Walk 110             Bosque petrified

                                                          Petrified Forest

 

Maps 1:50.000                                                                            Time 5-6 hours

19.43 Dúrcal                                                                               Distance 10 km

                                                                                                    

A wonderful walk from the old Granada –Motril road; down to a valley which contains several waterfalls. Perhaps not suitable for anyone who has a thing about heights or vertigo. Starts at 1074 metres, lowest point is 740 mtrs.

                 

                                  

                                                   The petrified forest

 

Leave Torre del Mar on the A335 (now A356) following the signs for Alhama de Granada, take the road up passed the reservoir of La Viñuela, through Puente de Don Manuel and on to Ventas de Zafarraya. As you drive through the village look for a sharp right hand bend at the end of the houses, you need to turn left on the bend (actually you go straight across, because the main road swings right) it is a nasty bend so be careful.

 

You now follow this road towards Alhama de Granada, when you reach a T junction with the Guardia Civil cuartel (barracks) directly opposite, turn right. The road winds up to a junction, where you turn left; it is marked for Arenas del Rey. This road continues on over a small dam and on towards Jatar, before you get to Jatar there is a left turn to Arenas del Rey which takes you round the edge of the town and on towards the reservoir. You cross over a bridge over a stream followed by a sweeping left hand bend and a sign for the Sierra de Tejeda y Almijara, (the turning for La Resinera) continue on this road to the town of Fornes.

 

As soon as you enter the town, take the first road to the left which takes you out of the town to a T junction turn right to Jayena, and on to the junction with the N323, turn right and drive on to Cortijo de Los Prados. Now around 4 Km to go, but first through a tunnel then look for a dip where you can see into a valley on both sides of the road, there is a parking place on the left.

 

The walk starts from a lay-by at GR 355799. Now the start can be a little confusing depending on which direction you have approached from, as there are two paths starting very close to each other. You want the northern path, which would give you a valley on your right as you leave the tarmac road and start walking on the path. It is a very well defined path, a motorway in fact for those used to some of my walks and even starts with some steps.

 

This path is very like a mule track without the built up corners, it winds its way along the ridge through some spectacular stone pillars and rock shapes, almost Easter Island figures, with several short sharp curvy descents but not loosing much overall height until you reach the point where the path starts to curve round the end of the ridge and you meet a path coming in from the left. Over on the right you can see the forestry track which is your return route, to your front a deep river valley and as you turn round the end of the ridge a forestry track leading down to your destination.

     

   The easter island figures                    stone staircase                                   Stalactites

 

Now you start the real descent, from the rock ledge it looks impossible to have a path here, but in fact it is not as hairy as it looks. The path is quite steep especially in the zig zags where there are bits of wooden fencing on one or two corners to stop you travelling too fast. You now enter a curly whirly stair case of steps under a rock face, and you get your first glance at a waterfall formed into shape by the high content of the calcium in the water, but more of that at the waterfall.

 

Continue the descent to the waterfall and pool, GR 342972 this is the point to discard the pack, grab your torch and take the path to the right of the fall to inspect the “mites” and “tites” formed by the calcium, there is also quite a tunnel going back into the hill, As the water was freezing we didn’t explore too far. Right back out into the sun and continue on the path which now clings to the side of the valley, level to start with then a quick drop down into and over the stream bed, follow by a short level section which brings you out on the forestry track you saw from the end of the ridge. GR 339789

 

Take the path on the opposite side of the track, to the left of the notice board, which dips and swoops alongside a small dam and then descends into the stream bed. You cross the stream, walk over a mound and then re-cross the stream before climbing a slope up to where you start to see the “Petrified Forest” As you progress along the path you can see more and more of the waterfalls, if you are lucky enough to visit in a wet time the waterfalls are truly amazing.

 

Return to the forestry track and turn left, walk down to the ford, cross over and start up the slope to the Fune reservoir. This is a really lovely spot; I can recommend it for a picnic in summer. However that is not for today, today you walk; follow the track round to the right and along the side of the reservoir to the inlet. GR 335791

 

 

The main track swings off to the left, you go straight on, either walk through the shallow water or if its too deep work your way through the trees to the right you come out on a minor track and then cross over the stream before starting up an incline through a very pretty area full trees. There is nearly always water in this valley, so lots of colour lots of plants and shrubs.

 

    

     Cave behind waterfall                   rock pool below dam                       rock “finger”

 

At the top of the incline you cross the stream again and proceed towards a very prominent outcrop of rock through a cultivated area, cross the stream once more, after which the track takes you to the left of the “finger “ over the stream for a final time and on to an old tool shed /cortijo. GR 329793 The track now forks round to the right and you start up a steady incline which takes you up to man made barrier between two valleys. This is followed by a dip in the track before continuing the upward direction into a cutting, which is a wonderful place to take a break, but to do that you need to walk a short distance off to the right along the ridge.

GR 341797

 

We sat here and watched two huge eagles doing their thing and returned the stares of a small herd of Cabra Montés on the ridge to the right. Return to the cutting, turn right and begin the descent through a very big dip up to another ridge and then down to the stream level. GR 348799 This is a joining of two streams where the track crosses over the stream bed and you begin the final ascent, the gradient is a little steeper in this final section before you arrive at a road. GR 355801 After recovering your breath turn right and walk the last few metres back to your car.

 

Walked regularly since 01/2001, last walked and updated 12/2005