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Viewpoint of El Picón of Felipe and Viewpoint of the Fraile
Aldeadávila de la Ribera, Salamanca
(1)
Legendary viewpoints with the Duero at your feet
Difficulty-Low
0:40 h.
2 km.
Aldeadávila de la Ribera, Salamanca (1)
Legendary viewpoints with the Duero at your feet
Difficulty-Low
0:40 h.
2 km.
The Arribes del Duero Natural Park has many charming spots along its extensive surface, among other natural treasures. As it passes through the province of Salamanca there are several places that call our attention, being the Viewpoint of El Picón of Felipe and the Viewpoint of the Fraile one of the most spectacular of many viewpoints we can visit in this area of the Arribes de Duero Natural Park.
The route is only 2 km long and it is within the municipality of Aldeadávila de la Ribera and it takes us to the impressive Viewpoint of El Picón of Felipe, while to reach the Viewpoint of the Fraile we can do it with our vehicle as it is at the edge of the road that leads to the dam of Jump of Aldeadávila. The path allows us to discover little by little and calmly the magnificent panoramic views that this area of the park of Las Arribes offers.
Without a doubt we will be surprised by the spectacular environment that surrounds us and that nothing foretells what is yet to come. After crossing the steep final stretch of this route, the different viewpoints that make up the Viewpoint of El Picón of Felipe, a privileged balcony not suitable for people with vertigo, await us.
Legend has it that many years ago, a young man from the area named Felipe fell madly in love with a young Portuguese woman. His love was cut short by the colossal ravine through which the river runs and which separated the lovers. Felipe, at the risk of his own life, tried repeatedly to cross this insurmountable natural border that separated them, but it was impossible. Even he received news of the future plans of the family of the girl who intended to marry her to a wealthy merchant. In desperation, young Felipe marched to the edge of the cliff and began to chop up the rock so that it would fall and form a natural bridge that would allow him to cross the river and the ravine to prevent the agreed marriage, but the young man was never heard from again. They say that even today, if we are attentive, we can hear the blows that Felipe gives to the rocks in his eagerness to be reunited with his beloved.
To reach the Viewpoint of El Picón of Felipe and the Viewpoint of the Fraile we must go to Aldeadávila de la Ribera. On the outskirts of the town, as we arrive from the town of La Zarza de Pumadera, if we do it from the nearby Masueco we must cross Aldeadávila de la Ribera. We will find the signposted crossing that leads to the viewpoints, the dam and the Village La Verde. After leaving behind the detour that leads to the Village of La Verde and just before reaching the power station we will find the signposted path that leads to the parking lot where we can leave our vehicle to visit the Viewpoint of Picón of Felipe. To approach the Viewpoint of the Fraile we must return to the road and begin the descent towards the dam. In the middle of the curve there is a small area where we can park and a little further down, when we come across the barrier that prevents passage to continue to the dam, the Viewpoint of the Friar awaits us.
Easy route for our partner, which we must be aware of to avoid problems, given the steepness of some areas.
It is important to bring him some water if the heat is too hot, since we will not pass points where he can drink, except for a stream that does not guarantee its flow throughout the year.
Except for some cattle, which are usually in fenced-in plots, it is not usual to find more animals. Another point to take into account is the current regulations governing access of aminals to the natural park where we are, which may vary depending on the time of year we visit.
Just where the path from the road ends, is the parking area (0h 00min), and right there begins the trail that will take us to this spectacular viewpoint.
A wide trail marked with green and white marks will be in charge of guiding us in this first part of the tour.
A while after crossing a small stream our trail seems to come to an end when we come across some first information signs.
After enjoying the beautiful views from this place we go into the most abrupt area of the route. At the moment we come across some new signs that should not confuse us since the trail continues.
We then began a new descent following the marked trail, less steep than we had thought at first. After a while, we reached what looks like a cliff that seems to prevent us from passing, but which has some steep stairs carved in the rock.
These stairs lead us to the viewpoints that, both to the left and to the right of the cliff, form the well-known Viewpoint of El Picón of Felipe (0h 15min). After enjoying the dizzying panoramic views that the Viewpoint of El Picón of Felipe offers, we return on our steps to, already with our vehicle, return to the road to approach us until the magnificent Viewpoint of the Fraile that waits for us almost on the dam of the Jump of Aldeadávila which we have contemplated previously.
Distance. 2KmThis figure does not take into account the distance to the Friar's Lookout.
Time. 0:40hThe return, being in ascent, will take us a little more time than the going, to this we must add the time we spend enjoying the viewpoints that await us.
Time of yearGood visibility will guarantee that we can enjoy the majestic views offered by this tour and its viewpoints. Besides, the final stretch of the trail is not very advisable to walk it in the rain or if it is wet.
Required equipmentAlthough the route is not very complicated if it is necessary to wear proper shoes, it is not advisable to wear sandals or street shoes. Otherwise, it is also interesting to take some water if temperatures are high. Consult our list of material and equipment for hiking. Read more.
Difficulty. LowPhysical
Neither the total distance nor the unevenness should be a problem for those of us who are not used to walking. It is true that some of the ramps we will face will force us to take it easy, but their short duration will help to overcome them. The heat can increase the feeling of effort and the hardness of the route.
Severity of the environment
This section deserves special attention given the type of terrain surrounding the path on which we have to move. It is important not to leave the route as we may be exposed to the vertical walls of the cliffs on which we move. The final section of the path is undoubtedly the steepest and may make us think that it is more difficult than the real one, but in general it allows us to advance without too many complications as it has stone steps in the most abrupt areas.
Orientation
The route is marked almost entirely with white and green marks, and thanks to its well trodden path we should not have too many doubts, except in the final stretch. Here the first stumbling block is to realize that the route continues since the information signs may make us believe that we have reached our goal and nothing could be further from the truth. It is from them that what is really interesting begins. This last section also has several paths that join our main path, paths that we should not follow.
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| 1-Parking | 0:00h | 662m | 0Km | 29T 694783 4564752 |
| 2-Viewpoint of Picón of Felipe | 0:15h | 575m | 1Km | 29T 694671 4565566 |
| 3-Parking | 0:40h | 662m | 2Km | 29T 694783 4564752 |
Coordinates UTM Datum WGS84
Slope: 200m
Slope +: 100m
Slope -: 100m
Maximum altitude: 662m
Minimum altitude: 575m
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 422-4, 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.
Unos de los miradores más espectaculares de todo el Parque Natural de Las Arribes del Duero, al menos para mí. Los recomiendo, merece la pena visitarlos.
Star-shaped fortress, eternal watchtower of the Portuguese lands
¿Did you know that...
The Aldeadávila Dam, also known as the Jump of Aldedávila, was completed at the end of 1963 and is part of the hydroelectric complex of the Jumps of the Duero being one of the highest not only in Spain, but also in Europe with its 140 m of altitude.
Don't miss out...
The Village of La Verde, is an old settlement that dates back to the Middle Ages and which is located on the banks of the river just after it saves the dam of Jump of Aldeadávila, river that we can go up to approach the surroundings of the dam. Another possibility to take into account is to book some of the activities and excursions available, from 4x4 routes to boat trips around the Arribes, you can have a look at them in this link.
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 01-07-2018. 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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