Circular route round the Rey, Colgada, Batana and Santo Morcillo lagoons

The classic walk of the park, the one suggested by Castilla-La Mancha Tourism: a circuit round four linked lagoons, the Rey, next to Ruidera, the Colgada, the Batana and Santo Morcillo, joined by the waterfalls and tufa barriers that shape the park. The official listing gives 5.5 km, about two and a half hours and 97 m of climbing, with longer variants for anyone who wants to extend it; the route has a downloadable GPX.

What you will see

The Lagunas de Ruidera are a system of fifteen stepped lagoons on the upper Guadiana, between Ciudad Real and Albacete. The water passes from one to the next over natural tufa barriers, a porous limestone that the river itself deposits, and that is why the landscape is full of small and large waterfalls. According to the park's leaflet, the name Ruidera would come from the noise of the water falling from lagoon to lagoon: the "roideras" that could be heard in the silence of the Campo de Montiel.

On this route the water changes from turquoise to emerald green depending on the light and depth. Upstream of the Colgada are the Batana and Santo Morcillo. On the banks grow rushes, reeds and canes, and on the slopes, holm oaks, savin junipers and pines. You can see water birds, such as ducks, herons and cormorants, especially first thing and at dusk.

Variants

The regional government has waymarked several paths that let you adapt the walk. Route 1 on the left bank skirts the Rey, Colgada and Batana lagoons, from the N-430 to the Santa Elena power station: 6.9 km linear, low difficulty, about three hours there and back. A short but steep link via the Tinada de las Hazadillas joins the Colgada with the Santo Morcillo. And on the other bank, the scenic road path accompanies the lagoons road with a cycle lane on both sides and a pedestrian path: 10.9 km of low difficulty, which can also be done by bike.

Very close to the Rey lagoon, downstream, is El Hundimiento, the waterfall that separates the upper lagoons from the lower ones. It was born in 1545, when an exceptional flood broke the tufa barrier. It is worth stopping by before or after the walk.

Tips

There are car parks, fountains, picnic areas and panels along the way. In spring, and after a rainy autumn, the waterfalls carry more water. In summer, set out early: there is little shade in some stretches and the heat bears down. Take water, a hat and sun protection, and shoes for dirt and stone paths. At the park's information centre in Ruidera they give you the map of the paths.

If you want to see the lagoons from the water, the kayak route on the Colgada lagoon covers this same area. To see them from above, the Miradores trail starts from Ossa de Montiel.