Trail of La Tajadilla

Description of the Trail of La Tajadilla

From Villareal de San Carlos to the bifurcation 1.7 Km

This trekking route in the National Park of Monfragüe starts next to the interpretation centre of the park, next to the church of Our Lady of the Socorro in Villareal de San Carlos (0h 00min).​

We descend following the layout of the main street of the town, which will take us to the point where some of the routes that run through the park begin.

Right at the end of the houses, we will find ourselves with the obligation to choose between the two possibilities that are presented to us.

The first is to turn left and recover the lost height, following at all times the fence that borders the property that borders Villareal de San Carlos.

The second one forces us to disregard the yellow marks and the explanations in the brochures and continue to lose height while we accompany the red route, that of the Castle of Monfragüe, in this part of its journey. Both options join again later on, allowing us to adjust the route to our taste.

We continue to descend following the marked path near the road where we arrived here.

This path, of course, is marked with both red and yellow marks of our route. This will force us to be careful not to get confused at the few crossroads we will pass.

We quickly reach the detour that will take us to the singular tree of Extremadura, which awaits us a little further on.

This detour can also be followed by those who are travelling the red route, since after visiting the Almez of Lugar Nuevo (0h 10min), they have the possibility of returning to their route without going back.

After contemplating such a singular tree we will follow our route well delimited by the fence that marks it out.

We quickly arrive at the crossroads where, now we will say goodbye to the red route to go to our next stop. This steep stretch makes us lose altitude rather quickly.

Soon we will reach the height of a small stream which we will cross thanks to an improvised bridge.

As expected, as soon as we cross the creek we will start to regain the lost height. This part of the route compensates our effort with the first panoramic views of the Tietar River and its mouth in the Tagus.

The trail is conditioned in some areas, so we should not have major problems to move forward.

The slope seems to be coming to an end, at least for now, just as the Viewpoint of El Serrano (0h 20min) emerges before us.

After having enjoyed this magnificent balcony we will take the path that we left to access the viewpoint. This area of the route, which is much gentler in terms of its physical demands, takes us through a wide ravine leaving the river where it dies behind us.

The vegetation that provided us with some shade has practically disappeared leaving us at the mercy of the relentless sun.

After a good while following the narrow trail that crosses the slope of the hill we are bordering, it seems to lead us to the bottom of the ravine.

Just before arriving next to the stream that runs through the ravine, we find the Bifurcation (0h 30min) where the other side of the yellow route joins us. Giving us the possibility of closing the circle and returning by it again until Villareal de San Carlos (0h 45min), having covered a simple and entertaining circular route of hiking of hardly 2,8 Km of distance.

From the bifurcation to the Fountain Three Caños 1.1 Km

We continue with our Trail of La Tajadilla crossing the small wooden bridge that allows us to cross the creek.

Once again we are faced with uncomfortable ramps that make us regain some of the lost height. The yellow marks and the footprints on the road leave no room for doubt when it comes to following the right course.

The continuous and marked ups and downs are a fact when having to overcome the different creeks that feed the nearby river.

In this part of our route we coincide with the Tajo Natural Way, so its marks join those of our route.

After a while we arrive at a new crossroads that indicates the proximity of our next objective. We go down the bad road the stretch that separates us from the Fountain of El Alisar (0h 40min).​

Here, apart from enjoying the freshness that the place transmits, we must cross the small course of the creek that feeds it.

We advanced with the uncertainty of knowing if we would have to face the steep ramps of the road that, as we approached the fountain we had just left behind, we saw on our right.

Our fears are confirmed and we see ourselves striving to move forward with every step we take.

Luckily the punishment does not last long, since halfway up the slope a narrow trail rescues us from this forced work.

With almost no unevenness, we travel this quieter route in the pleasant company of the nearby Tiétar River.

Once again we find ourselves facing a steep descent, a sign of the nearby creek where the next fountain we will visit is waiting for us.

The refreshing shade of the trees that surround the Fountain Three Caños (0h 50min) invite us to enjoy this place without haste.

From the Fountain Three Caños to the Viewpoint of La Tajadilla 2,1 Km

We left behind the place, with the idea of facing a new steep slope.

Nothing is further from the truth, just to the right of the esplanade where the track that descends from the nearby road ends, the trail begins where we must continue.

This last part of the route also overcomes some creeks, although it does not have such marked unevenness as the other one.

The trail allows us to clearly observe the itinerary it follows as it goes up the course of the river. A new ravine forces us to descend to find the best place to cross it.

And as it could not be otherwise, after doing so we will regain the height we lost. This part of the route, totally at the mercy of the sun, offers no major difficulties as long as we do not abandon the path that guides us.

The vegetation, in few occasions, seems to want to recover the lost ground with the footpath.

After having contemplated the riverbed more or less far away, the trail leads us towards it to go up its course to the vicinity of the dam that controls it. From now on, the trail runs halfway up the hillside with the nearby company of the Tiétar River.

In this section we are also not free from the continuous ups and downs, although much softer than those surpassed so far.

You can already see the silhouette of the dam we are heading towards and the imposing wall that separates us from the Tagus riverbed on our right.

After a long walk, we reached the decomposed section of the trail that goes up to the La Tajadilla recreational area.

This ramp becomes a little bit harder than expected, but in return we can enjoy a pleasant recreational area and the panoramic view it offers. The Viewpoint of La Tajadilla (1h 20min) allows us to contemplate the imposing work of engineering that is the Torrejón dam, and the cliff that resists the thrust of the two rivers that fit it, offering an unbeatable habitat for the different species that populate it.

From here the route that brought us to the viewpoint awaits us, a route that will return us following our steps to the bifurcation (2h 15min), where we will be able to cover the part of the route that we discarded at the beginning and that will take us to Villareal de San Carlos (2h 30min).​

Technical data sheet of the route

Distance. 9.2Km

The different options offered by the area allow us to adapt the route to our taste.

Time. 2:30h

The biggest difference can be found depending on the path we follow at the beginning and end of the route since if we go and return by the route that does not pass through the unique tree we can reduce it by almost 30min at the cost of losing one of the most interesting areas of the route.

Time of year

There are different attractions throughout the year that justify a visit to Monfragüe National Park. The animals that live there or the flow of the rivers that run through it are some of the main factors that condition many of the people who visit it. The heat also plays a role, especially if our intention is to take a long walk.

Required equipment

Although we will pass by two fountains that normally have a flow, it is not too much to add some water to the food that will undoubtedly allow us to make better use of some of the rest areas that we will find on the route. Trekking shoes and appropriate clothing are certainly also an excellent option. The camera and binoculars will give us an additional plus by bringing us closer to the different corners of the route and the fauna that inhabits them. The walking poles will be good allies without forgetting the cap, sunglasses and sunscreen to protect us from the sun. Consult our list of material and equipment for hiking. Read more.

Difficulty. Medium

Physical

We are facing a route that, although it does not have a great distance or considerable unevenness or duration, does require us to have a reasonable physical condition to which we must add a certain calm on the ramps that we will find so that these do not pass too much bill. Be careful on hot days, this factor can harden the route considerably.

Severity of the environment

As long as we do not abandon the marked route and the conditions are appropriate, we should not encounter any significant difficulties. However, it is important to pay attention to the streams and the roughest areas of the trail. It is also interesting, especially at certain times of the year, that we can count on the flow of the river and the state of the dam.

Orientation

Marked at all times, the greatest complication may come from the coincidences with other routes in the park whose marks may mislead us or make us hesitate. It is also important to be clear about the route we are going to follow to get to and from Villareal de San Carlos, as that is where we may have the most doubts.

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 623-3 y 623-4, 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.