GUIDE 2020
CONTENTS Introduction The Basics Leave No Trace Food Water Where to Sleep Health Centres Bike Stores Logistics Mapping Responsibility Difficulty Sectors and Waypoints The Route
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INTRODUCTION The main objective of MontañasVacías (empty mountains) is to raise awareness about Spanish Lapland through an off-road bikepacking route (or MTB touring, whatever you call it…) taking Teruel as starting and finishing point. Runs through the Montes Universales, Sierra de Javalambre and Sierra de Gúdar, mostly by forest roads and double tracks in good condition. Even so, it isn’t strictly a route designed for gravel bikes, but neither is a MTB route in a pure sense.The right choice of bike and gear is part of the game.Whatever bike you choose, there will be points where you will find its limits, but always by technically easy gravel roads, and fleeing as much as possible from asphalt. If you choose light and fast gravel tyres, maybe you will find a couple of short hike-a-bike sections, and if you use a pure MTB, some fast gravel roads can be very long. Adventure. 40 – 42 mm tyres can be a good minimum, and about gearing… as low as you can. Without any doubt, my two main inspirations for this route are the CAT700 and the Torino-Nice Rally, both with the same philosophy of searching the man vs machine challenge. It was precisely preparing them when I discovered most of the sections of this route. However, unlike both, MontañasVacías can be considered as an “open route”, without a specific date.You choose when to do it and with whom, but with all that bikepacking philosophy I have experienced in both events, about adventure, friendship, travel, long distance, culture, gastronomy, etc. In a lot of people that I’ve met all this time I’ve perceived the need for discovering new routes, new places, new people with the same concerns, new excuses to gather your old buddies, or, why not, a solo challenge.This route is born as a response to this need. And I think that this can be achieved through a permanent itinerary, for free, and not in the other corner of the world. Stay in touch. Send me your questions, your suggestions, your favourite areas, the hardest parts or those that you think could improve. Share your experiences or even propose a group ride with other people. Interact. Is part of the philosophy I want to convey with this route.
Ernesto Pastor
@montanasvacias montanasvacias.com
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THE BASICS
LEAVE NO TRACE First, and above all, be self-supported, and bear in mind that no one will pass behind you picking up your trash, so follow the Leave No Trace principles. Don’t leave a single waste in your path. Leave everything as you find it, and if it’s possible, better. If there are some wrappings where you are going to sleep, take it with your trash and create a positive impact. Inspire your friends to do it. If you fell Nature’s call, dig a “cathole”, at least 100m from any water source. A small trowel can be useful, there are some weighing only 12 grams, they are used more than you imagine. Cover it and try to disguise it as much as possible. Of course, don’t leave there toilet paper, much less wet wipes. Put it in a small plastic bag and take it with the rest of your trash. There are a lot of options to sleep outside. Quiet places, spectacular ones, camping areas, free refuges, and all kind of accommodation along the routes. Choose with common sense, out of sight, and out of private areas. Don’t light fires, don’t cook out of facilities in campsites, you already have hot meal everyday of your normal life.You can always wait for the next bar to have a coffee or a just done roast. All the areas you will ride are in high fire risk. If you’re planning to have a bath in any of the natural pools or rivers, please use a mineral sunscreen instead of a chemical one.They are becoming easier to find and the price is similar. Every drop counts.
FOOD My advice is to bring enough food for what may happen. In the description of the route you can get an idea of the distances between the points where you can find food. Choose how much you need to carry according to your daily planning, for example, it is not equally important that the next grocery is 70 km away for someone who will do 80 km a day than for someone more experienced who makes 200 km. Always bring some emergency food at the bottom of your bag, such as nuts, cans, etc. Few restaurants. Few supermarkets, only small groceries. Plan, and if you go through any of them, take advantage, maybe it will take time until the 5
next one. Enjoy the “almuerzos”. Between 10 and 11 in the morning. For example, life in any town in the province of Teruel is paralyzed at that time. A big sandwich, with a snack like olives, a drink and coffee, can be between 4 and 5€. The rural bars. Quite a lot of the villages you will pass through will not have shops, or even restaurants, but it’s easy to find small rural bars, which often are the epicenter of social life. Do not expect great variety, empathize with their circumstances, talk to people, and be satisfied with what you find. Drinks, ice creams, some chocolates, and if you are lucky some sandwiches. Open your mind and at least, enjoy that the bar is still open. You may come back in a couple of years and it is not open anymore.
