit bathing pools L´Assud de Lledo and Fontcalda
Arrive at Pinell de Brai Station

The Experience

The morning light hits the limestone cliffs as you roll out of Cretas on two wheels, the Rocas de Benet rising sharp and sudden across fields of almond and grapevines that have been there for centuries. This is the Via Verde Cretes to Pinell de Brai — a 27-kilometer greenway that follows an old railway bed through Aragón, and it moves downhill almost the entire way, which means you spend the day coasting rather than climbing. The van picks you up from the starting point, your bike is ready, helmet fitted, and a spotlight clipped to the frame because the tunnels come early and they are long.

The first section opens with those panoramic views — the Rocas de Benet dominating the horizon, the landscape so wide you can see for kilometers. Then you pass through Horta de Sant Joan and the whole thing changes. The terrain narrows, the forest closes in, and suddenly you are inside the Natural Park of the Ports of Beceite. Tunnels carved straight through the rock, bridges spanning ravines, the old railway infrastructure still there under your tires. The spotlight matters here — not for drama, but because you actually need it to see the tunnel walls and the light at the far end. Two bathing pools sit along the route if the day gets hot, L'Assud de Lledo and another near the Fontcalda collection point, both places to stop and cool off without leaving the trail.

The ride itself is 90 percent downhill and 10 percent flat, which sounds easy until you realize that downhill for seven hours means your hands grip the brakes the whole time and your legs stay tense. The van meets you at Pinell de Brai Station when you finish, and you ride back to Cretas in the air-conditioned vehicle with your bike loaded, the map they gave you marked up with the spots you actually stopped. Children over six who can ride confidently belong here; so do adults who want a full day outside without the effort of climbing.

What’s included

Your day includes pickup from Cretas in an air-conditioned van, a bike fitted with helmet and spotlight, a backpack with spare parts and repair chain, a road map of the route, a wristband offering discounts at local businesses, and return transport to Cretas at the end of the ride. Two bathing pools are accessible along the trail if you want to stop and cool off.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleInfant seats availablePets welcomeNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Matarraña Aventura

Is this one for you?Right for cyclists who want a full day outside without climbing — the 27km descent handles the work, and the tunnels and forest sections through the Natural Park are what make it memorable. Expect to be out for 5 to 7 hours depending on your pace and stops, which is what lets you actually experience the landscape instead of rushing through it.