Outdoor adventures · Sierra de Cádiz

Río Majaceite Trail

An easy 5.3 km riverside path in the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park from Benamahoma down the Majaceite valley to El Bosque, shaded by poplar and ash, past old mills and a power station.

About Río Majaceite Trail

The Sendero del Río Majaceite follows the clear river that rises at Benamahoma, a village of Grazalema municipality, and flows west to El Bosque in the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park. It is one of the park's easiest and most popular walks, and no permit is needed. The valley holds a gallery forest, a riverside woodland of black poplar, ash, elm and willow, and the water once drove mills, fulling mills and trout farms. Otters live here, though they are rarely seen.

The start is at the north-west edge of Benamahoma, by Venta El Bujío on Calle La Cuesta de la Venta, where a wooden footbridge crosses the river. The earth and stone path passes the Breña del Agua spring, a weir, ruined mills and the Fábrica de Luz, a small hydroelectric plant that worked until 1963. It ends at the Molino de Enmedio hostel in El Bosque: 5.3 km, about 2 hours, mostly downhill from 450 m to 265 m.

Free and open all year. Parking is in Benamahoma and by the El Bosque visitor centre. Walk back (about 4 hours return) or check Los Amarillos and Comes bus times. Shade is good, but after heavy rain stones can fall from the slopes and the path gets muddy. Fishing, fires and plant collecting are banned. It suits families and beginners, but not pushchairs or wheelchairs.

Good all year and one of the few comfortable sierra walks in summer. Wear shoes with grip for wet stones. Tip: visit the Ecomuseo del Agua in Benamahoma before setting off.

Río Majaceite Trail in pictures

Old weir and rushing water on the Río Majaceite Trail between Benamahoma and El Bosque

Gravel path and riverside woodland along the Río Majaceite Trail, Sierra de Grazalema

Majaceite river and bare winter trees at the edge of Benamahoma, Río Majaceite Trail, Grazalema

What you’ll find

Car parkParkingFree
Family friendlyEasy for childrenFree
Free accessFree visitFree
HikingWalking routeFree
Linear routeOne-way trailFree
Shuttle or busPublic transportBuy

Nearby places to visit

Benamahoma is the end point of the El Pinsapar Trail (8 km), the fir-forest walk over the Sierra del Pinar, and the trailhead of the El Torreón Ascent (3 km) is just up the A-372. The Salto del Cabrero (8 km) is a split limestone cliff on an old drove road above the village of Benaocaz (9 km), and the deep Garganta Verde gorge (8 km) lies on the north side of the sierra. Leather-making Ubrique (10 km) is the largest town nearby, with shops, workshops selling leather goods and restaurants serving sierra dishes.