Río Bailón Trail

What it is

One of the most-walked routes in the Sierras Subbéticas Natural Park and Geopark. It follows the río Bailón from its source and crosses two karst jewels: the polje of La Nava de Cabra, an enclosed plain at almost 1,000 metres above sea level, and the río Bailón canyon, which comes out at Zuheros. Along the way you will see poljes, sinkholes, palaeo-dolines, springs and karren, the landforms that earned the park its Geopark designation in 2006.

The facts

The two official listings do not entirely agree. The Subbética association of municipalities gives it 12.2 km one-way, about five hours and moderate difficulty. The Junta leaflet speaks of 12 km one-way, 4 hours 15 minutes and medium difficulty, between 1,039 and 620 metres above sea level, with a maximum height difference of 419 m and little shade. It can be done in both directions: from La Nava to Zuheros, downhill, or from Zuheros to La Nava, uphill.

The route

In the downhill direction you start near the Picacho of the Sierra de Cabra, with the hermitage of the Virgen de la Sierra on the summit, the so-called Balcón de Andalucía. A track goes down past the ruins of Cortijo Nuevo and Cortijo de la Virgen to La Nava, with springs, drinking troughs, shepherds' huts and flocks of sheep and goats, and large Portuguese oaks that turn yellow in autumn. The small detour to the Chorreras, some waterfalls on the arroyo de la Fuenseca, is worth it. Further on, a panel explains a palaeo-doline and the Fuenfría spring makes a good stop. Then comes the canyon, with rock shelters such as the Cueva del Fraile, and the path runs beside the river, crossing it a couple of times, until Zuheros appears with its castle. Look up: there are griffon vultures, Bonelli's eagles and peregrine falcons.

Before setting out

The Junta leaflet states that this trail needs authorisation from the natural park's management, requested through the Consejería's electronic office or by registration 15 days in advance. Check before you go, because we have not found whether it is still in force.

As it is one-way, organise the return: two cars or a taxi. From Cabra you reach it by the A-339 to the Venta de los Pelaos and from there along the road that climbs to the hermitage; before the summit the trail's track branches off. The association places the start at the car park of the río Bailón viewpoint, at kilometre 5 of that road. There is more parking at the hermitage, at the Venta de los Pelaos and in Zuheros, next to the bridge over the río Bailón. By bus you can only reach Cabra, with Autocares Carrera (957 500 302).

The Junta recommends walking poles and a cap and avoiding hot days; the association advises spring and also autumn. If you finish in Zuheros with energy to spare, the Cueva de los Murciélagos is a few kilometres away, by reservation.