Ultimate Guide to Hiking in Valencia: Best Trails & Outdoor Escapes

By Roberto (Updated Sep 2026)
⏱️ 9 min

Valencia isn’t just paella, beaches, and the City of Arts and Sciences. Step outside the city and you’ll find one of the most underrated hiking playgrounds in Spain with canyons carved by the Turia river, mountain ranges rising straight from the Mediterranean, hanging bridges, waterfalls, and coastal cliff paths, all within an hour or two of the city.

We’ve spent years exploring Comunidad Valenciana, and in this guide we bring to you our favorite hikes across the region. Find hikes from the mountains of Alicante to the canyons of Castellón and the countryside just outside Valencia itself. Whether you want an easy family walk or a full day out on the trail, there’s something here for you. Over time we’ll add more hikes and walks in this post!

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Quick tips before you go

• Best time to hike: Valencia summers are hot and dry, so save the exposed, sun-baked trails for cooler months. Stick to shaded or water-based hikes in July and August. For the other hikes, October to May are better options.
• Water: Bring more than you think you need since many of these trails have little to no shade.
• Parking: Village parking fills up fast on weekends, especially at Chulilla and Sierra de Bernia. Arrive early.
• Footwear: A few of these routes involve steps, loose rocks, or scrambling. We do recommend trail shoes like the Salomon trail running Supercross.

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Hikes near Valencia city and inland

Chulilla — Ruta de los Puentes Colgantes (Hanging Bridges)

No guide to hiking near Valencia is complete without Chulilla. This circular route through the Hoces del Turia gorge is one of the most photographed hikes in the region. It offers sheer canyon walls, the turquoise Charco Azul pool, and two hanging bridges suspended over the Turia river. Despite being one of the most famous routes in the area, to us, it is a bit overrated. It’s good to stretch the legs, don’t get me wrong, but there are better hiking options.

The full loop (via the Loriguilla reservoir) runs around 16–20 km, but you can shorten it to about 9 km round trip if you just want to reach the bridges and back — a version that we did with our newborn Lara. This route also works well even with kids, always supervised. Chulilla itself, just about an hour from Valencia, is worth lingering around afterward, with its hilltop castle and whitewashed streets. 

Río Fraile, Bicorp

The Río Fraile in Bicorp is widely considered one of the crown jewels of aquatic trekking in the Valencia region. Its turquoise pools, deep canyons, and lush Mediterranean scenery draw hundreds of adventurers every summer. However, before you pack your water shoes, you need to understand that this river is split into two highly differentiated sections. Choosing the right one is the difference between a memorable summer adventure and a dangerous miscalculation. Since I’ve done both, you’re in the right place 😋

Río Fraile (Upper Section): The Classic Aquatic Trek

This is the famous route that 99% of hikers refer to when talking about the Río Fraile. Starting from the Benefetal Recreation Area, this section is a good combination of water-walking, some swimming, scrambling over polished rocks, and floating through narrow limestone corridors. You will navigate through pools like Charco del Paso and Charco del Purgatorio before concluding at Charco de los Güetanos. It is an easy to intermediate level aquatic trek. It takes a good level of physical fitness and mandatory swimming, but it is highly accessible, visually stunning, and has a well-defined dry trail for your return journey back to the parking lot. It’s a joy to do during summer months and I recommend skipping the weekends.

Río Fraile (Lower Section): More wild and restricted Canyon (Los Picantes)

Continuing downriver past Charco de los Güetanos takes you into the Lower Section, famously known as the Los Picantes area. This part of the river is a completely different scenario. This part is more canyoning than hiking, but it has the best pools and waterfalls with ropes. Here, the canyon walls close in tightly, turning the river into a wild, a bit technical gorge. For safety reasons, local authorities routinely restrict or entirely forbid access to this section. Local foresters and emergency services strongly advise hikers against entering this lower stretch, reserving it strictly for autonomous, highly experienced canyoners with specialized technical gear.

⚠️ Be advised: I don’t recommend coming here unless you come with someone knowing the area and you have real experience hiking and following GPS tracks. We won’t talk more about how to get there, but there are a few tracks in Wikiloc with extra info.

