End of the hiking path: view point to the waterfalls
If you want to do some hiking in Madrid you should check the Cascadas del Purgatorio (“Purgatory Falls”), it is a group of small waterfalls that can be easily accessed by a footpath.
The route starts at the Puente del Perdón, a pretty granite bridge with three arches. Behind it you can see the Paular Monastery with the mountains in the backdrop. The river the bridge crosses is called the Lozoya, which also lends its name to the valley.
Follow the footpath signposted “Camino peatonal” which will take you through an oak forest up to the Presillas natural pools, down which flows the chilly water from the many streams that feed into it from the Cuerda Larga.
After the pools, carry on through the forest path, until it forks – there is a sign there pointing towards the Cascadas del Purgatorio.
From there the path makes its way past oak and pine trees, parallel to the Arroyón stream which has some greenery on its bank. While going up you can see some smallish waterfalls and pools set in the granite.
You know that you’ve arrived at the first of the falls when you see a small wooden viewing platform. This is a good spot to have a rest, enjoy the view and take a photo. Be warned, however, that this spot usually fills up with people during the weekends.
That’s the end of the trek in itself, but the more adventurous types may dare to try to scale the rock face to get up to the next waterfall. It’s not an easy climb, and bear in mind that coming down is always tougher than going up. It’s apparently also possibly to see them by skirting round the rock face, cross-country style, but we haven’t tried.
One final tip: It’s super fun to dip your feet in the river on the way down!
Useful information:
- Distance: around 12 km, round trip
- Slope: In total, it’s a steady slope, 300m up to the top.
- There’s no drinking water along the way
- Along some parts you may share the path with cows. They don’t pose a danger, unless they’re with their calves
- The nearest car park is by the Paular Monastery, there’s one for the hotel and one for the public to the right
- Driving in from the A1, you go through the village of Rascafría, with plenty of bars if you want to start the walk with a coffee, or finish it off with a beer or two ;)
- Driving in from the A6 you go through Cotos and Venta Marcelino.
- PLEASE RESPECT THE NATURE AND DO NOT DROP LITTER!
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