Barranc de I'Infern the cathedral of hiking

The route of the 6500 steps

In the Alicante region of the Marina Alta, specifically in the Vall de Laguar, a natural landscape of great beauty awaits us and the route that runs through it, we are talking about the Barranc de I'Infern, the cathedral of hiking. Every self-respecting hiker should not miss this famous route, which is said to owe the grandeur of its name to the more than 6500 steps that make it up and that help us to overcome the great unevenness of the route. This route follows the PR-CV 147 signposting, starting from the town of Fleix and also passing through Benimaurell, another possible starting point for this path of steps.

How to get to Barranc de I'Infern

There are several possible ways to get to Fleix, although the main accesses are found on the road that connects Castell de Castells and Parcent or on the road that links the latter with Pego. Of course, we can also get there from Vall de Ebo, among many other options.

Enter your place of departure

Where the cathedral of hiking route begins

The most common starting point is in the town of Fleix, where there are both parking areas and signs with information about the route. Another possibility is in the village of Benimaurell, as the route also passes through it and you should have no major problems parking and joining it.

Itinerary of the route by the Barranc de I'Infern the cathedral of trekking

From Fleix to the river Girona 2,2 Km

On the outskirts of the village of Fleix (0h 00min), on the road that leads to Benimaurell, you find a large parking area where the route along the Barranco del Infierno starts. Follow this road a few metres towards Benimaurell to find the turn-off that you should follow. The path takes you down to the Font Grossa and the old Fleix washing place. A little further on, the path begins, which we must follow, leaving the road we will return along.

The descent takes us through the Forat de la Juvea pass, a tunnel excavated in the rock that allows us to overcome the vertical cut that we have next to us. This architectural work, the more than 6500 steps and the tunnel, along with other remains, were made by the Moors as paths to cross these abrupt lands when they inhabited this area of the Peninsula. We leave behind this spectacular pass to continue descending in search of the bed of the Girona river, which has been responsible for shaping this rugged ravine. The route markers and the path lead us without major complications to the river bed itself, which is usually dry, we are in the middle of the Barranc de l'Infern.​

From the river Girona to Juvees d'Enmig 2,3 Km

We cross the riverbed to begin one of the demanding sections that we will have to overcome. The path, of course, zigzags along the side of the ravine, making us gain height quickly. Once again the steps are the protagonists, although at this stage of the route we have lost count of how many we have already climbed. After a while, the slope gives us a break as we approach a group of houses known as Juvees d'Enmig, a good place to take a break and regain our strength.

From Juvees d'Enmig to Barranc de Racons 4,5 Km

We leave this welcoming spot behind us to begin a new descent that takes us first to the Font de Reinós. After the pertinent stop, we continue our descent to hell. A descent that ends when we come across the dry riverbed, which we go up a few metres in search of the beginning of the ascent that awaits us. Once again, a demanding ascent that, after several zigzags and several stops to catch our breath and enjoy the landscape, takes us to another of the old groups of buildings that populate the area, the Juvees de Dalt. This area offers unbeatable views of the Barranc de I'Infern ravine, views that we enjoy as we prepare for a new stretch of descent. This part of the route takes us through the Barranc del Tuerto or Barranc dels Torts. This ravine takes us directly to the Racons ravine, the starting point of the last uphill stretch that we will have to face.

From Barranc de Racons to Benimaurell 3 Km

Once again, the path zigzags around countless switchbacks that make us gain height with each step. Little by little we leave the ravine without being able to stop looking back to contemplate the spectacular landscape that we are crossing. After a while, our path reaches its end, leaving us on an asphalted track along which we must continue. The Font dels Olbis invites us to take a break before tackling the final stretch of the route. Benimaurell (4h 35min) awaits us a little further on to take us out of the hell we have been through.

From Benimaurell to Fleix 2 Km

We cross the town in search of the road that comes from Fleix, but just before we reach the exit we come across the cement road that we followed at the beginning of our route. This path takes us without major complications to Fleix (5h 00min) where we will put an end to this beautiful hiking route, which has more than deserved to be called the Cathedral of Hiking.

Coordinates UTM Datúm WGS84

Profile of the route by the Barranc de l'Infern the cathedral of hiking

Cartography

This schematic with the path is approximate and has been created from the derived cartographic base © Instituto Geográfico Nacional "Cuadrante 822-1 1:25.000".