WATER Many of the tips of the previous point are valid. In all the villages you will pass through you will find a fountain. Also, you will go through many recreational areas that have one. Water does not have to be a problem, although depending on the year, the area may suffer from drier periods. My advice is to carry at least 2 litres in the hottest seasons. In milder temperatures 1.5 litres would be enough to get from one water point to the next. It is not a bad idea to carry a folding bottle of half a liter or so, it does not weigh or bulge anything and it can be very useful. In the description or in the tracks you will not find the location of the water points. Some would appreciate it, others do not care. Let’s say that it’s for leaving some space to improvisation.
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WHERE TO SLEEP BIVOUAC OR TENT We will have to take into account that we will cross protected areas: -Paisaje Protegido de los Pinares del Ródeno (Rodeno’s Pine Forest Protected Landscape): From Laguna de Bezas to Albarracín. Bivouac and all types of camping prohibited. -Parque Natural del Alto Tajo. From the Nacimiento del Tajo to the Refugio de la Sima de Alcorón, after Zaorejas. Bivouac and overnight camping are allowed, that is, spending the night with or without a tent during a period that does not exceed one hour before dusk and one hour after dawn. Both. bivouac and the camping, will be done individually or in groups of less than 10 people, with a maximum of 4 tents. -Parque Natural de la Serranía de Cuenca. From Santa María del Val to Beamud. In this case, bivouac is allowed throughout the Parque Natural, however camping is prohibited without authorisation, what requires an application and a fee.Take advantage of the beautiful Refugio de la Alconera, is located in a magical place.
REFUGES One of the interesting points of this route is the presence of free refuges along the route. Sleeping in any of them is a highly recommended experience. Respect them.Take care of them. Some are better preserved than others, even so, leave everything as you found it and if possible, better. As I always say, the state of conservation is directly proportional to the distance to a road or tourist place. The refuges have been catalogued based on a scale of one to five stars depending on the sum of different parameters, such as the state of conservation and cleaning, facilities or services, location, comfort, etc. You will find the following:
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REFUGIO EL COLLADO ***** Beautiful refuge with chimney, wooden bunk beds and fountain
REFUGIO DE LA PORTERA Sierra de Albarracín ***** Next to an impressive viewpoint, with chimney, stove and wooden bunk beds
REFUGIO FORESTAL Nacimiento del Tajo *** Refuge with chimney, in an acceptable state despite being next to the road
REFUGIO SAN LORENZO Camino Natural del Tajo ***** With chimney and wooden bunk beds, next to the lonely hermitage of San Lorenzo
REFUGIO FUENTE DE LOS VAQUEROS Checa **** Also with chimney, is located in a spectacular location. 2 km away from Checa
REFUGIO VADO SALMERÓN Camino Natural del Tajo * Basic shelter with no facilities. Only in case of emergency
REFUGIO DE LA FALAGUERA Camino Natural del Tajo. * Basic shelter with no facilities. Only in case of emergency
REFUGIO DE LA SIMA DE ALCORÓN Zaorejas *** With chimney. Large arcades but little interior space
REFUGIO DE VALSALOBRE Valsalobre ***** Clean, spacious, with wooden bunk beds, and in a beautiful location.
REFUGIO DE LA ALCONERA Serranía de Cuenca ***** Clean, with concrete bunk beds, in a magical location
REFUGIO DEL COLLADO DEL BUEY Sierra de Javalambre *** Basic.The roof is completely new and the interior has been restored. It has special charm. At 1720m altitude
REFUGIO LA CHAPARRILLA Sierra de Gúdar, close to Valdelinares Ski Station *** With chimney, in an acceptable state. It is the highest one, at 1800m
Alto Tajo
-oApart from these, you will ride close to the Refugio Rabadá y Navarro, with guard, next to the Javalambre ski station, where you can also have dinner and breakfast. It is advisable to call to book if you plan to spend the night there.Tel: 0034 978 768 083 www.refugiorabadaynavarro.com
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CAMPSITES You’ll find campsites in Albarracín, Bronchales, Orihuela del Tremedal, Peralejos de las Truchas and Alcalá de la Selva.
ACCOMMODATIONS If despite of the refuges, campsites, or the wonderful places to sleep under the stars, you prefer sleeping in a bed, the description of the route details the villages in which you can find accommodation.Warning: there are not many.
