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El Chorro -
A Day out at the Lakes
Take the route from Finca Cencerrita to Álora going past Los
Caballos
restaurant on your left, over the road bridge and turn left at the roundabout.
At the top of the hill at the next roundabout (there is an arch in the middle of
it) turn right for El Chorro.
Next to the road you will see the aqueducts where the irrigation water flows
from the Lakes. Follow the road until you reach the hydroelectric dam at El
Chorro and then turn right across it. Go past the Refuge on your right
and then either:
At the sharp bend continue to the right up to La Garagantua Hotel which has a
balcony café over looking the river, or use the café at the railway station
which serves excellent, basic food (try the toasted buns) as well.
or
Turn left towards the Campsite. Continue
as far past the camp site as you can go about ¾ km and park your car (ensure
nothing is left visible inside!). Above you will be a magnificent railway bridge
– those of your who have seen Von Ryan’s Express may recognise it from
the film’s end sequences which are spliced together with the Italian Alps. In
the credits, sadly, it only mentions the Alps not El Chorro.
 Walk
up the track below the bridge to the left. You will reach the area above a green
railway bridge within 10 minutes. The railway is now fenced off and it is
illegal to cross the railway line (a fine has been imposed since summer 2006).
Many people do still cross the bridge to gain entry to the El Camino del Rey,
which is also accessible (legally!) from the North at the Lakes. If you continue
to follow the walking track up the hill you will come to a newly erected viewing
point (2008), but to get the best views walk past the wooden barriers as they
have been set far to far away from the edge (over 50m)
There is a beautiful “hidden valley”
inside the railway tunnels and, before the tunnel ban, we used to walk up the
railway line through 7 bridges and tunnels (the train was less than 2 metres
from you when they sped past - and you always met at least 3).
From here it was possible to cross a
very narrow bridge over the gorge with no hand rails onto the El Camino del Rey
– not for the faint-hearted. Once across you could see the water way that was
cut into the mountainside for transporting water from the lakes.
There is a climbing shop just before you
reached the campsite amongst the buildings – it acts like a meeting point and
information centre for this climbers’ Mecca.
The water level at El Chorro varies as it
is either released from the Lakes or down from the reservoir above to operate
the hydroelectric turbines. This was the first hydroelectric system in Andalucia.
Look at some of the large trees as you go past the camp site to see the
different water level marks.
Drive back across the dam and turn right
towards the Lakes and Ardales. You will go past a restaurant on your left within
a few minutes and immediately after 2 bends in the road there is an excellent
photo spot for La Gargantua – (“throat of the canyon”) you have to stop on the
road so do not be too long!
Follow this road and you will drive under
a overhang of rock where over the years it has been eroded away.
 The
next left turn is for Bobastro (well signposted now, but until early 2008 it was
the only one!) Follow this asphalt road up the hill and you will start to see
wooden barriers on the side and within a few minutes arrive at the parking spot
for Bobastro. Park your car on the right and then cross the road following the
path to Bobastro’s hideout. When you return, imagine trying to find the hideout
and think of the difficulties foot soldiers in 917-924 had trying to find Omar
Ibn Hafsan, the leader of the rebel Mozarabs.
Continue up this road and you will come
across a small reservoir that holds the water for the hydroelectric turbines
down at El Chorro. This water is pumped back up at night using off peak (low
cost) electricity. This reservoir also has a flat path around it for walking
and ideal for those who may have pushchairs.
Keep on to the end of the road and there
is a further viewing point back towards Álora. You are at height of 600m.
Return from Bobastro and turn left at the
bottom towards the lakes and Ardales. Note all the interesting rock formations
caused by erosion. At the end of the road turn right to the lakes (Ardales is to
the left). You now drive along the lakes where there is parking either next to
the road or car park areas which have a nominal charge. You can also hire small
boats from the campsite turnoff.
When you get to a very short tunnel,
there is a right turn up a track. This goes to
A viewing point at the very end over the
3 lakes (you can also walk up!) and the Mirador restaurant that is just above
the tunnel.
There is another restaurant within a
couple of minutes drive which we prefer called El Kiosko and has plenty of
parking next to the road.
 Take
your swimming things in the warmer months – it is beautiful to swim in the
refreshing lakes. However you do need to be a strong swimmer as there is no
bottom to rest on!
At the head of the lakes are the main
dams and also the two emergency overflow doors, each 16.5m x 4m. From the top
view point you can see the chute where the water would be released. These doors
are permanently open and one wonders if they have ever been closed in order to
get the maximum water into the lakes. You only ever see the low level caused by
the continual droughts suffered by Andalucia!
 As
you return, virtually hidden between the 2 restaurants on the left, there is a
passageway in the rock which is just under 2m high and about 1.5m wide. Walk all
the way through this dark tunnel (a torch would be handy!) and you will come
into another valley where the water flows down to El Chorro. Go right as you
come out and walk down to the next dam and the old electricity station. When you
get there, walk on the outside of the left hand fence - about 1m wide - down a
further 300m to the North end of the El Camino del Rey. In this area, amongst
other wildlife, you will see vultures nesting high up to your left. It takes
about 25 minutes to reach from the road.
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View point over the lakes. |
El Camino Del Rey, North end. |
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