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Greenway of the Cidacos. Section 3 Arnedo-Arnedillo
Arnedo, La Rioja
(1)
The transition from the Valley to the Sierra
Difficulty-Low
3:15 h.
12.9 km.
Arnedo, La Rioja (1)
The transition from the Valley to the Sierra
Difficulty-Low
3:15 h.
12.9 km.
In the wide Cidacos valley, between the towns of Arnedo and Arnedillo in La Rioja, flanked by the steep cliffs that delimit the valley, is the Greenway of the Cidacos, section 3 Arnedo-Arnedillo.
A landscape that will change at every step we take and transport us from the pleasant and tree-lined banks of the Cidacos in Arnedo, through the extensive lands of crops such as almond or olive trees in Herce, to reach the colossal rocks of Arnedillo, home to numerous rupicolous birds. This beautiful 12.9 km walk takes us through the part of the Cidacos valley, from Arnedo with its 9th century castle to Arnedillo. It passes, in its first steps, by the fertile plain of the river in its left margin, escorted by the singular fluvial cuttings that the flowing of the river Cidacos to formed.
In one of these cliffs is the monastery of Vico, of very remote origin attributed to the Visigothic anchorites who lived in solitude in the caves and grottos of the region. Returning to the old railway line that forces us to say goodbye to the Cidacos for now, we will reach Herce and the restored building of the old station. At the top of the rocky rocks the tower of the castle of Herce, very possibly of century XIII, dominates the extensive valley by where our route runs, now with a clear but soft ascending tendency. We will pass by the old station of Préjano-Ariñano where the mineral was loaded that the wagons transported until this place from the mine of Préjano and almost without realizing it we will introduce ourselves between the spectacular rocks of Arnedillo home of an important colony of vultures, that we will be able to know and to observe with more detail from the viewpoint of the vulture.
Bordering the rocks following the course that the river describes in the spectacular canyon, we reach the entrance of the tunnel that crosses the entrails of the town to the end of the road, the Arnedillo station.
Just at the entrance of the tunnel we have the possibility of, by some stairs, to descend and to go up again the course of the river Cidacos by a metallic footbridge that takes us by the walk of the park next to the river until the pozas of Arnedillo and from there by the trail of the water to connect with the end of the route.
To get to Arnedo we can do it following the LR-115, which joins Rincón de Soto, on the N-232 between Logroño and Zaragoza, with the town of Yanguas in Soria. Also by the LR-123 that communicates the N-113 in Valverde with the N-232 in Villar de Arnedo, or from Calahorra following the LR-134. Once in Arnedo we will cross the locality by the avenue of the Catholic Monarchs to deviate towards the polideportivo complex and the municipal swimming pools, where we will have an ample parking to leave our vehicle, from here we will cross the scarce meters that separate us of the bank of the river and of the park of the Cidacos of Arnedo where this route begins.
It is a pleasant walk almost entirely on asphalted terrain, with the first part of the route running through the shady fertile plain of Cidacos and the rest between olive and almond groves, as well as the obligation to cross the road several times.
We will only find water points in the localities.
We will pass close to two farms, one agricultural and the other livestock in the old station of Ariñano, with several shepherd dogs that ring through the enclosure, usually closed. We will also find the mascots of the orchards next to which the route passes.
The route begins in the Park of the Cidacos of Arnedo (0h 00min), from him and going up again the course of the river we will arrive at the end of the urbanized zone of the park, next to an artificial lagoon.
At this end of the park begins a path that continues parallel to the river Cidacos through the wooded area of the river bank, we continue along this dark road between the river and orchards reaching a clearing in the vegetation where there is a modern footbridge that gives us the opportunity to cross the river to climb the monastery of Vico that seems to observe us from the top of the hill that flanks the Cidacos on its right bank.
Our route continues straight without the need to cross and leaving this footbridge behind us, from this point to Herce the section is shared with vehicles, turns sharply to the right and, leaving the river bank definitively, flows into the old route of the road now converted into an access road to the orchards existing in the place.
At this point we continue turning left to recover the direction of the march that we had until then, we will continue straight for this road leaving behind us the few crosses that we will find.
At the entrance of the next locality of the route we continue straight, leaving aside the crossing that receives us and that connects with the main road, soon we will arrive at the height of the swimming pools and the sports center of Herce (1h 20min).
The path goes straight on from the swimming pools leaving the town and leaving behind the entrance street to the sports area, to draw a parabola that gradually takes us back to the Cidacos between olive and almond farms.
When arriving at the height of the river we pass by the bridge that crosses it, changing of margin since up to Arnedillo the layout continues by this other bank, in this first part of the route we return to meet with the trees of the bank but not with the leafyness that in hot days we would like.
Leaving to our left how many ways go out to our meeting, we arrive at the height of the highway that takes up to Préjano and that we will cross to continue, next to the pavilions of the olive oil press, the itinerary between estates of olive trees and the wide course of the river.
We still do not leave this path largely bounded by a wooden railing, being able to contemplate on the other side of the river the towns of Santa Eulalia Somera and Santa Eulalia Bajera, until the path is boxed between the earth walls that the layout formed to cross a small hill that stood in its way. These cliffs will accompany us during a good stretch giving us some opportunity to be able to observe the landscape that surrounds us thanks to some stream that descends from the nearby mountains and coinciding with these some path that we will leave to our left to continue escorted by these slopes until the proximities of the old station of Préjano-Ariñano.
