GR 93 Section 9 Cornago-Cervera del Río Alhama

The longest stage of the GR 93

The Alhama River Valley awaits us at the end of this long and solitary stage of the GR 93. The landscape that accompanies us hardly offers us any areas where we can cool off on hot summer days. The GR 93 section 9 Cornago-Cervera del río Alhama follows old bridle paths and crosses narrow ravines, making us keep an eye out for the occasional pyrite with sharp edges, which are frequent along part of the route.

Itinerary of GR 93 Cornago-Cervera del Río Alhama

From Cornago to Casillas de San Esteban 17,7 Km

The marks of the GR 93 in Cornago (0h 00min) lead us from the town square downhill to the ravine of Regajo in search of the slaughterhouse. Once there, cross the bridge that crosses the ravine and start ascending the slope in front of you, passing by some old haystacks. The route quickly changes orientation to go up another ravine that has come our way.After a short while a track cuts us off and we cross it to continue the ascent on the other side of it. This area, which is somewhat uncomfortable to walk, winds its way up towards the Valcenón col. Once there we cross it, and leaving a path to our right we start to descend. This section of the route crosses the mountainside following its undulations.

Our path leaves us at the crossroads of ravines right in front of the one we have to follow. Quickly leaving the company of the ravine we start a new ascent section facing a tough ramp. This ascent takes us to a wide path along which we continue climbing. Almost immediately, on our left, there is a path that climbs steeply up the side of the mountain, taking us out of the relative comfort of the path. Once again, it is another path that allows us to take a short break. It hardly lasts, as we leave it again to continue ascending. Now on the other side of the mountainside, our route continues the ascent that will take us to the corrals of Tiro Canto. The GR 93 markings lead us towards the slender wind turbines of the wind farm before us. When we reach their height, we come out onto the path that leads us to pass under their propellers.

Leaving the first row of wind turbines to our right, we head towards a second row of wind turbines that we leave to our left. We quickly reach a crossroads where our route radically changes direction to start descending along the path that takes us to the bottom of the Carnanzún ravine. When we reach the ravine we cross it and start to follow its course into a pine forest. After a few kilometres, following this path parallel to the course of the ravine, we will come to a turn-off to our right, which takes us steeply uphill to the top of the hillside we are traversing. Once at the top we cross the path that cuts us off, leaving the wind turbines of this wind farm on either side. We quickly come out onto another path, and a few metres to our left the continuation of the GR 93 awaits us.

We must pay attention to the marks because when we reach what seems to be the end of the ravine, they make us draw a wide curve passing next to the remains of an old building to go back into the ravine that we have to cross. Initially, we can avoid this curve by shortening it along the path that joins both sides. There is a long stretch ahead of us, always with the bed of the ravine on our left. After a while the route changes direction as we leave the ravine to enter a much more open ravine and follow the generally dry bed of the stream that runs through it. After a while the route takes us down to the bed of the stream, where we follow it for a few metres. A little further on, we cross the stream, emerging from it through the earth slope that surrounds it. Now you only have to follow the dirt track that leads to the village of Casillas de San Esteban (4h 45min).​

From Casillas de San Esteban to Cervera del río Alhama 6.8 Km

Cross the village as far as the hermitage of San Esteban, where we turn left to follow the path that starts from there. A little later, when we reach the Canejada ravine, our route enters this steep pass until we reach a farm with some buildings. There we say goodbye to the ravine and follow the path that ascends gently up the right-hand slope. This part of the route takes us through several ravines and begins a more notable ascent as we advance in search of the head of another new ravine, leaving the previous one behind us. Once at the top we reach a pass at the same time as we come across a path that we cross to go in search of the nearby Tollo ravine where we descend.

The route takes us all the time following the capricious course of the ravine, crossing entertaining rocky areas. After a while we say goodbye to the ravine and head towards the castle of Cervera. Once there, we border it to go in search of the street where we will descend towards the centre of the town. After a few changes of orientation following the GR 93 waymarks we reach the main street of Cervera del Río Alhama (6h 15min), which is also the road that connects it with Aguilar del Río Alhama. Following this street to the left you come to the square of the town hall where this walking route ends.

Coordinates UTM Datúm WGS84

Profile of the route

Cartography

This schematic with the path is approximate and has been created from the derived cartographic base © Instituto Geográfico Nacional "Cuadrante 281-3 y 281-4 1:25.000".