HEALTH CENTRES You will not need them, but it can be useful to know that along the route you will only find health centres in Teruel, Albarracín, Orihuela del Tremedal, Checa, Beteta and Mora de Rubielos. And in the shortcuts, in Tragacete and Molina de Aragón. Bring a first aid kit. All those who travel love to prepare this kind of things, and above all, not to use them.
BIKE STORES 700 km without seeing a single bike shop. Only in Teruel you can find some: -Ciclos Mudéjar: Calle de San León Magno, 5.Tel 978610445 -Biciate: Calle Nicanor Villalta, 16.Tel 622106012 -Repuestos Sánchez: Camino de Castralvo, 3.Tel 978606831
LOGISTICS HOW TO GET TO TERUEL By car. Usually by the A23, both coming from the north, and from the Mediterranean. Little more to say. By train.Teruel only has a connection with Zaragoza and Valencia.Three or four daily trains to each of the two cities.The transport of bicycles is allowed. Purchase tickets at renfe.com By plane.Through the airports of Valencia or Zaragoza: -Manises airport.Valencia. From the airport you have to reach the Estación Norte of Valencia, where you can take the train to Teruel.There are several options: on Saturdays and Sundays it is allowed to take bikes in the subway so you can take lines 3 or 5 to the North Station. During the week things 9
get a bit more complicated since you will not be able to use the subway. One option is a taxi or any transport App, being attentive to ask for a van, the station is about 10 minutes, so it won’t be so expensive. Another option is to pedal to the train station. A good part of the 13 km route is by bike lane. -Zaragoza Airport. From there we will have to get to Estacón de Delicias, where we can take the train to Teruel.To get there, the easiest way is by bike, since most of the 10 km to the station are on gravel and bike lanes. Another option is to take a taxi.
VÍA VERDE DE OJOS NEGROS It opens other possibilities to extend the trip.This greenway is the route of an old mining train that connected the Ojos Negros coal mines with Sagunto, in the Mediterranean, passing through Teruel. It can be an interesting option to travel back to Valencia to take the train or the plane, since the route is mostly downhill. About 160kms from Teruel to Sagunto, easy to do in one day. Once in Sagunto we can take the train to Valencia. Track of the Vía Verde with the rest of the files.
MAPPING The most detailed cartography of the entire route is the topographic map of the IGN, available through apps such as Mapas de España IGN or Orux Maps. In order to have offline map visualisation, you can download the free Topohispania cartography to your smartphone. It is recommended to load the tracks in one of the mentioned apps to serve as backup in case of failure of your gps device.
RESPONSIBILITY You have multiple route choices. Be responsible and choose one according to your preparation and experience, as I told before, you will ride in remote mountain areas. It’s more than advisable that you have insurance, international cycling license, or whatever you consider.Take your documentation with you. Comply with the rules of the road. Obviously, this is not a race, not even an event.We don’t organice anything, we only offer route information and tracks so you can come to discover these areas that so deserve new visitors.You will ride under your responsibility. No one is responsible for anything, just you. 10
DIFFICULTY In my opinion, the three main difficulties of the route are isolation, climate and elevation gain. You will ride in remote mountain areas. As I told you, the Spanish Lapland has a very low population density, not even one person per square kilometre in most of the route.Whenever I have ridden solo in these roads I remembered this phrase, to always keep in mind where I was moving:
“IF YOU GET TO A VILLAGE THAT SEEMS TO HAVE 100 INHABITANTS, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT SOONER OR LATER YOU COULD BE 100 KILOMETRES WITHOUT SEEING ANYBODY” Climate is other of the points to take into account.You will be over 1500m altitude most days, reaching 2000m in a couple of sectors.Things there can go wrong. Keep that in mind.The most stable seasons for the ride can be spring (May and June) and autumn (September and October). Before May, it is usually unpredictable, and you can find sunny days, but also snow or strong north winds (cierzo). During summer (July and August), we can exceed 30ºC during the day, go down to 3 or 4 degrees at night, or we may be surprised by some storm. From October to the start of winter is more or less like the first part of spring: unstable and unpredictable.Winter could offer an experience closer to the real Lapland, reaching -15ºC is not difficult. In addition, the route crosses two ski resorts, so in high season we can have some closed sectors up there. Things may change. Keep that in mind.The rain may collapse a bridge, the snow may tear trees, nothing happens, improvise, a journey becomes an adventure when something goes wrong. Finally the elevation gain. In my opinion, the most predictable of the difficulties. It’s about 13000m+ and it’s something to always keep in mind.. Don’t forget that this is a hard route, maybe harder than you think. Always have a plan B, but better not to use it. And above all, have always a good attitude and enjoy the route!