Just at the end of these slopes is the path on the left that climbs to join the Greenway of Préjano. A little further on, the old station has been converted into a cattle farm. We continue bordering the fence of this farm to find the recreational area and the viewpoint of Cidacos, including the access road to Préjano that we have to cross to continue the march towards Arnedillo.
In this final part of the route the landscape becomes little by little wilder as it enters the foothills of the Sierra of Peñalmonte, passing through ravines and cutting the foothills of the mountains it crosses, forcing us to cross the road to Préjano once again the path continues its course in an increasingly narrow valley.
Escorted by the road of Arnedillo we will be able to enjoy the impressive calcareous mountains home of very diverse rupícolas birds, that we will be able to admire if we go up to the viewpoint of the Vulture, we will find the short way of ascent up to him, just when arriving at the rest of an old zone of mineral load.
From here and with the Cidacos next to us, we arrive at the gorge in which, after crossing the bridge that takes us to the other bank is the entrance to the long tunnel, conditioned and with automatic lighting, which crosses the entrails of the mountain that separates us from the urban nucleus of Arnedillo, in the mouths of this tunnel we will find some gratings doors normally opened.
Also we have the possibility of thanks to some stairs that we will find in the entrance to the tunnel, to descend to the dam of the river and to continue by the metallic footbridge that continues by the rock the ascending course of the Cidacos to arrive at the park that crosses it and that will lead us until the end of the journey.
At the exit of the tunnel, once crossed, the road travels the few meters remaining to reach the Arnedillo station (3h 15min), now converted into a sports complex where it ends.
Distance. 12.9KmOur starting and finishing points will mark the total distance of the route.
Time. 3:15hTotal time without stops, to this time we will have to add 25min approximately, if we decide to climb up to the monastery of Vico and about 15min if we ascend to the nearby vulture viewpoint before reaching Arnedillo.
Time of yearAlthough the route can be done at any time, it is in spring with the flowering of almond trees and in autumn with the ochre and reddish valley, when the walk offers us a spectacular landscape.
Required equipmentClothes and sports footwear, according to the time of the year and to the meteorological conditions, canteen with water, sun protection cream, canes and although the tunnel that we have to cross is conditioned and has automatic illumination, it is not of more to take a headlamp or lantern. Consult our list of material and equipment for hiking. Read more.
Difficulty. MediumPhysical
Without a great physical demand, the biggest steeps of the whole route, although very short, are found in the final stretch before reaching Arnedillo. The rest of the route crosses the unevenness with gentle slopes, unless we decide to climb to the monastery of Vico or the viewpoint of the Vulture, in that case we must assume the demanding climb that overcomes the unevenness between them and our way.
Accessibility
The route is fully conditioned, with a firm in good condition and practically asphalted in its entirety, with 2 m wide in its narrowest area. Shortly before reaching Arnedillo we will find a couple of short ramps but quite steep, in the rest of the journey we do not have great slopes. We will also be forced to cross the road several times and the section from the detour of the monastery of Vico, until once crossed Herce, is shared with vehicles.
Orientation
Perfectly signposted and in much of the route bounded with a wooden railing, also has signs indicating the distance to the next important area of passage. The mouths of the Arnedillo tunnel, has a gate that we will probably find open, inside is conditioned and has lighting.
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| 1-Park of Cidacos in Arnedo | 0:00h | 516m | 0Km | 30T 573876 4674546 |
| 2-Herce | 1:20h | 579m | 5.5Km | 30T 568790 4673799 |
| 3-Arnedillo | 3:15h | 667m | 12.9Km | 30T 562686 4673210 |
Coordinates UTM Datum WGS84
Slope: 341m
Slope +: 245m
Slope -: 96m
Maximum altitude: 667m
Minimum altitude: 516m
This sketch of the route is not made to scale nor does it contain all the information relating to the area, it is merely indicative.
This schematic with the path is approximate and has been created from the derived cartographic base © Instituto Geográfico Nacional "Cuadrante 242, 243. 1:50.000".
Senditur has manipulated the tracks to correct the aberrant points that may exist, caused by problems with the reception of the GPS signal. In any case the tracks are always approximate. SENDITUR encourages you to use the new technologies within your reach, using them as support and consultation in your activity, not basing the realization and orientation of the same only and exclusively on them, since they may see their functioning altered by very diverse causes, not functioning correctly and their indications may not be precise.
Hay un grupo de 4 ó 5 motoristas que los sábados se dedican a enseñorearse de la vía con sus ruidosas y peligrosas máquinas realizando un circuito cerrado partiendo de Arnedo hasta las inmediaciones de Herce por la carretera y realizando la vuelta del trayecto utilizando la vía verde repleta de usuarios (muchos niños en bici y paseantes) atemorizados que no tienen más remedio que soportarles cuando casi con toda probabilidad, las motos tienen acceso prohibido a este tipo de vías
Que paseo más bonito
First Museum in La Rioja de Pasos de Semana Santa
¿Did you know that...
At the entrance of the town of Arnedillo, on the limestone walls, is one of the best climbing schools with more than 200 routes, of all styles.
Don't miss out...
The magnificent landscape that is contemplated from the viewpoint of the tower of Herce, in spring and autumn the colorful of the valley is spectacular.
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.
This route has been carried out in the field by SENDITUR on 22-10-2015. 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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Variant: Préjano Greenway
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