CN - Via Verda Val de Zafán (Puebla de Hijar - Puigmoreno)

The Val de Zafán Greenway begins at the Pobla d'Híjar Station. We begin the route along a stretch of asphalt road that is abandoned after 600 m and then continues along an agricultural road shared with vehicles for two kilometers and then connects with the original route of the greenway.

In this first section, two railway structures stand out that give this route an adventurous feel. The Pont de la Torica, which is named after the old coal locomotive that used to make the route, rises imposingly 3.5 km from the start of the journey. It is a viaduct that was built at the end of the 19th century with the aim of crossing the deep trench where the train track is located. A few meters later, the route enters the "Túnel del Montecico", built to cross the hill that takes us to Samper de Calanda.

After crossing the tunnel, we pass under the viaduct of the Madrid-Barcelona railway line and then over the viaduct of the Martín River, known as the Pont Negre or Pont de Sant Carles. The GR 262 passes under the viaduct, which follows the Martín River and its path to the mouth. Just after the viaduct is the Horta de Samper Station, currently abandoned. This point is ideal for a stop on the way. From there, we can see the town of Samper de Calanda and the Martín River floodplain.

We continue our way and pass over several bridges and the viaduct of an agricultural road until the junction between the current FFCC Madrid-Barcelona line and the abandoned Andorra-Escatrón coal railway. Two more bridges and we will arrive at Puigmoreno Station (km 18.7).

Then from Puigmoreno to Valdealgorfa passing through Alcanyís there is another 30.5 km section which, although more or less passable, is still unconditioned and has motorized use. We hope that soon we can include this Alcanyís section which is in the project.

The kilometer milestones arranged on the Via Verda del Val de Zafán have their origin in the city of Tortosa (although the route is usually made starting from the Pobla d'Híjar Station) so in the following description we will be counting kilometers from 83 until reaching the border with Catalonia, around km 49.