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SECTORS AND WAYPOINTS As you have already seen, the entire route is divided into sectors. Obviously these sectors only follow an approximate geographical division, so you must plan your stages according to your needs.When doing so, keep in mind both the distance and the elevation gain of each sector. In addition, along the route, you will find different shortcuts or "atajos", in Spanish, so you can design weekend routes or longer ones up to a week or ten days.
ATAJOS INVERNALES A few days after birth, MontañasVacías already had some emails from northern Europe interested in the options when high areas are snowed and the ski stations are open.The options are to skip the most delicate areas riding by asphalt: -Javalambre.When you reach the Fuente de la Miel, at about 1550m altitude, take the track to the left (marked waypoint), direct to Camarena de la Sierra, from where you can take the road to La Puebla de Valverde, where you will return to the track. -Valdelinares. After Linares de Mora, instead of leaving the asphalt to start climbing to the ski station (marked waypoint), we would continue straight to the village of Valdelinares (note that Valdelinares Station is not the same as Valdelinares village), from where we can access the ski station by asphalt although the station is open. From there, we descend to Alcalá de la Selva also by asphalt where we will return to the track.
Each sector and shortcut, has its own .gpx file. In the next section we will see in detail each of them. In the same way, you will also find a .gpx file with all the waypoints, don't forget to load it also in your gps.
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THE ROUTE
THE ROUTE Choose your own distance.The route has several shortcuts or “atajos”, so you can design your itinerary, between 150 and 700kms. I’ve divided the route into different sections:
SIERRA DE ALBARRACÍN 137KM – 2950M+ TERUEL – NACIMIENTO DEL TAJO EL TAJO 116KM – 1690M+ NACIMIENTO DEL TAJO – ZAOREJAS SERRANÍA DE CUENCA 140KM – 2150M+ ZAOREJAS – LAGUNA DEL MARQUESADO JAVALAMBRE 130KM – 3020M+ LAGUNA DEL MARQUESADO – LA PUEBLA DE VALVERDE GÚDAR 160KM – 3100M+ LA PUEBLA DE VALVERDE – TERUEL TOTAL: 680KMS – 12910M+ And about the shortcuts or “atajos“:
ATAJO CUBILLO RÍO TAJO–TRAGACETE 22KM – 378M+ ATAJO TABERNILLAS ALOBRAS – TERUEL 55KMS – 710M+ ATAJO LOS CASTILLOS ZAOREJAS – TERUEL 150KM – 1670M+ ATAJO VÍA VERDE LA PUEBLA DE VALVERDE -TERUEL 28KM – 160M+ ATAJO OREA ORIHUELA DEL TREMEDAL - CHECA 13KM – 1105M+
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SIERRA DE ALBARRACÍN
We will depart from the charming city of Teruel, do not forget to get lost in its historic centre and have a drink in the Plaza del Torico. After about thirty kilometres we reach the Laguna de Bezas and Peña de la Cruz, two perfect places to whet your appetite and get an idea of the landscape we will have along this first part. Albarracín. Always in the top ten of pretty villages in Spain.To enjoy the best views we will follow the Camino del Cid for a few kilometres.You may have some short hike-a-bike steps if you go with light tyres, nothing important, but it’ll be worth it, you can be sure. Then we set course towards the source of the Tajo river.
