Peñarroya – 2,028 metres - part 2
AFTER last week’s introduction, this is the route up Peñarroya, which – at 2,028 metres – is the highest mountain in Teruel province.
The route up starts from Alcalá de la Selva, a village which is a short drive from our base at Mora de Rubielos. Alcalá stands at a height of 1,400 metres, so the ascent is not a huge one.
Most of the route is on the GR-8 long-distance footpath, with the white/red waymarks and signs to follow.
If walkers have parked in the village then they will pick up the GR-8 at the top of Alcalá. However, it is also possible to park just short of the village at the junction (right turn) on the A-228 which heads to Allepuz. This is the Fuente Vieja. From the Fuente Vieja walk around 200 metres up the side of the A-228 to the sign for the GR-8, where the path also arrives from the village.
The sign points to the right and states that it is 6.5km to the Fuente La Chaparrilla. It is a wide track which ascends over the rise and starts to head towards the distant summit.
Soon a sign sends the GR-8 along a path next to a stone wall to avoid private land (see photo below). The route now passes through farming country on paths and tracks that predominately run parallel to old stone walls.
It closes in on pine trees and runs through them to reach another GR sign which points for Valdelinares, the ski station at the end of this stage.
The track passes a lovely old abandoned farmstead, the ‘Masía de Monegro Bajo’, where there is a good view over the area ascended thus far. The route meets pines again and the wide track climbs with the trees on either side. It emerges at a sign for the ‘Fuente de la Chaparrilla’ nature area (which is 500 metres further on). Bear left at the sign – now off the GR-8 – to ascend on the wide track. Almost straight away the walker has an option to take a direct route to the summit. There is a cairn and it is a very steep climb up the tree-clad bank. This cuts off part of the more gradual ascent on the track.
On the direct route, emerge at a track, bear right then left very soon afterwards to embark on the final couple of hundred metres to the peak.
Those who take the longer, less-steep option will walk towards the Collado de la Imagen, taking the first available left and left again. Then it’s just under a kilometre to get to the right turn for the summit.
At the top there are picnic tables and a look-out post used to watch for fires. Be aware that the metal ladder is very shaky – and the views are good without ascending it.
Return by the same path. The route is approximately 18km in length, with around 700 metres of ascent.
There is also an option to drive up to the Collado la Gitana at 1,914 metres, which is on the road to Valdelinares ski slopes, and take a shorter walk to the summit.
We can find a handy interactive map for the route on the GR-8, which can also be used via a smartphone, at https:// senderosturisticos.turismode aragon.com/senderos/gr8
It allows us to zoom in on all stages of the route. The stage we want is ‘etapa 12’ – Valdelinares to Alcalá de la Selva.
More Teruel walks next week