With the arrival of good weather, lovers of hiking trails They begin to look for their new destination to escape from routine and connect with nature. Although the routes in different European countries such as Switzerland, Germany, Italy or islands such as Madeira are very popular, it is not necessary to leave Spain to be able to enjoy incredible landscapes. Without going any further, Andalusia has one of the most beautiful and surprising routes.
Within the grandeur of the Sierras de Cazorla Natural ParkSegura and Las Villasdeclared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO, is one of the best areas for hiking trails. Specifically in the extreme northeast of the province of Jaén and in the vicinity of the Borosa Riveryou can take a route that runs along the Barosa River and ends at an impressive 60-meter-high waterfall.
Beginning of the route, through the Torre del Vinagre Visitor Center
This route, formerly frequented by fishermen, is known as the Cerrada de Elías or Rita del Río Barosa and along its route you can enjoy a landscape marked by a high and narrow canyon full of plant and animal diversity. To begin the tour, it is recommended to start at Torre del Vinagre Visitor Center. Nearby you can find a parking lot that belongs to trout farms and a Botanical Garden. This is precisely where it begins.
During the tour, you will be able to see different waterfallsthe first of which is that of La Poza, where you can appreciate the purity of the waters of the Borosa and, if you go further, its union with the Arroyo de las Truchas. A little further on, you will come to a hanging wooden bridge and the Caracolillos stone bridgewhere you can see the Borosa River Fold, a rather curious rock formation for its spiral-shaped grooves.
Later, reaching the Vado Rosalesthe path narrows, allowing you to appreciate a wide variety of vegetation, such as gall oaks, pines or holm oaks. Furthermore, reaching the beginning of the gorge, you can find more bridges and pools of water, filled by the rains and the spring thaw. In total, the route has 10 kilometers. However, the terrain is quite regular, so it can be done by both beginners and people of a wide age range.
It is recommended to follow the route to be able to observe the 60 meter high waterfall
At this point, hikers can continue with the route or return to the beginning. If you wish to continue, you will reach the source of the Borosa riverpassing through the Cerrada de la Fuente de Piedra, the Cerrada de Puente Toba, the Cascada del Rebosadero and the Cascada de la Calavera. This route has a fairly notable unevenness, so it requires a higher level of experience. However, the experience is worth it, since you will be able to observe the Salto de los Órganos, a 60-meter waterfalland the Aguas Negras reservoir, among other points of interest.
This route was formerly used by fishermen and is now frequented by hikers and nature lovers both for its landscape and for its its biodiversity. Among the species that can be observed doing the tour, if it is done on a day when there is not a lot of people, there are birds such as the kingfisher and the chaffinch; butterflies like the Beautiful Lady and Sátiro Moreno; fish, such as tricks and barbel; or, even Levantine green frogs and white-legged crabs, an endangered species.