SIERRA DE ALBARRACÍN TERUEL
NACIMIENTO DEL TAJO
137KM – 2950+ 21% ASPHALT - 79% OFFROAD TERUEL – NACIMIENTO DEL TAJO KM SERVICES DESCRIPTION 9 13 22 24 30 53 53 55
82 95 99 102 121 126 137
After Masía del Cura, detour to the right, with 100m uphill with bigger stones. No problem for bigger tyres. El Campillo. Not always open. Depending on the season/year. Start of Paisaje Protegido Pinares del Ródeno. Bivouac and free camping prohibited. Laguna Bezas. Detour to Peña de la Cruz. 3 kms to impressive viewpoint of the whole Sierra de Albarracín. Highly recommended. End Paisaje Protegido Pinares del Ródeno. Albarracín. In all listings of the most beautiful villages in Spain, also known to be a destination for climbers from all over the world. Bars, restaurants, grocery, camping, accommodation and health centre. Ascension for views of the town from the top. Steep and stony section. It may be necessary to walk for some minutes, but with stunning views.Worth. Alternative: continue the main road through the tunnel until you return to the track. Bronchales. Accommodation, camping and good restaurants. Orihuela del Tremedal. Hostel and bars. Bars, restaurants, grocery, camping, accommodation and health centre. Start of the Atajo Orea. Climbing around 1km from there you can find the Refugio El Collado (*****). Perfect and clean refuge with wooden bunk beds, chimney and fountain. Refugio de La Portera (*****). Clean refuge with wooden bunk beds, chimney and stove. Near to the impresive viewpoint of the same name. Griegos. Bar and accommodation. Guadalaviar. Bar and accommodation. Nacimiento del Tajo. Source of the Tajo river.
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EL TAJO
El Nacimiento del Tajo / The Source of the Tajo. Modest start for a river that runs majestically throughout the Iberian Peninsula for a thousand kilometres. Even so, a place full of symbolism. At this point, a shortcut through the port of Cubillo would allow us to link with the intermediate part of the stage through the Serranía de Cuenca. Returning to our river Tajo, during the next hundred kilometres we won’t get far from it.Though the source is located in the province of Teruel, all the rest of this sector will run through the province of Guadalajara. In Puente de San Pedro we say goodbye to this river, why not, with a bath in its icy waters. At this point we will decide if we return to Teruel by the Atajo de los Castillos (shortcut of the castles: Molina de Aragón, Zafra, and Peracense), in a more affordable route, or continue our effort to add meters of altitude, towards the Serranía de Cuenca.Cuenca.
EL TAJO ZAOREJAS
NACIMIENTO DEL TAJO
116KM – 1690M+ 22% ASPHALT - 78% OFFROAD NACIMIENTO DEL TAJO – ZAOREJAS KM SERVICES DESCRIPTION 0 5 15 45 51 63 77.5 78 99 105 109 116
Nacimiento del Tajo. Source of the Tajo river. Refugio Forestal (***).With chimney. In the same point can start the Atajo Cubillo towards Tragacete. Start Parque Natural Alto Tajo. Bivouac and free camping allowed. Max 10 persons or 4 tents together. Checa. Grocery, bar, restaurants, accommodations and health centre. Deviation to Refugio Fuente de los Vaqueros (***). 2km towards Alcoroches.With chimney. Chequilla. Peralejos de las Truchas. Grocery, bars, restaurants, accommodation and camping. After passing through the nice footbridge on the Tajo, a 500m easy hike-a-bike section. Casas del Salto: restaurant and accommodation. Refugio Vado Salmerón (*). Basic refuge. Recommendation: wait for the Refugio de Valsalobre. Refugio La Falaguera (*). Basic refuge. Recommendation: wait for the Refugio de Valsalobre. Once on the asphalt road, we can go down to the right to the Puente de San Pedro, beautiful natural pool, 1km. Bath recommended. From there begins the Atajo de los Castillos. Otherwise we continue to the left to Zaorejas. Zaorejas. Bar and accommodation.
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SERRANĂ?A DE CUENCA
After some kilometres through the province of Guadalajara, shortly before Valsalobre we will enter the province of Cuenca, head in the middle of the Serrania.We will discover La Laguna del Tobar, and we will pedal through infinite pine forests. We will manage our reserves, from Beteta to Beamud or Valdemoro-Sierra, 75 kilometres later, we will not find any place to satisfy our hunger.That’s the Spanish Lapland.
SERRANÍA DE CUENCA ZAOREJAS
LAGUNA DEL MARQUESADO
140KM – 2150M+ 27% ASPHALT - 73% OFFROAD ZAOREJAS – LAGUNA DEL MARQUESADO KM SERVICES DESCRIPTION 0 15 16 24 30 36 40 49 54 70 82 110 111 122 129 135 139
Zaorejas. Bar and Accommodation. Refugio Sima de Alcorón (***).With chimney. Recommendation: wait for the Refugio de Valsalobre. End Parque Natural Alto Tajo. Refugio Valsalobre (*****). Perfect and clean refuge with wooden bunk beds and chimney. Valsalobre. Beteta. Grocery, bars, restaurants, accommodation and health centre. El Tobar. Detour to the panoramic point: Laguna del Tobar, 1km. Santa María del Val. Small Bar. Start Parque Natural Serranía de Cuenca. Bivouac allowed, free camping prohibited. Reccommended Refugio de la Alconera. End Atajo Cubillo Refugio La Alconera (*****). Perfect and clean refuge with cement bunk beds and chimney. Beamud. Bar and Accommodation. End Parque Natural Serranía de Cuenca. Valdemoro – Sierra. Bars. Campillos – Sierra. Huerta del Marquesado. Laguna del Marquesado. Accommodation.
