Trails and Routes in the Hoces del Río Duratón Natural Park
There are several trails to explore throughout the Hoces del Río Duratón Natural Park. At Sepúlveda, you can hike the Senda de los dos Ríos, the Senda Larga, and the accessible Senda de la Glorieta.
Several trails have been established that allow visitors to explore various areas of the park, where they can appreciate the natural features that are being preserved.
Glorieta Trail
From this trail, you can enjoy a sweeping and spectacular panoramic view of the valley through which the Caslilla River flows, the Silla del Caballo, and the medieval town of Sepúlveda itself.
This public trail has been adapted to make it accessible to people with limited mobility.
This trail begins near the Park Visitor Center in the town of Sepúlveda and features interpretive panels adapted for wheelchair users, as well as benches where visitors can rest during their walk.
At the start of the trail, you can see some interesting elements of Sepúlveda’s cultural heritage, such as the ancient caves carved into the rock and inhabited since ancient times. Today, some of them are still used as homes or livestock pens, while others serve recreational purposes.
Along this route, you can catch a glimpse of the first gorges that give the Natural Park its name, which will give you a sense of the landscape of this area and allow you to observe some geological features of interest, such as the “Silla de Caballo” (Horse Saddle) fold. This geological formation originated from a knee fold formed during the Alpine Orogeny. Thanks to the erosive action of water, it has taken on this unique shape reminiscent of a saddle.
From the trail, you can also see the “crestones” or ridges—vertical formations created by fluvial erosion of the fold. In the Sepúlveda region, these crestones are called “picozos,” a name that refers to their jagged profile with several peaks.
From the La Glorieta Trail, you can spot some elements of the area’s traditional architecture and the medieval layout of the town of Sepúlveda: the rampart walkway along the walls, some of the seven gates leading into the town...
This trail is also an ideal spot for observing some of the most characteristic birds of the Hoces del Río Duratón Natural Park in flight.
Walking along this trail also allows you to observe numerous plant species, some native to the area and others introduced by humans for ornamental purposes. In the spring, these plants reach their peak beauty.
The trail is 800 meters long each way and is rated as easy. The entire route is accessible to people with limited mobility and visual impairments. The estimated walking time is one hour.
Two Rivers
Trail or ICONA Trail
This trail offers spectacular views of the Duratón River Gorges, as well as numerous examples of Sepúlveda’s historical and artistic heritage. It is the main trail in a network of paths that allow visitors to explore the town’s surroundings, known as the “Sendas del entorno de Sepúlveda.” The trail is five kilometers long, and although there are some elevation changes in certain sections, the difficulty level is generally moderate or low for most of the route. The estimated walking time is 1 hour and 30 minutes.
The trail begins at the Casa del Parque, located inside the Church of Santiago, and leads to the Church of the Virgen de la Peña, passing through some of the most striking spots in the medieval town of Sepúlveda. Behind the Virgen de la Peña church is a lookout point with interpretive panels from which you can see the stunning landscape formed by the gorges in the Natural Park.
From this point, the trail continues toward the Puerta de la Fuerza, taking the path that starts next to the Civil Guard barracks. We pass through the arch of this gate and descend to the river along an ancient Roman road toward the Picazos Bridge. After crossing the Duratón River via this bridge, the trail continues along its right bank.