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Difficulty-Remarkable
4:30 h.
5 km.
Difficulty-Remarkable
4:30 h.
5 km.
The province of Cádiz treasures countless corners of great beauty, fine sandy beaches, cities and villages steeped in history are joined by natural spaces that surprise those who visit them. The Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park is one of these places. There are several hiking routes that we can do in it, but perhaps the most spectacular of them all is undoubtedly the Green Gorge Path. A short but intense route that takes us to the Cave of the Hermitage or the Hermitage of the Gorge, as it is also known, descending the steep rocky outcrop, surrounded by vegetation and the vultures that live here.
To reach the starting point of the Path of the Green Gorge we must follow the road that links Zahara de la Sierra to Grazalema. Specifically, it is at the Port of the Doves, in the middle of the road, where we will find the car park and the start of the route, which is perfectly signposted.
In order to do the Green Gorge Path on your own you need to apply for a special permit with sufficient time in advance, at the following link you have more information. The route is divided into two distinct sections, one up to the Hermitage of the Gorge, which is a short but demanding route, and the other from the cave, which requires knowledge and canyoning equipment. Well, from June to October, permits are only granted for the complete route, descending through the ravine until the exit near Zahara de la Sierra, without the possibility of returning along the same route. This type of activity is usually carried out by active tourism companies in the area.
We start the route that will take us to this spectacular canyon excavated by the Stream of Bocaleones over the years from the parking lot next to the road. We follow the path that starts at the parking area, ascending gently as we follow the markings that will guide us along the entire route. After a short while we come across the highly recommended detour that will take us to the Vulture's Viewpoin. After the visit, we return to the path to reach the start of the vertical descent ahead of us. The path begins the typical zigzagging while showing us some simply spectacular views.
This whole area requires special caution as it has somewhat technical and exposed sections, although they are equipped with ropes, handrails and steps carved into the rock to make our work easier.
Little by little we overcome the obstacles that the route places in our path and enter the lush green vegetation from which this beautiful hiking route takes its name. After a while in front of us we can already see the entrance to the imposing and magical natural vault that resembles the architecture of the chapels, hence the name Hermitage of the Gorge (1h 50min). This is the usual point and end of the route since, as we have already mentioned, from now on we will need canyoning knowledge and equipment. Therefore, once we have enjoyed this unique natural landscape we return to the parking place (4h 30min), following the same route we came by, having to face the more than demanding ascent that separates us from it.
Green Gorge Path-CC/Álvaro Rodríguez
Green Gorge Path-CC/Por los caminos de Málaga
Green Gorge Path-CC/Por los caminos de Málaga
1-In general, the riverbed in this section runs underground, although depending on the rainfall we may find that the area is flooded, which is why it is vital to know the state of the route beforehand.
2-Access to pets is prohibited.
3-Bear in mind that you are in a rugged area where natural processes and the weather can cause rockslides, falling trees or their branches, and the terrain can be slippery.
4-This route requires sufficient experience and physical preparation to tackle it with guarantees.
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| 1-Parking | 0:00h | 710m | 0Km | 30S 286598 4076291 |
| 2-Hermitage of the Gorge | 1:50h | 495m | 2,5Km | 30S 285544 4077151 |
Coordinates UTM Datúm WGS84
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Distance: 5Km
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Time: 4:30h
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Difficulty: Remarkable
Slope: 680m
Slope +: 340m
Slope -: 340m
Maximum altitude: 750m
Minimum altitude: 495m
This schematic with the path is approximate and has been created from the derived cartographic base © Instituto Geográfico Nacional "Cuadrante 1050-1 1:25.000".
¿Did you know that...
This area of the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park is home to a large colony of griffon vultures. Along the route we can see them flying over our heads and it is not unusual to come across a vulture perched on the rocks near the path.
Don't miss out...
The town of Zahara de la Sierra, included in the White Villages Route, is a beautiful town with a great historical and artistic heritage, not forgetting the natural environment that surrounds it.
From the commitment of SENDITUR with Nature and the respect to the balance of the environment, SENDITUR urges you to travel in a responsible way, with low environmental impact and respecting at all times the Natural, Cultural and Social environment wherever you go.
Besides sharing with all of us your experience on the route we would be grateful if you could write to us to inform us of any erroneous or outdated information you may have found, or simply to let us know what you think at Thank you.
Route information updated on 18-05-2021. The route may vary greatly depending on the time of year, weather conditions and terrain, as well as the actions of third parties and the evolution suffered in the natural environment where it is located. All opinions, advice and/or assessments made by SENDITUR in their descriptions are for guidance only and are subject to and/or refer to the specific conditions of the specific day of the route, referring to that specific day, taken from trained people, with the appropriate experience and with a high level of physical and technical preparation as a reference, as well as correctly equipped.
All the times are approximate and take an orientative character, the stops have not been taken into account, no matter how small they are. All the information related to the route, texts, images, videos, maps, diagrams, tracks, towns, and places of tourist interest are published as a guide, and may not coincide with the current state of each place. Before undertaking any activity, assess your technical knowledge, your physical condition, find out about the weather and the variations that the route may undergo, equip yourself correctly, be prudent and responsible at all times, and do not exceed your capabilities. SENDITUR is not responsible for any misuse or inappropriate use of the comprehensive guides of its routes and/or publications as well as its electronic guides, nor for any variations in their descriptions for the aforementioned reasons, and recommends that everyone be responsible and prudent in carrying out the activity. We also encourage you to read books and specialised guides to complement the information described above.
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