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JAVALAMBRE
We will tread again soil of the province of Teruel shortly before Alobras. Just at that point, another shortcut would take us back to the finish point in Teruel, passing by Jabaloyas and Tabernillas pass, but since we are already here, we’ll continue towards the Javalambre mountain range. This section includes another of the sectors that will test our reserves, with almost 70 kilometres through the entire Javalambre massif with no place to get food.We could only find food if we booked a place in the “Rabadá y Navarro” refuge, descending five kilometres out of the track when we get to the ski station. In any case, at the end of the descent to La Puebla de Valverde, we’ll be enlightened by the sight of a service station with a small supermarket, which we will use to fill up reserves for the last sector.
JAVALAMBRE LA PUEBLA DE VALVERDE
LAGUNA DEL MARQUESADO
130KM – 3020M+ 13% ASPHALT – 87% OFFROAD LAGUNA DEL MARQUESADO – LA PUEBLA DE VALVERDE KM SERVICES DESCRIPTION 0 8 25 39 44 55 58 62 66
96 100 104.5
107,5 114,5 130 131
Laguna del Marquesado. Accommodation. Zafrilla. Bar and restaurant. In wet seasons, could be muddy from Zafrilla to the A-2703 road, in km 27.You can avoid it by continuing in asphalt on the CUV-9103 and N-420, through Salinas del Manzano, until you get the track again on the A-2703. Descent with caution from km 25 to 27 until you reach the asphalt. No problem with bigger tyres. Atajo Tabernillas. Alobras. El Cuervo. Bar, and Hostel. Castielfabib. Bar. Los Santos Torre Baja. Grocery, bar, restaurant and accommodation.Try the typical various types of sausage of the town, especially the “longaniza”, or the “bocadillo de blanco y negro” (black and white sandwich). No more food points until La Puebla de Valverde, unless you spend the night in the Rabadá and Navarro refuge, after the top of Javalambre. Refugio Collado del Buey (***). Basic. Attention from km 100 to 104. In dry seasons can be 4 or 5 short hike-a-bike sectors. Conditions get better reaching Collado del Prado and taking the road from Pico del Buitre. Option:When arriving at Collado del Prado, you can deviate to the right to continue through the “altiplano” (it is high, but it is not flat) to the astronomical observatory of Pico del Buitre. About 7 kms from the junction. Go and return by the same route to continue to the Javalambre peak. Pico Javalambre. Detour to Refugio Rabadá y Navarro. Going down 5 km from the road junction. La Puebla de Valverde – Train Station. Atajo Vía Verde. Restaurant and accommodation. La Puebla de Valverde – Service Station. It will seem that you have reached heaven when you see the supermarket and the restaurant.
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GÚDAR
La puebla de Valverde, Mora de Rubielos, Linares de Mora, Alcalá de la Selva … It seems that at this final stage we’ll always have places nearby to calm our appetite. Also, that we have left behind the most depopulated stretches. But we won’t relax, we still have another 3000 meters of altitude ahead. In this section we will reach the maximum elevation of the whole route, the Peñarroya peak, at 2028 meters, next to the Valdelinares ski station. From there, we will go down to Alcalá de la Selva, we’ll eat something there, and step by step we will head towards the Sierra de Camarena, the last stumbling block of the route, from where we will finally descend to Teruel.
GÚDAR TERUEL
LA PUEBLA DE VALVERDE E.S.
