Outside, a railway track and a waterfall. These are the ingredients that make up the Sierra Norte Greenway, an ideal route for cycling enthusiasts. This is a simple and not very difficult route that runs along an old railway line a stone’s throw from Seville. The route, in addition to being undemanding, is short, with a length that does not reach 20 kilometers. That’s not all, the reward is being able to visit the Huéznar Waterfall, a natural environment of great beauty that runs along the upper course of the river that gives it its name.
As we mentioned, the route of this path is defined by an old railway junction. When this railway was in service, it connected the municipality of Zafra to Seville. This is a route marked by the mining past of the region, when the train transported the ore extracted from the mines of Cerro del Hierro.
To start the route you must go to the Cazalla de la Sierra station. It is a former railway station first opened in 1885. This reflection of our country’s railway past is still in operation and is part of, among other things, the commuter network to Seville.
The route is well marked and you should be able to follow it without any problems. Halfway along you can enjoy the landscape offered by the Rivera del Huéznar, one of the three great rivers of the Sierra Morena Seville. This is a point where this natural accident accumulates a lot of flow, making it a spectacle that will motivate you to keep pedaling. This river flows through a typically Andalusian river forest, of great beauty and thickness. The Ribera del Huéznar Gallery Forest is an authentic oasis of the Andalusian landscape, full of ash and alder trees. It is an area that concentrates its wonders in the Sierra Norte Natural Park. You will cover all this until you reach the highest part of the route and one of the most famous: the Huérznar waterfall.
Huéznar Waterfall, a natural monument
The Huéznar Waterfall is an authentic natural monument made up of numerous waterfalls and two waterfalls. This section, fed by the middle part of the Ribera del Huéznar, offers a landscape of small but abundant waterfalls, commonly known as Las Chorreras.
The stone in this area also bears witness to the mining history of the road. On this route you will notice that limestone predominates, which contrasts with the greenery of this area. The orography has formed small basins through which the different waterfalls flow. Keep in mind that although it may be tempting, swimming in this area is prohibited due to the danger. If you want to swim, a swimming area is set up upstream of San Nicolás beach.
If you want to make a stop to continue your cycling route with renewed strength, now is the time. Near the waterfall there are as many as three recreational areas – Margarita Island, Molino del Corcho and Castillejo – where you can stop to soak up the beauty of the landscape and breathe.
End of the route: Cerro del Hierro
While pedaling or from your GPS device, you will have noticed that the Sierra Norte greenway is not circular, it is shaped like a “U”. Along the way, you’ll pass bridges, tunnels, and gaps in the mining towns that once brought the region to life. All of these clues that connect this road to the region’s mining past culminate with the end of the road.
At the end of the visit, you will find another natural monument. This is Cerro del Hierro, an impressive open-cast mine. In contrast to the harmony that characterized the landscape throughout the route, Cerro del Hierro surprises with its characteristic appearance from another planet, with multiple high rock formations that extend towards the sky. Direct witnesses of man’s intervention in this area.
Among the rocks is a cork oak forest that is home to multiple species, some even cataloged in the Red Book of Threatened Species of Andalusia. Shield fern, sea bream, stag’s tongue and buck fern are some of the plant species that bring the landscape to life, many of them difficult to see outside of this area.
If you’re lucky, you might spot an eagle owl or a black stork, also endangered species. These birds take shelter in the nooks and crannies that make up the hill, full of paths carved into the stone.
In addition to visiting the remains of the mining town, where the workers of the Cerro del Hierro mine lived, you can also visit what is called the House of the English. At a time when efforts were being made to shape what would be the contemporary mine layout, Scottish engineers and managers arrived in the area in the late 19th century, before the turn of the century. Little remains of the house they lived in, but through the still standing walls and roof we can access a true window into the past.
Once you have taken in the landscape, remember that to return to the starting point of this route, you simply have to retrace your steps. The route should take you back to Cazalla de la Sierra station, where it begins.
