From Coast to Mountains: 15 Scenic Hiking Ideas Near Valencia

 

The reservoir is about 60 kilometres from Valencia, and the drive takes roughly an hour. You can come to Tous for hiking, kayaking, or to see the ruins of the castle of the same name. There are several walking route options around the reservoir.

 

You can leave your car here and continue on foot. This is the highest point of the route; it starts near Cueva del Tortero, where stalactites have been preserved. It’s best to bring a torch.

 

The second cave along the way is Cueva del Candil, where a torch will also come in handy. In this section, the trail opens up views towards the Mediterranean. The route passes a viewpoint called Mirador de la Ribera.

 

After about a kilometre and a half, you’ll reach a point where you need to turn left towards Cabezón del Mellao. There will be a dirt track at first, then a narrow path. From here, the view begins to open up over Tous Reservoir itself, which the route leads towards. The trail runs along the Terrabona hillside to another viewpoint, from where you can also see the ruins of Castillo de Tous.

 

This is where the most challenging section begins, and it’s the part where you need to be particularly careful and attentive. At two points along the way, you’ll find a support rope. It isn’t always necessary, but it works as a safety back-up.

 

After crossing the ravine, head towards the spring Fuente el Chorrico. You’ll see remnants of an old channel that used to carry water from the spring to the village of Tous. The rest of the route follows the shoreline of the reservoir, with views of the castle ruins. The path then veers towards a main road — once you reach it, you can return to the parking area and finish the walk.

 

Another scenic spot where you can build not just one, but many beautiful routes — ranging from a couple of kilometres to several dozen, and from very easy to genuinely demanding. Montanejos is also known for its thermal springs, which you can combine with a walk.

 

The area is generally well set up for hiking, and you can navigate the trails using signposts. Many routes leading to the reservoir start on the edge of Montanejos. You can reach the starting area by car in just over an hour, or by public transport. If you choose public transport, take a train from Valencia’s main railway station to Segorbe–Ciudad, then change to bus L371a and get off at C. Valencia, 45 (front).

 

For example, from the point mentioned above you can cross the Río Mijares and head uphill. Along the way you can reach a drinking fountain https://maps.app.goo.gl/XDDF5CXhDQjjPX128 , or you can turn directly onto the ascent. Once you’ve climbed, panoramic views over the town open up.

 

Walking along the riverside path, you’ll need to cross a bridge and continue in the same direction. After a bend you’ll reach one of the local sights: a waterfall that bursts straight out of a rock wall. You can get closer via a bridge.

 

A little further on, you can either take a trail that leads back into town, or continue towards the reservoir. If you choose the reservoir option, on the way back you’ll again pass viewpoints over the river and cliffs. Eventually the trail brings you to the Cueva Negra (Black Cave). You don’t need a torch or any special gear there. After visiting it, you can finish the route by following the same-direction trail back to the starting point.

 

 

This route leads to the Peña Cortada aqueduct — a Roman aqueduct built in the 1st century and now recognised as a site of cultural significance. In the past, the aqueduct reached almost 100 kilometres; today, around 28 kilometres have survived. Along the way you’ll see striking landscapes and the ruined tower Torre Castro, built in the mid-11th century to help protect the Kingdom of Valencia from Castilian incursions.

 

You can leave your car and start the route here. You can also get there by bus: first take 62 to Av. Corts Valencianes, 20, then take L1A to C/Subida Cementerio. From there, it’s about a 30-minute walk.

 

On the way you’ll come across drinking fountains, signposts, and information boards about the area’s history. On the route to the aqueduct, you’ll need to cross a bridge. After that, there’s a point with lovely mountain views.

 

The main stop is the Roman aqueduct itself. On the approach, you’ll pass rock tunnels that have been adapted for walking. You can walk along the aqueduct, or explore around it. You can finish at the car park, but in that case the route won’t be a loop.

 

To extend the walk, return a little way back from the car park and take a different path. This leads to a small cave, then on to a viewpoint and the ruined tower with mountain views. The trail continues across several bridges and a stream and brings you out onto the road, on the right-hand side of which you began this route.

 

Serra is a little over 50 kilometres from Valencia. The easiest way to get there is by car, though it’s also possible by bus. Nearby is an Arab fortress known as Castillo de Serra, also called Alto del Pino. It was built roughly in the 8th–9th centuries at around 500 metres above sea level, and served as a defensive point for Serra and Valencia.

