Conoce las 5 mejores rutas de senderismo de El Chorro
El Chorro is considered by many to be one of the most well-rounded and spectacular destinations in Andalusia, thanks to its wide variety of adventure sports and excursions, as well as its natural beauty, which attracts photography enthusiasts and lovers of scenic landscapes. But do you know the best hiking trails in El Chorro?
Pico Huma Hiking Trail (El Chorro)
The best hiking trail in El Chorro is the Pico Huma trail, also known as “The Balcony of Andalusia” because from its summit you can see almost all of Andalusia. This hiking trail, the most spectacular in El Chorro, Málaga, is considered an ascent to the peak of the Sierra Huma, with a maximum elevation of 1,191 meters and a total length of 13.35 kilometers. At the summit, you can enjoy incredible views of Pico Capilla to the east, Camorro Alto, El Torcal, the Sierra de las Cabras, Peña Negra, and the rest of the peaks in the Arco Calizo Central range. Additionally, this trail is notable for the presence of numerous fossils, especially ammonites. It is recommended to hike this trail during the fall, winter, and spring seasons. See more
La Cañada del Lobo Hiking Trail (El Chorro)
The first of the two hiking trails in El Chorro that we’re going to discuss is the one known as the Cañada del Lobo trail in El Chorro. We’ll start with a trail suitable for everyone—whether you’re an experienced hiker or not—but one that’s sure to impress anyone. Our Cañada del Lobo trail begins after crossing the bridge over the Tajo de la Encantada dam; we take the road to the right, and before reaching the power plant, we begin our hike.
This is a 12.5-kilometer loop trail that isn’t particularly difficult, so it’s suitable for beginner hikers; you just need to watch out for the elevation changes.
What do I need to hike the Cañada del Lobo trail?
Although this trail is suitable for beginners, keep in mind that there are no facilities along the way, so you should bring water and food, if necessary, wear proper hiking shoes, and pay special attention on certain sections of the road. As with any hiking trail, it’s important to bring water, sugary snacks, and proper footwear for long hikes.
During the tour, we’ll see incredible structures such as the homes carved into the rock where the Mozarabs, Muladis, and Arabs who settled around the alcazaba—which no longer exists—lived between the 9th and 10th centuries.
You can also enjoy the wonderful views of the Sierra Huma and the Guadalhorce Valley; this route is recommended during the spring, fall, and winter.
Cañada del Lobo Hiking Trail
Steps and directions for the hiking trail to Cañada del Lobo
1. Start: Cañada del Lobo, El Chorro
We set out from the La Garganta Rural Tourist Complex and head toward the Álora highway. After crossing the bridge over the Tajo de la Encantada Dam, we take the road to the right, toward the power plant. A little over three hundred meters later, before reaching the power plant, we’ll see the start of a trail on our left, along with an information panel and a sign pointing toward Ardales.
2. Chain-Barred Crossing
We’ll hike up the trail through the ravine known as “Cañada del Lobo.” When we reach the top, at the foot of the reservoir’s retaining wall located at the summit of Mesa de Villaverde, we’ll head right, skirting the wall until we reach the paved road. We’ll continue to the right, heading downhill until we come to a junction on the left with a chain—that’s the path we’ll take.
3. Road Crossing
Continuing along the path that runs alongside the reservoir, we’ll reach the road; before that, we’ll pass by the feeding station (for scavenger birds).
4. Bobastro Cave Church
At this point, we have the option to visit the ruins of the Mozarabic church in Bobastro, keeping in mind that this would add an additional two kilometers to our route. To do so, we head down the road to the right; after about one kilometer, we’ll come to a wooden booth where we can get information and purchase tickets (it’s recommended to check visiting hours in advance). We’ll then retrace our steps back to the intersection of the path that led us to the road and continue on to the cave houses and the lookout point.
5. Access to the cave houses
At the intersection of the path, we head up the road that runs along the reservoir. After walking a little over one kilometer—passing a house on our left and rounding a few curves—we’ll see a concrete monolith next to the road, at the edge of the ravine. Here, there’s a path we can take to go down.
6. Cave House
On this mountainside, you can see the structures of dwellings carved into the rock—stairs, caves, and cavities—that served as homes for the Mozarabs, Muladis, and Arabs who settled here around the alcazaba, which no longer exists, the center of Omar ben Hafsun’s rebellion against the Caliphate of Córdoba between the 9th and 10th centuries.
7. Sierra Huma Viewpoint
After visiting the caves, we retrace our steps back to the road that leads us to the Tajo de la Encantada Viewpoint, where we can enjoy extraordinary views of the Sierra Huma and the Guadalhorce Valley spread out below us.
8. Return
To return, we follow the road back until we reach the house next to the reservoir. Here, we head down a path, keeping the house on our right, until we reach the road that runs alongside the reservoir. Continuing in the same direction, we come to some pine trees, where we take a path that leads down alongside the dam wall.
We head down the same path we took on the way up, following the GR7 signposts to the power station, and return to El Chorro.
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How do I get to the venue?
The Garganta Hotel and Restaurant is situated in El Chorro (Álora), next to the southern entrance to the Caminito del Rey.
