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Difficulty-Low
0:30 h.
1.5 km.
Difficulty-Low
0:30 h.
1.5 km.
The region of The Merindades keeps incomparable natural and cultural treasures that surprise by their beauty. Under the protection of the Obarenes Mountains, nestled between the vertical walls from which the river Molinar escapes in search of the nearby Ebro, we await the careful population of Tobera. Right there, under the watchful eye of the Castle of Frias, the Walk of the Molinar takes us to cross the capricious course that the river describes when it passes through Tobera, natural border between the valley of the Ebro and the abrupt mountain that precedes the Castilian plateau.
The route and its scarce 1.5 km of travel allow us to enjoy each corner with calm, which more striking than the previous one. We will have several starting points to make the itinerary that will return us to the starting point after our walk. The heart of Tobera, marks one of these starting points, perhaps the one that gives us more comfort to park our vehicle. This careful population dependent on the neighboring Frias, owes its name as it seems to the tuff, a type of limestone rock very abundant in these lands. The locality has grown around the river, a tireless source of energy for the mills that used to be located next to it. The walk takes us from one lookout point to another, from one spectacular waterfall to the other, as we enter the narrow gorge from which the river escapes.
The houses of Tobera soon give way to the vertical rocks that precede the artistic and cultural group that form the Roman-Medieval bridge, which tells us about the ancient Roman road that joined the plateau with the Cantabrian Mountains, the humilladero of Santo Cristo de los Remedios or the chapel of Animas that keeps in its interior the crucifix of the Christ auxiliador and the hermitage of Santa María de la Hoz, a Romanesque-Gothic temple in which some polychromies are still preserved. It is here where the other starting point of the beautiful walk that we are carrying out is found, although in this case we will have very few places where we can park our vehicle. From here we will be able to enter for a few meters more in the colossal gorge to contemplate the imposing fall to the emptiness that suffers the water from the high of the rocks that box us. On the way back, we will take advantage of the remaining part of the walk to discover even more viewpoints and waterfalls in the very entrails of Tobera, where we will finish the route.
Legend has it that in Queen Elizabeth's time she entrusted a courageous soldier of her confidence with the transcendent mission of transporting an important missive with which she requested her help against the Saracens to an important count of these lands. The soldier rode without rest, more what was his stupor when to the step by the gorge of the river Molinar an enormous serpent came out of the nothing. With his horse out of control and the threatening snake about to engulf him, the soldier closed his eyes entrusting himself to the Christ of Remedies. Willing to fight with such a beast, he drew his sword, but not a trace of the serpent remained, and his horse a few meters grazed. Once his mission was accomplished, he promptly informed his queen who ordered the immediate construction of a humilladero in the same place where these events took place.
Tobera is located in the middle of the BU-504 which, from the N-232 on its way through Busto de Bureba, goes as far as Frías, passing through the Molinar gorge and Tobera. This same road, but in the opposite direction, connects the locality, and not only with neighbouring Frías, but also with the road from Miranda de Ebro that goes up the river Ebro to Trespaderme.
Without more difficulty than a pleasant walk, we will only have to be attentive and avoid that our friend can go out to the near road. Nor should we allow him to get into the river, however calm it may seem low with too much force in this area.
We should not have problems with the water or to find points of water since it is a route that we could consider urban, to which is added its short distance.
Other pets are what we normally have to find along the route.
Shortly after entering Tobera (0h 00min) we will find the large car park from which this route begins.
The route continues to enter the locality at the same time as it follows the street along which we arrived, which makes us leave to our left another street along which we can either arrive or we can approach to contemplate one of the lookouts of the route, the farthest to the bulk of the waterfalls.
We begin to gain height again seeing ourselves in the option to divert by the street of our left to visit another of the beautiful corners of this Walk of the Molinar. We go straight on and leave both visits for the end.
The ramp becomes demanding as it takes us out of Tobera with each step. Shortly after, on our left, there is again a bridge over which we will now cross the Molinar River.
To the other side we will continue the ascent going up again the final stretch thanks to some narrow stairs, at the same level of the river. Once up the spectacular panoramic view of the hermitage (0h 15min) and the humilladero welcomes us to the other possible starting point of the route.