Estrechos del Arroyo Regajo

Note 2026: I think after the Dana this route is not available anymore…one of our favorite hikes with water near Valencia. Only for people who can follow a GPS track. This route follows a narrow canyon carved by the Arroyo Regajo, with natural pools to cool off in along the way. It’s a fantastic option if you want the “wow” factor of a canyon hike without driving too far from the city. 👉🏽 Read the dedicated post

Castillo de Chirel, Cortes de Pallas

This hike brings you to an old fortress perched on a meseta at 654 meters above sea level in the municipality of Cortes de Pallás. The castle is quite well conserved, and has panoramic views overlooking the Júcar River canyon. The area of Cortes de Pallás has other routes to offer and is a good area for escapades and getting that “mountain” vibe. 👉🏽 Read the dedicated post

Sierra Calderona — Garbí Viewpoint

At the border between Valencia and Castellón provinces, the Sierra Calderona Natural Park is the closest mountain escape to Valencia. The classic route here climbs to the Garbí viewpoint (601 m), accessible from Serra, Náquera, or Segart, with the reward of sweeping views over the Mediterranean, the city of Valencia, and even the Albufera lake on a clear day. Routes range from an easy 1.5 km stroll to longer loops of 7–10 km through pine forest and past the historic Portaceli Charterhouse. A great pick if you want a mountain hike without leaving the Valencia metro area behind for long. Another one on our to-hike list, so expect a full write-up soon.

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Hikes in Castellón province

Cascada del Río Carbo, Villahermosa del Río

A beautiful waterfall and natural pool hike in the Alto Mijares in Castellón. If you’re craving greenery and water rather than dry Mediterranean scrubland, this is the route to pick. The water at the waterfall is chilly AF but it’s a rewarding goal for the end of the hike. 👉🏽 Read the dedicated post of the Rio Carbo.

Vía Verde Benicàssim–Oropesa

An easy, flat, family-friendly walk of over 10 km along a former railway line, hugging the Castellón coastline. No elevation gain to worry about here, just a relaxed walk (or bike ride) with sea views the whole way. Perfect for a lazy day or for hiking with young kids. 👉 Read our full guide of Via Verde Benicassim – Oropesa.

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Hikes in Alicante province (Costa Blanca & Marina Alta)

Forat de Bernia

One of the most rewarding hikes we’ve done in the Comunidad Valenciana. This roughly 4-hour route in the Sierra de Bernia climbs through a natural tunnel in the mountain, opens up to a cave lookout with incredible views, and passes the ruins of an old fort along the way. A proper mountain hike, but manageable in half a day. 👉 Read our full guide of Forat de Bernia.

Ruta de los Acantilados, Benitatxell

Pure Mediterranean coastline: four lookout points, hidden coves, and that special turquoise-blue water the whole way. This one’s proof that hiking in Valencia doesn’t always mean mountains, sometimes it means clifftop views over the sea. Very recommended. Check all the info here.

Paseo Ecológico Calpe–Benissa

A gentle, well-maintained coastal path connecting the coves of Calpe and Benissa, running about 4 km one way (further if you tackle both the north and south sections). Expect small hidden calas (coves), pine trees leaning over the water, and many views across to the iconic Peñón de Ifach. It’s not a technical hike (there are some sets of steps, so it’s not stroller or wheelchair friendly), but it’s very easy and a lovely way to cool off with a swim afterward. We have done twice this hike but we don’t have a dedicated post, yet.

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Which hike should you choose?

• Traveling with kids or want something easy? Vía Verde Benicàssim–Oropesa or the shortened Chulilla bridges route.
• Want the “wow” factor for photos? Ruta de los Acantilados in Benitatxell.
• Craving water and a swim? Rio Fraile
• Looking for a proper half-day mountain hike? Forat de Bernia or Cascada del Rio Carbo
• Short on time but want a view and don’t mind driving? Castillo de Chirel.

Have you hiked any of these trails? Let us know your favorites in the comments, and stay tuned as we keep adding more Comunidad Valenciana hikes to this guide.