RUTA 1. TREVELEZ CIRCULAR LARGO CON RECORTE

About trip

Attention After rainy days or after the first warmer days (as the snow will melt) it is sometimes too dangerous and difficult to cross the small river Culo Perro (after 4.5 km). If this is the case you must retrace your steps to Trevelez. Your Route From the hotel la Fragua II you first turn right to head to the hotel la Fragua I next to the ‘ayuntamiento’ (town hall). After the hotel turn directly to the right below a ‘tinao’ (a typical construction of the Alpujarras which is a covered archway between the houses) towards the Lavadero (washing area) on the street named Calle Horno. You’ll see a sign ‘Siete Lagunas y Mulhacen’. Follow this route. The path is quite broad in the beginning, passing several farmhouses as it climbs in zigzags; follow this path. After about 40 minutes walking time, you’ll see again a sign ‘Siete Lagunas’ towards the left (wp1), and also a rock with a yellow-white cross indicating the path ahead. Continue on ahead passing the rock with the yellow and white cross, leaving the ‘Siete Lagunas’ route. You will follow this route for approximately 2,2 km and about 270 meters of ascends. The path continues ascending and levelling. Note: There is often a lot of water, so you may have to step from stone to stone. 15 km (or 10 km) 800 m (or 680m) 04h30 - 05h00 As you continue you will pass through 2 ‘gates’ (please note that in this region ‘gates’ are often makeshift and can be made from simple fencing and posts or whatever metal is available to the farmer. It is common practice to leave the gate in the position you found it, i.e. if it was open, leave it open). A little further on you will reach a plaque on the rocks which is a memorial to two police officers who died during the fighting during Franco’s reign. The path passes this memorial and curves above it on an undefined path towards your highest point of the day. You will continue until you come to a height of 1950m where you cross the hillside to give you a good view of the valley of Rio Culo Perro (literally ‘River Dog’s ass’), a little river which will converge into the bigger river Trevelez later down the valley. At the other side of the Culo Perro valley you can see the farm Cortijo de Las Encinillas; your next goal. Follow the path as it contours around the hillside towards the farm and you will start to descend to reach a (wp 2) with a pile of stones like a cairn and approx 10m further a cross of paths. Here you continue straight, towards Río Culo Perro. At Río Culo Perro at wp2, you head towards the left to find the place to cross the river (wp3) (total distance so far is 5 km). There is no bridge to cross the river however this section is easily crossed in good weather. After periods of wet weather or in May and early June when the mountain snow is melting the river can be flowing stronger. If you arrive and feel it is not passible in a safe manor then stop your route here and retrace your steps to Trevelez. Do not attempt to cross the river if it is flowing high. After crossing the river you will come to another makeshift ‘gate’. Go through the gate and ascend about 70 meters towards the farm (known locally as a cortijo) and the “era” (the circular patio like area below the farm traditionally used for threshing flour). As you continue on the path you will walk between the 2 farm buildings and you will see 2 makeshift gates. Ignore the left one which leads into a field and take the one a few meters further ahead of you and close it behind you (wp4). Turn directly left to follow the path alongside the fence before soon taking the path which viers at 45 degree angle from to your right in a north-eastern direction. Passing above a reduntant farm building after about 400m, you will go again through a gate (wp5) and you follow the path towards the right, along the fence. After about 1 km walking the view will open up and you will see a small farm further along the valley. The path soon splits; keep to the left hand fork which follows a higher track. To get to the farm you still have to cross a little barranco (Note: a barranco is a steep valley or ravine which has been created by a water source. In spain these are always named on the map). The path is more difficult and narrow here. You have to walk towards the front door of the little farm (wp6). First go through the gate and here you turn right to begin a rapid downhill brings you to the river after another gate. Cross the bridge (wp7). To return to Trevélez (2 hours more or less), you take the path towards the right, all the time following the river down the valley. After approx 2km you will cross a small rock bridge over the river and continue to follow the river down the valley. After about 40 min after wp 7 you will cross the river again at the larger built bridge (wp8), to keep the river on your left hand side until Trevélez. After crossing the bridge your route will take you in between the river and an irrigation canal. You will pass wp9, where other other pathways come to join the track. You will note that as you continue you will begine to see green and white waymarks along the path, these lead back to Trevelez. When approaching the village, you will see a farm at the other side and a stone bridge. About 20 meters before this bridge you turn to the right uphill on a wide track with a pillar in the middle to prevent vehicles using the track (wp10). Ignore a path to the left (this path will go to the low neighbourhood of the village). Continue on the trail straight up following the green-white signs, ignore a right turn and continue straight on towards the sport terrains, Hotel la Fragua II and bar-restaurant La Fragua.