From here and once we have calmly contemplated the cultural heritage that this part of the walk treasures, we have the possibility of extending it by a few metres in order to get closer to contemplate an imposing waterfall that springs from the top of the rocks that surround us.
A wide path, marked by the vertical wall of the mountain, takes us to the meeting of the same road from which we will have a better view of the waterfall.
From there we only have to go back on our steps to the same bridge we crossed the river.
When we reach its height, we will leave it behind without crossing it, to continue the conditioned walk to the viewpoint of the waterfall of Tobera.
Once we have enjoyed this vertiginous lookout we continue the course of the walk that makes us descend towards Tobera. Although before entering the locality again we will have a new detour towards another small lookout.
As soon as we finished the stairs, we left a street behind us. If we followed it, it would take us to the first lookout point, to which we postponed its visit at the beginning of the route. We continue entering Tobera and as soon as we cross the river, we take the detour that will bring us closer to the second lookout point, which we left unvisited before.
Once again, a narrow walk along the river will bring us closer to this beautiful hidden corner where a spectacular waterfall awaits us (0h 25min).
Returning instead of going back in search of the street to the other side of the river, we continue the few meters that separate us from the main street by which we started the walk.
We will return to the Tobera car park (0h 30min), but not before taking a detour to visit the last of the lookouts we still have to see to conclude this route.
Distance. 1.5KmOur starting point will affect this figure.
Time. 0:30hRegardless of the place of departure we choose, the time we need will be the same.
Time of yearThe flow of the river marks the difference and the spectacularity of the route, but it can also make it totally unadvisable, at least in some of its sections.
Required equipmentA comfortable footwear, some water if it is hot and the corresponding sun protection is what in normal conditions is going to require us this simple route. The tripod is a good idea if we want to have fun photographing the waterfalls. Consult our list of material and equipment for hiking. Read more.
Difficulty. LowPhysical
The stairs and the ramp that help us to bridge the gap between Tobera and the hermitage of the Virgen de la Hoz is all the physical requirement that we are going to have, to which we can undoubtedly add the heat that on some summer days can be intense.
Severity of the environment
The walk is totally conditioned, being the river the one that will mark the state of the route and the suitability of the step for certain zones. Nor should we forget that we are in a gorge and although this is quite open and is usually controlled we are not exempt from landslides, which small that are can be a problem.
Orientation
Con marcas en la mayoría de los cruces, son los diferentes desvíos los que conducen a los miradores o cascadas que pueden hacernos saltar uno de ellos. Ser concretos son dos desvíos sin salida que podemos llegar a saltar y que, de ser así, extrañaríamos algunos lugares hermosos.
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| 1-Tobera | 0:00h | 568m | 0Km | 30T 475019 4733158 |
| 2-Ermita de Santa María de la Hoz | 0:15h | 615m | 0.4Km | 30T 474926 4732910 |
| 3-Lookout | 0:20h | 586m | 1Km | 30T 475017 4733021 |
| 4-Waterfall | 0:25h | 577m | 1.3Km | 30T 475003 4733028 |
| 5-Tobera | 0:30h | 568m | 1.5Km | 30T 475019 4733158 |
Coordinates UTM Datum WGS84
Slope: 156m
Slope +: 78m
Slope -: 78m
Maximum altitude: 620m
Minimum altitude: 568m
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 0136-2 y 0136-4, 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.
Espectacular desfiladero horadado por el río Molinar. http://alavaentusbotas.blogspot.com.es/2016/03/frias-aguas-del-rio-molinar-cascadas-de.html Cascadas de Tobera muy cerca del bonito pueblo de Frías.
Me ha encantado, es muy bonito. Si podéis no os lo perdáis.
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¿Did you know that...
This route is in the heart of the Natural Park Montes Obarenes-San Zadornil declared as such in 2006 to protect the environmental wealth of this vast region, home to countless species of both plants and animals, some of them especially vulnerable. Added to all this is the special geological value of this territory in the form of gorges, sickles, canyons and large meanders.
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The nearby town of Frias, famous for its marked medieval character, the one that gives it not only its well-known castle, but also that of its well-preserved bridge or that of its well-kept streets which, together with its church and its hanging houses form the unmistakable silhouette of Frias, one of the symbols of this town.
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 29-07-2016. 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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