Within the Valencian Community, Castellón is the province with the most intact natural spaces, both from a natural point of view and from a cultural heritage point of view. The surrounding Costa del Azahar is known as the little sister of the Levantine coast and owes its name to the orange blossom since this citrus fruit has been cultivated on this land since the 18th century.
But let’s not forget that Castellón has both the sea and the mountains: if we talk about protected spaces, within its geographical limits we find seven natural parks, where it is possible to reconnect with nature.
In addition to being an authentic natural, historical and cultural paradise, Castellón is ideal for hiking enthusiasts. We have selected three routes in this article, ideal for traveling in autumn when the temperatures cool down and have a landscape and sunsets that play with the colors of the season.
The Greenway of the Sea (Benicàssim-Oropesa)
This is one of the most popular trails in Castellón, the Vía Verde del Mar, a route that connects Benicàssim and Oropesa del Mar and allows you to contemplate how the Oropesa mountain range opens onto the sea It is one of the most extraordinary greenways in the Valencian Community.
With the objective set in Oropesa del Mar, this route travels through this most little-known part of the Costa del Azahar entering this route, parallel to the seaside, which began to be used in 2009, taking advantage of the route of the old railway line. . The route passes through areas of great environmental value, above small coves, where saltpeter mixes with the smell of Mediterranean pine.
The six kilometers of the route can be covered on foot or by bike. Kilometer 0 of this route is in Benicàssim, more precisely in the rest area that is next to the old Las Villas stop.
This Castellón town is known for its famous festival and five incredible beaches. Also known is Paseo de las Villas, a neighborhood built on 51 high society stately homes from the early 20th century. Hemingway is said to have lived here.
You can also start the route from Oropesa del Mar; Access to the beginning is halfway along the promenade that delimits La Concha beach.
Oropesa del Mar is an eminently seaside destination, very family-friendly, and its proximity to the Columbretes Islands marine reserve allows you to have something extra. The port of Oropesa is also a great place to go on an adventure. You can snorkel and even do night dives in this small volcanic archipelago, among impressive red corals and colorful fish.
Along the Greenway path, you will cross landscapes of great cultural and heritage value, such as the metal bridge, the watchtowers of Colomera or La Corda, the beaches and coves of the region, its cliffs, the Bellver plains or the Dona ravine.
Montanejos Family Trail
The town of Montanejos, in Castellón, in the Alto Mijares region, is best known for its hot springs. The first thing to highlight is its Black Cave, where the first settlers appeared in the Neolithic Age, interested in this place on the banks of the Mijares River. Later, the Arab settlers who shaped the streets of the old town and the castle or the old farm or Arab colony and the baths of that time.
This municipality offers us unique landscapes marked by two waterways: the Mijares River and the Barranco de la Maimona, nestled between impressive walls, also used by many climbers. In fact, in one of the most important cities in Spain to practice this activity.
The route which offers places of extraordinary beauty is configured by the river and extends for 18.78 kilometers. The Strait and Black Cave trail is a circular route struck by the unexpected beauty of the straits and vertical walls. In addition, its route includes the famous Chorro de Montanejos, an outlet of the Arenós reservoir.
La Fuente de los Baños de Montanejos is an obligatory stop on this river route, which starts from the town itself and allows you to see the modernist villas at the beginning to reach this set of thermal springs.
In case it’s a bit long, the Montanejos town hall has marked the Senda de los Estrechos del Río Mijares, lasting three hours and 8.6 kilometers.
In addition to hiking and climbing, you can also practice other sports activities in Montanejos such as canyoning, rafting and kayaking.
Route to the Chico River and Pozo Negro from Fuentes de Ayódar
It is a route recommended for all audiences and is 7 kilometers long. Fuentes de Ayódar, also in the Alto Mijares region, is located in the northern foothills of the Sierra del Espadán Natural Park, 505 meters above sea level.
The Chico River borders the city, creating areas of natural pools suitable for swimming, and the slopes of its mountains are covered with cork oaks, pines, holm oaks and aromatic plants with lots of rosemary. The river is one of the natural wonders of the municipality through which the route to Pozo Negro, its largest and best known attraction, will pass.
Among the pines and cork oaks you reach the river bank, at the Fuente del Zuro and from there, along a path that runs along the river bed, you reach the Pozo Negro, a pool of a great beauty formed by the erosion of water on the sandstones. . This natural pool has a maximum depth of around three meters.
Besides the beauty of the place, we can also enjoy the ethnological museum of this town of Castellón, located in an old barn on the outskirts; The 15th century Dalt Mill is located next to the irrigation pond and El Lagar del Cubo, a press where grapes were once crushed to obtain wine.