 

Today only sections of walls and two towers remain — the main tower and a water tower. You can start the route in Serra itself and head towards the castle. There are plenty of photo spots along the way, and the walk to the castle takes less than an hour. 

 

At the fortress, you can stop to explore, then continue along the ridge above the Turia valley. The path is set up for visitors, so you won’t lose the route. If you like, you can pause for a picnic in a designated area and then head back into town.

 

 

Chulilla is a small town of white houses and narrow streets, best known for its hanging bridges (Puentes Colgantes de Chulilla). It’s about an hour’s drive from Valencia.

 

To reach the hanging bridges, leave the town and walk past Charco Azul in the canyon. It’s a popular tourist area with several route options — shorter or longer.

 

Most routes go north along the Turia. The first stop is a viewpoint with panoramic views over the artificial lake. This path also follows the old access road that workers used in the 1950s while building the Loriguilla Reservoir (Embalse de Loriguilla) near Chulilla.

 

After the Turia’s bend, the hanging bridges begin. Usually there’s a €1 fee to access this route. From several bridges, you get beautiful views of the cliffs and river. The rest of the walk continues along a narrow trail to the reservoir, where you’ll find more spots to take photos and enjoy the scenery.

 

You can return to Chulilla the same way, or extend the walk by taking a mountain route and coming back into town from the other side.

 

Back in Chulilla, make sure you also visit the local fortress (Castillo de Chulilla). If you take the longer route, you can walk around Charco Azul from the opposite side.

The small town of Anna lies 70 kilometres south of Valencia. You can reach it in about an hour by car and park in one of the town car parks. It’s also possible by public transport: take an express train from Valencia’s main station to Xàtiva, then take bus L1A from Carrer Cavaller Ximen (Frente A2) to C/ Mayor, 50.

Anna is known for its gorgos — small natural pools formed by freshwater springs. A walking route runs along these pools and three waterfalls.

Near the car park you’ll already find the first stop: Gorgo de la Escalera. To reach it, you climb a staircase — which is where the pool gets its name. A little further on is the first waterfall, Cascada del Salto, but you’ll come to it shortly. For now, cross from one side of the pool to the other and, making a small loop, walk to Casa del Salto, a former paper mill.

Walk a little further, turn left, and reach a bridge. It takes you to Cascada del Salto. Then go back, cross the bridge again, and join the road. You’ll be on it for a while, but there are good photo spots along the way.

Cross a small stream, turn left, and continue. Next you can reach a picnic area, take a break, and head towards the second pool, El Gorgo Catalán, where you can swim in summer.

The next stop is another waterfall, Cascada del Molino. Nearby you can also visit the palace of the Counts of Cervellón (Palacio de los Condes de Cervellón), but to enter you need to call in advance and book tickets. From there you can walk to another abandoned mill, Miguelín, then to Gorgo Gaspar, and finally to Cascada de los Vikingos. From here you can return to the car park and starting point, or extend the route and explore the town.

 

El Salto de la Novia waterfall is located in the town of Navajas. It’s the highest waterfall in the province of Valencia, and the region is known for the scenic Palancia valley and beautiful landscapes. The distance from Valencia to Navajas is around 60 kilometres — roughly an hour’s drive.

 

The town was founded during Arab rule and developed rapidly from the 18th century onwards. Several large mansions were built then, used as residences by Valencia’s wealthiest families. In the centre of town there’s a square where an elm tree has been growing since 1636 — a local landmark.

 

North of Navajas lies the Embalse del Regajo (Regajo Reservoir), which you can also walk to. You can start directly from town. You can get to Navajas by car in under an hour, or by two Cercanías trains: first take C6 from Valencia’s main station to Sagunto/Sagunt, then change to C5 to Navajas.

 

The first point on the route is the 11th-century Arab tower Torre Altomira, shaped like a cylinder. From there you can choose a shorter or longer route; both eventually lead to the reservoir via the Vía Verde de Ojos Negros — a greenway where a railway line once ran.

 

Closer to the reservoir you’ll come across viewpoints overlooking it. Once you reach El Regajo, built in the 1950s, you can rest, have a picnic, and head back towards Navajas and the waterfall.

 

This part of the route crosses an 18th-century bridge and several others, including hanging bridges. It’s also known as the Ruta de las Fuentes (Route of the Springs) because there are several small water sources along the way.

