A Very Good (if tough) walk of 12k plus. 750m (1,000 with extensions). Medium (Hard). 5 hrs (6/7 with extensions). Prickle Factor low – High on the Ruta and Ibex to TV extensions.
This is a lovely walk through interesting scenery, with no difficulties beyond steepness EXCEPT on the above extensions which have a variety of minor difficulties and some very prickly sections.
From the motorway roundabout take the Ojen road for a few hundred metres and the first turning left via a central reservation lane for this purpose (signed Cementario – very appropriate as you will find a cemetary as well as the cement works). Take the small road (not the works road right) badly surfaced in 2007 for about half a k to a parking place at a bridge and Waterfall Restaurant.
You want the country road going up right and can take your car up it for about another half k with parking on both sides when a gate is reached. The main track/path goes straight ahead taking the right fork to avoid a house (Casa del Pino). It then breaks through the rock band steeply and passes an old olive/lemon grove and ruin.
However about 300m from the barrier at the start there is a track right (old metal post and broken marker) which leads pleasantly and less steeply to the ruin taking the path left when a sign is reached (see footnote re the track right). I suggest using this in ascent and the main path in descent to vary the route, but you may prefer to do it vice-versa. The path then always more or less following the left bank of the waterless river.
Nearing the Puerto (col) the path turn right away from the river and a faint separate path goes left and back up to the shoulder of the Cruz de Juanar. This path (usual X) has signs at the shoulder indicating Salto del Lobo right. Left goes to Calana (the next valley) and is now largely overgrown so I've not explored very far. Following the sign the track is mostly very clear right up to the main La Concha - Cruz de Juanar path from which the right fork will lead you to the Cruz summit in 10 minutes. Return to the Puerto and Mirador down the large path on the opposite side.
If you don't take this path soon after the junction you should see an Ibex perched above you – he doesn’t wander far away! This main path soon reaches the main vehicle track and right turn to the Mirador. The Ruta Miguel Alvarez goes on from here to a vantage point above rocks and then down and up to another ridge viewpoint. In the last two years its size to here and just beyond has increased dramatically and although it continues on a little further it seems to fade out - possibly it is still under development, certainly the clearance has been done by rangers and is not just the result of walkers using it.
Back at the Mirador you can go up to the monument and faint tracks lead upwards until they run out at gorse. A path to the TV aerial and 1087 can be seen high up but you need to continue on the main road to a wide vehicle track on the right (opposite the buildings - the derelict former regugio) which goes in the wrong direction for a while before turning back, becoming a path and leading gently and nicely upwards (take care noting where it goes for your return!).
If you've not taken the previously mentioned path left you can also take the obvious zig-zags up the Cruz but as they’re horribly stoney and usually in full sun I wouldn’t bother unless you don’t intend to do walk 4.
Return down the main track not, I suggest, doing the Cruz the opposite way to that already described as you may never find the descent route.
Footnote: The sign at the junction "Vertfdero"? takes you up a nice, slightly prickly path for a nice short walk with good views eventually reaching a concrete marker where it overlooks an underground reservoir. The main path goes left and may once have gone somewhere but now finishes where you can see signs - which are on top of the huge quarry, don't fall over! Faint signs of a track down right soon peter out as does the scramble up the ridge on the left although it is easy to get to a nice top in 15 mins.
Click on the picture to enlarge - then on the back button to return
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| Looking from the summit of the Cruz de Juanar back down the route as far as the olive groves |
The TV aerial on the summit of point 1087 on day when the hills where covered by low cloud |
Istan - Rio Molinos
Salto de Lobo