160KM – 3100M+ 28% ASPHALT – 72% OFFROAD LA PUEBLA DE VALVERDE – TERUEL KM SERVICES DESCRIPTION 0 1 18 27 68 72 85 89 93 100 116 125,8
128 140 160
La Puebla de Valverde – Service Station. La Puebla de Valverde. Bar, restaurant and accomodation. Valbona. Bar, restaurant and accommodation. Mora de Rubielos. Supermarket, bars, restaurants, accomodation.There is also a health centre. Linares de Mora. Bars, restaurants and accomodation. Detour to Pino Escobón Monumental Tree. 1km. Valdelinares Ski Station. Detour to Pico Peñarroya. 2km. Highest point of the route. Perfect gravel road to the top. Detour to Refugio Chaparrilla (***). 500m.With chimney. Alcalá de la Selva. Bars, restaurants, accomodation and camping. Arriving to the village, in the roundabout next to the petrol station, there are more restaurant options turning left, towards La Virgen de la Vega. Cabra de Mora. Mijares river crossing. It is advisable to cross it walking since the concrete ford can be slippery. After rainy seasons it can have more water and can have stronger current, walk a few meters upstream, it has ramifications that make it easier to cross it. Formiche Bajo. Attention to the first section of the descent after the wind turbines. It is not a technical descent, but there are a couple of short points with big stones that you have to pay attention to. No problem with bigger tyres. Teruel.
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LOS ATAJOS About the shortcuts, it may have been more correct to have called them links, since they do not claim to be fast escapes.They are designed so you can design loops to your taste, from weekend routes up to a week or ten days.Therefore, even in the shortcuts I tried to find points of interest and cool tracks.
ATAJO CUBILLO TRAGACETE
RÍO TAJO
22KM – 378M+ RÍO TAJO – TRAGACETE KM SERVICES DESCRIPTION 15
Tragacete. Bars, restaurants, accommodation, and health centre.
ATAJO TABERNILLAS TERUEL
ALOBRAS
55KM – 710M+ ALOBRAS – TERUEL KM SERVICES DESCRIPTION 8,5 16 27 29,5 41 48
Detour to left to Pico Javalón. 2.5kms. Light ascension. Great views from the top. Jabaloyas. Some km after Jabaloyas, before Masía de Ligros, optional detour to letf, 90m to "Pino de las seis garras" (six-clawed pine), nice monumental tree. Masía de Ligros. Abandoned big forest house Collado de Tabernillas. El Campillo. Bar. San Blas. Big “almuerzos” in the bar.
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ATAJO LOS CASTILLOS TERUEL
ZAOREJAS (PUENTE DE SAN PEDRO)
150KM – 1670M+ ZAOREJAS – TERUEL KM SERVICES DESCRIPTION 0 34 44,5 48 55 60 63 74 85 93 96 99 104 115 150
Puente de San Pedro, beautiful natural pool. Bath recommended. Molina de Aragón. Supermarkets, bars, restaurants, accomodation and health centre. Believe it or not, good pizzería. Aldehuela. Short but steep sector at the exit of the village. Castellar de la Muela. Castillo de Zafra. Hombrados. Morenilla. Tordellego. Tordesilos. Ródenas. Bar, restaurant, and accomodation. Castillo de Peracense. Peracense. Bar. Almohaja. Vía Verde de Ojos Negros (greenway). Teruel.
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ATAJO VÍA VERDE LA PUEBLA DE VALVERDE
TERUEL
28KM – 160M+ LA PUEBLA DE VALVERDE – TERUEL KM SERVICES DESCRIPTION 0 18
From La Puebla de Valverde Train Station. End Vía Verde.
ATAJO OREA CHECA
ORIHUELA DEL TREMEDAL
13KM – 105M+ ORIHUELA DEL TREMEDAL – CHECA KM SERVICES DESCRIPTION 1 4 13
Refugio El Collado (*****).With chimney, wooden bunk beds and fountain. Orea. Bar, restaurants and accommodations. Checa. Grocery, bar, restaurants, accommodations and health centre. Deviation to Refugio Fuente de los Vaqueros (***). 2km towards Alcoroches.With chimney.
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VERSION: MARCH2020
DEMOTHANASIA: PROCESS THAT BOTH POLITICAL ACTIONS, DIRECT OR INDIRECT, AND OMISSION OF THEM, IS CAUSING THE SLOW AND SILENT DISAPPEARANCE OF THE POPULATION OF A TERRITORY THAT MIGRATES AND LEAVES THE AREA WITHOUT GENERATIONAL RELIEF AND WITH EVERYTHING THAT IT MEANS, SUCH AS DISAPPEARANCE OF A MILLENARY CULTURE. IT IS AN INDUCED DEATH, NOT VIOLENT. (PILAR BURILLO)
