Talcano Car Park

The Talcano car park is down below, next to the River Duratón and the Roman bridge of Talcano, at the foot of the town of Sepúlveda. It is one of the signposted parking areas cited by the Castilla y León Natural Heritage Foundation in its leaflet for the Two Rivers Paths, and a good place to leave the car if what you want is to walk by the water without driving into the narrow streets of the old town.

What it is for

From here you walk without a car along the start of the canyon. The Two Rivers Path, the circular itinerary recommended by the park, passes through the car park: the path arrives from the Picazos bridge, going up the Duratón along the left bank, leaves behind the dam of the old Fábrica de la Luz and reaches the Talcano bridge. From that point it joins the trail that continues upriver to the Villaseca bridge, and the return leg of the circuit goes on towards the Caslilla by stone steps that skirt the Silla de Montar a Caballo, a striking rock formation, to the Palmarejos bridge.

Castilla y León Tourism gives the full loop about 5.6 km and medium-low difficulty: allow about two hours with stops. If you start here instead of in the town, the most demanding stretch, the climb to the gates of the wall, comes in the middle and not at the end.

What there is and what there is not

The leaflet marks it simply as a car park: no number of spaces or charge is published, and no facilities are indicated at the site. Toilets, bars and shops are up above, in Sepúlveda. Information on the state of the trails, the areas restricted for birds of prey breeding and maps are given by the Park Centre, in the old church of Santiago (921 540 322), and by the tourist office on plaza del Trigo (921 540 425).

Park rules

Leave the car in the signposted areas, not on tracks or at field entrances. Inside the natural park you cannot climb, collect rocks, plants or animals, or camp or spend the night, so this car park is not a place to sleep in a van. The path can be done all year except when the river is in spate: after heavy rain, ask first at the Park Centre.

With children and in summer

The flat stretch beside the Duratón, between Talcano and the Fábrica de la Luz, is the most comfortable for going with children: there is shade from poplars, ash and alders, and you hear nightingales and golden orioles. On hot days it is better to leave the climb up to the town, which is in the sun, for first or last thing.

What to combine it with

Do the Two Rivers Path from here and, on the way up, walk around the town of Sepúlveda and the Park Centre. For lunch, lamb from a wood-fired oven at the Asador El Panadero, ordered when you book. To see the big canyon, drive to the San Frutos car park.