 

To reach the final point — El Salto de la Novia — you need to go around Navajas. After visiting the waterfall, you can return to town and finish the walk.

 

A gorge with scenic paths and pools that become swimming areas in summer. Pou Clar is 90 kilometres south of Valencia, and the journey passes through another picturesque town, Xàtiva. You can get there by car or by a regional express train from Valencia’s main station. You can also reach Pou Clar by train: get off at Ontinyent and walk for about half an hour.

 

In Xàtiva, you can stop to visit the local castle, which spans Roman, Arab and Christian periods. The town is also the birthplace of painter José de Ribera (known as Lo Spagnoletto) and Pope Alexander VI Borgia.

 

Once you arrive at Pou Clar, you can park near the pools and choose between two routes. The first is fairly short and designed for a slow day out — picnic, long pauses, more contemplation than serious hiking. For that, simply walk around the area and choose a spot that suits you.

 

The second route is for well-prepared walkers ready for more than 10 kilometres. It starts from the same area, but after circling it you head into the mountains and continue south towards Cueva de la Beata Piedad de la Cruz and a memorial to the Battle of Camorra during the Third Carlist War.

 

The key highlight on this route is the church Ermita del Sant Crist. From here you’ll have views of Bocairent, which you reach by descending via a bridge. On the left side of the path, caves begin — known as Covetes dels Moros. These are man-made openings in the rock where Moors are traditionally said to have lived. From here, head north to return to the starting point.

Cortes de Pallás is about 85 kilometres from Valencia, and the drive takes around an hour and a half. The area has many natural pools where it’s lovely to rest and picnic.

You can start from the town itself and take a trail that runs along several waterfalls. Along the way you’ll find places suitable for swimming. After that, the trail opens up to striking views of cliffs, and you’ll start coming across caves.
The most difficult section is Paso de la Franca: mountain paths here are equipped with ropes and chains.

Experienced hikers advise taking it carefully, though in good weather the route isn’t dangerous. After this stretch, the path leads to a power station and an artificial reservoir. From there, you can climb to a viewpoint.

The final part is the return trail back into town. If you want, you can extend the route and continue from Cortes de Pallás to a natural reservoir .

Guadalest is in the province of Alicante, and it takes about two hours to reach it from Valencia by car. It’s a small town known above all for Castillo de San José (San José Castle), built in the 12th century, as well as the scenic Embalse de Guadalest and its views.

The easiest way to get there is by car. You can also travel by ALSA bus to Benidorm, then take bus L13 towards Guadalest — but the total travel time will be over four hours.

Once in Guadalest, you can limit yourself to visiting the castle and walking around town. You can also descend to the reservoir and walk its perimeter. Part of the route follows paths, and part follows good roads. There are no difficult sections apart from crossing a small stream via stepping stones, where you should take care.
 

The city of Sagunto lies 30 kilometres from Valencia and is well worth a dedicated walking day. It’s home to an enormous castle that for two thousand years repeatedly ended up at the centre of wars involving Romans, Visigoths, Arabs and Christians. Other local sights include the Roman theatre (Teatro Romano de Sagunto) and forum. This route is ideal for anyone who wants not only cliffs, forests, rivers and reservoirs, but also city streets and history.

You can start here — it’s convenient both for drivers (to park and set off on foot) and for those arriving by train from Valencia and getting off at Sagunt station. From this point, the castle is already visible.

From there, head north to the first roundabout, turn left, and walk to the first landmark: the square and the Church of El Salvador (Iglesia del Salvador), featuring Romanesque and Gothic elements. Construction began in the 13th century, and the building was rebuilt many times afterwards. Next, wander through the small streets — for example, stop by the spot where the remains of a Roman domus (a single-family mansion) have been preserved. There is now a museum here. Then continue towards the platform at the foot of the castle, with views over the coastline.

Here, the road turns into a trail that skirts the base of the slope and leads to a viewpoint. You can also find traces of several Iberian dwellings carved into the rock, as well as a tower. From the viewpoint, continue along the fortress walls. Walk around the western side of the castle via the paths and reach a medieval tower. Nearby are several small caves, and further on — an open hermitage and the columns of the Seven Sorrows of the Virgin Mary.

