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I propose a series of several trips into the Alto Tajo Natural Park. The trips are short and easy, but we’ll try and do more than one each day to cover as much of the area as possible and get to know the area in more depth, not only the park, but also the surrounding areas such as the Hoz de Beteta, declared a natural monument.

The Alto Tajo Natural Park is of exceptional importance to the conservation of biodiversity. It has an extensive system of canyons and river gorges (considered to be one of the best in Europe), which is today surely one of the most beautiful areas of the Iberian Peninsula. It houses a great diversity of living landscapes and enjoys an excellent state of conservation.

Dates: from April 28th to May 1st.

Meeting place: April 28 Quart Towers

Meeting Time: 8am

The excursion:

Driving from Valencia to Barcelona, take the Sagunto exit joining the A-23 (the highway to Mozarabic) going towards Teruel-Zaragoza. Take the exit at Monreal del Campo, then move onto the N-211 until you reach Molina de Aragón and turn left onto the CM-210 to Poveda de la Sierra.

The Alto Tajo hostel is opposite the petrol station in town.

Estimated journey time: 3h 30min

Excursions planned

(The routes are approximate)

“The Poveda Jump” and Lake Taravilla

Walking distance: 13Km

Elevation 200m

Level: Easy

The walk shows off the heart of the Park, one of the most beautiful spots on the Alto Tajo. This excursion takes in the Taravilla Lagoon, surrounded by limestone outcrops, the “The Poveda Jump" where the Tajo is at its bravest, the water gushing into a jump of about 15 m.

route: http://es.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=1400692

Hoz de Beteta

Walking distance: 11Km

Elevation 300 m

Level: Easy

Declared a natural monument, the Hoz de Beteta is one of the most spectacular and beautiful river canyons on the Serrania de Cuenca. It is occupied and followed along its whole length by the river Guadiela, which has excavated this deep, narrow slit in the limestone, through which the river runs its length of six kilometres (between vertical cliffs over 80 meters high)

Water, sculptor of the landscape

Walking distance: 9.5 miles

Elevation 230mts

Level: Easy

This route allows us to better understand some of the very unique geological features that are representative of the Natural Park: the Tajo Canyon and the tuffs of the Bridge of San Pedro and La Escaleruela.

Route: http://es.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=2124971

Barranco del Horcajo

Walking distance: 6.630 km

Elevation 522mts

Level: Easy

An interesting walk through a narrow canyon carved out of the limestone, in which are

numerous botanical treasures more typical of northern latitudes, due to special moisture

conditions. This route is suitable for trekkers only.

Route: http://es.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=1340565

Enchanted city of Hoya del Espino

Walking: 3km

Elevation 20m

Level: Easy

This visit will include some very well conserved natural spaces, such as caves and enchanted cities hidden amongst the pines...

Route: http://es.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=1494507

Posted on Saturday, April 28th 2012