Link GR 93 GR 190 Ortigosa de Cameros-Rock Hincada

Description of the Link GR 93 GR 190 Ortigosa de Cameros - Rock Hincada

The hermitage of Santa Lucía, located just at the entrance to Ortigosa de Cameros (0h 00min) as we arrive at the town following the road that goes up from the nearby González Lacasa reservoir, is the starting point for this route.

We advance following the road that takes us into the town with every step, while leaving behind us the hermitage and the GR 93 that passes through here.

At this point we will come across the detour we must take to continue our journey through Ortigosa de Cameros, leaving behind the road that would take us to the Pass of Peña Hincada if we followed it.

The church of San Miguel is now in charge of guiding us on our journey, leading us to the vertiginous bridge we are about to cross.

A bridge that will allow us to bridge the chasm that separates the neighborhoods that make up the town.

The church of San Martín welcomes us on the opposite bank of the bridge, a church that we will once again border as we begin to gain height.

Without almost noticing it, we will find ourselves walking the narrow streets of Ortigosa. The small chapel of San Felices observes us from its privileged location as we go in search of the path we should follow.

The narrow and steep streets lead us straight to the outskirts of the town.

We will soon find ourselves climbing up the track that leads to Ortigosa on this side of the village.

Just outside the city begins the path that will serve us as an improvised guide.

After recovering our breath thanks in part to the marked descent that precedes our departure from Ortigosa de Cameros, we will return to the ascending profile that characterizes this entire itinerary.

There will not be many junctions that we will encounter while we travel the few kilometers of monotonous road following the course of the Rioseco stream.

After a while our track changes its orientation abruptly, a change that marks the moment to abandon its comfortable layout to start the final ascent.

We will quickly come across a door that we will have to go through in order to continue on the footpath that awaits us.

A marked trail through the thick forest that populates the side of the mountain we are climbing. This section alternates with less demanding areas, with others where the slope becomes more noticeable.

After a while we will arrive at the usually dry riverbed of a small stream which we must cross. After doing so, our trail, somewhat blurred by the leaves, describes a zigzagging that helps us to save the lost slope to wade the stream.

This part of the route, although signposted, forces us to be attentive to follow the right path. We continue to gain height with each step as we walk through the lush forest of pines and beeches.

After a while we will arrive at a small clearing marked by a battered trough where our trodden footpath is hidden under the green grass.

Again we will have to sharpen our eyes to guide us from post to post of the GR, without going too far from the limits of the forest.

Soon our footpath is clearly shown again while leading us back into the vegetation around us.

The unevenness becomes even more evident, allowing us to sense the near end of the ascent. The trees give us small moments of respite allowing us to intuit the lower part of the valley from where we started.

Finally in front of us is the line that marks the boundaries of the forest and the next end. All that remains is to climb the short slope that separates us from the highest point of the Pass of Rock Hincada (1h 35min).​

Once we are up and after crossing the road we will find, at the beginning of the track on the other side, the route of the GR 190 that, ascending from Brieva de Cameros through the valley in front of us, continues towards Villoslada de Cameros following the dirt track that starts here.

Technical data sheet of the route

Distance. 5,6Km

To this figure we will have to add the distance to the end of our route.

Time. 1:35h

As it is logical, we will have to add the time corresponding to that of the route with which we twin this path of La Rioja. If we return to Ortigosa de Cameros again, we will have to add 55 minutes to 1 hour approximately.

Time of year

Although we are not facing significant altitudes, the area tends to accumulate quite a lot of snow and the road that crosses Peña Hincada is usually one of the usual ones that is cut off from traffic, so it is not very advisable to venture on the route if the snow covers this area of La Rioja. Otherwise, the landscape surrounding the route offers us a real spectacle of colour in autumn and spring, which will undoubtedly make our route a pleasant one.

Required equipment

Although, when it comes to material, whether it is a route of a few kilometers or many, there are a number of components that must always accompany us. The continuation that we give to ours will be the one that more conditions the equipment that we will have to take, next to the special circumstances of the moment of the year in which we make it. Except in Ortigosa we will not have water points, so it is important to carry enough water in the backpack. Don't forget the information corresponding to the route you intend to follow afterwards either. Consult our list of material and equipment for hiking. Read more.

Difficulty. Medium

Physical

Since it is a route that serves as a link between two long-distance paths, we must take into account the continuation of the route we are going to follow or the route we would have taken before to reach it, since its peculiarities and requirements are added to those of this section itself. Likewise, if as is usually the case, our intention is to climb up to Peña Hincada and then return to Ortigosa, we will have to count on the return journey, which, even if it is a descent, would leave us with a considerable total mileage.

Severity of the environment

As a general rule and except for less common situations where snow or ice are the protagonists, we are faced with a route without major complications, which runs largely on a wide dirt track and in its stretch of footpath is where we can find greater complications, especially if the mud makes an act of presence.

Orientation

Well marked in almost all of its layout, with the roads where it runs in good conditions and its path generally well trodden, we should have no problem following its course. However, we will have a couple of areas where we should be careful because in one of them the signs can make us doubt and in the other the path blurs under the grass and the posts can be seen wrapped by the surrounding vegetation.

Coordinates UTM Datum WGS84

Profile of the route

Cartography, maps and tracks

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 241-3 y 279-1, 1:25.000"

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.