Wonders · Huéscar

Cerrada del Río Castril

The Cerrada del Río Castril is a narrow river gorge below the village of Castril, explored on a free 2 km trail of timber walkways anchored to the rock, a hanging bridge and a tunnel.

About Cerrada del Río Castril

The Cerrada del Río Castril is the gorge where the river squeezes past the Peña de Castril, the rock above the village of Castril in north-east Granada province. The Peña is a Natural Monument and the valley upstream is part of the Sierra de Castril Natural Park. The walkway loop is about 2 km long, with around 110 m of ascent.

From the Río Castril recreation area the path enters the gorge on boardwalks anchored to the rock above the water. It passes an old hydroelectric station, crosses a suspension bridge and goes through a tunnel to an old mill, now rural lodgings and a restaurant. Pools and small falls dot the river.

The recreation area lies about 850 m below the village by road, or can be reached on foot over a wooden footbridge, and has a large car park, 20 picnic tables, barbecues, a play area and a summer kiosk. Access is free. Allow about an hour. The loop suits children who are steady on their feet, but not wheelchairs or pushchairs. The Sierra de Castril visitor centre is about 500 m away.

Spring and summer are the recommended seasons, when the riverside poplars give shade; arrive early on summer weekends. Fires are banned from 1 June to 15 October, barbecues included, and camping is not allowed.

Cerrada del Río Castril in pictures

Small waterfall on the Río Castril inside the Cerrada del Río Castril gorge, Castril

Suspension bridge over the Río Castril on the Cerrada del Río Castril gorge trail, Castril

What you’ll find

Café or kioskFood and drinkBuy
Car parkParkingFree
Gorge walkwayWalkway visitFree
Picnic areaPicnicFree
Visitor centreVisitor informationFree

Nearby places to visit

After the walk, cool off at the Negratín reservoir: Playas del Negratín (24 km) at Cuevas del Campo and Playa de Freila (29 km) are freshwater beaches with summer bathing. The Gorafe Desert (35 km) is a complete contrast, with red badlands, viewpoints and more than 240 dolmens around Gorafe. In Castril itself, the Peña de Castril has a viewpoint over the village and the surrounding sierras, and the El Portillo dam, about 1.3 km upstream of the recreation area by car, looks out over its reservoir. Huéscar, the comarca's main town, lies to the north-east.