Next comes the Roman amphitheatre. If it’s open, you can go in and test the theory of the “perfect acoustics” of Roman theatres. Then the path leads to the entrance of Sagunto Castle (Castillo de Sagunto). It’s best to head east first to see the remains of the Roman forum, the main castle gate, and Plaza de la Almenara. After that, you can explore the fortress and its squares, then return to the entrance.

From there, you can also turn left and follow the castle wall to the Jewish cemetery and Civil War-era structures, or return straight to the amphitheatre. From this point on, you can shape the rest of the walk as you like: stroll the city streets, reach the Church of Santa María, see Roman ruins, then return to the starting point.

The small town of Olocau sits next to the vast Serra Calderona Natural Park, which has many hiking routes of varying difficulty starting from different towns. One of them leads to Castillo del Real, with views over Camp de Túria / Campo de Túria and the entire Gulf of Valencia, then on to the Moorish village of Olla.

The distance from Valencia to Olocau is about 40 kilometres, and the drive takes roughly 40 minutes. You can leave your car in one of the town car parks. By public transport, take Metrovalencia Line 2 to the final stop Llíria, then change to bus L1 to Av/Font del Frare 18. If you wish, you can start with a picnic and then head towards the castle along a paved road.

Only a few walls remain of the fortress, but the place is considered legendary because it’s mentioned in the Poem of the Cid. From here you get views over the Turia plain. The castle was built in the 11th century and changed hands repeatedly after the Christian conquest. Its layout is irregular because builders had to adapt to the terrain.

If you want an easier version, you can skip Olla and return to the starting point the same way. To reach Olla, you’ll need to turn off onto a trail and walk through a ravine to the village. There you can wander the streets and then follow a clearly marked route back to the start.

 

A route through the Desert de les Palmes nature reserve. It’s about 90 kilometres from Valencia, just over an hour by car; you can leave your car here. The route includes a climb to the reserve’s highest peak, El Bartolo, from where you can see both the Castellón coastline and inland areas — and on the clearest days, the Columbretes Islands.

 

From the starting point, walk to where the trail splits in several directions and turn left. From here you can take the clearer road on the right and go directly to the summit. The second option is to choose the trail that first takes you to another peak, El Cantal Gros, before ascending to the highest point.

 

Continue along the path to the Cruz del Desierto de las Palmas. Here you’ll find a monumental cross — 24 metres high and weighing 90 tonnes. You can rest here, then continue to the main summit, visit the Ermita de San Miguel Arcángel church, and pass the radio-antenna installations.

 

To descend, you can return the same way or take the road further left, which leads back down to the starting point. On the way back you can also stop by the Monasterio del Desierto de las Palmas (the Carmelite monastery).

Castillo de Castro is located near Alfondeguilla. You can reach the town from Valencia in under an hour by car, or in a couple of hours by public transport. The castle is an ancient Arab fortification whose origins go back to pre-Christian times. It sits at about 790 metres above sea level. Only ruins remain today, but the panoramic views over the surrounding peaks make it no less compelling.

You can start the walk to the castle from the car park or from any other point in Alfondeguilla. You can reach the town by car, or by two buses: first L113 from Facultats metro station in Valencia to Vall d’Uixó, then L360a from the local bus station to CV-230 (km 15.7) in the south of Alfondeguilla.

Walk to the crossroads in the north of town and turn left. The route to the castle runs through the Parc Natural de la Serra d’Espadà / Sierra de Espadán Natural Park, where you can see cork-oak woodland in the ravines of Horteta and Font de la Pinyeta.

From the crossroads, follow the uphill path through a ravine to the castle. Along the way you can stop at several viewpoints, then continue back towards Alfondeguilla. If the first part was mostly uphill, the next section goes downhill. Nearer the town you’ll pass a drinking fountain and the local cemetery.

This is the furthest route from Valencia: the drive to the start takes about three hours and covers more than 200 kilometres. Before you begin walking, you can stop for a bite at a nearby restaurant, then follow the road towards the waterfalls. At the start you’ll find an information board explaining different walking options in the region.

The path to the waterfall where the Río Cuervo begins is well equipped for walking, so the difficulty is fairly low. You can stop by the waterfalls to take photos, then cross the river via a wooden bridge to reach the second section of the falls. After that, return to the previous point and head away from the waterfalls in the opposite direction towards a small cave.

The route then goes through meadowland dotted with Scots pine and black pine, following marked trails to Mirador del Cuervo. After that comes a fairly challenging descent down a slope through dense Aleppo pine forest, which brings you back to the start point.