Hiking routes near Valencia: 12 you should walk

The best hiking routes near Valencia mostly fit into a single day: hand-carved canyons, hanging bridges over river gorges, and peaks with the Mediterranean below. This is FindeValencia's own selection from the region's hiking routes, with the distance and difficulty of each so you can pick by the day you have and your fitness.

The routes we recommend

Senda de los Pantaneros (Hanging Bridges), Chulilla

10 easy km through the Turia gorge, crossing walkways and hanging bridges above the canyon to the Loriguilla reservoir. It is well signposted and the first one we send anyone who has never walked a gorge route. Full write-up at Chulilla and the Charco Azul, and the trail data on the hanging bridges route.

Ruta del Agua, Chelva

A very easy 8.2 km loop along the Tuéjar river past medieval mills, weirs and the dark Paso de Olinches, a tunnel hacked through the rock. It ends at La Playeta, a pool for a dip. Good with kids: Ruta del Agua de Chelva.

Salto de la Novia, Navajas

A roughly 60-metre waterfall beside the Palancia river on an easy 6 km loop known as the Ruta de las Fuentes. Photogenic and manageable for a morning out: Salto de la Novia.

For shorter outings or less climbing, these three work well:

• La Pea, in Les Hoces del Túria (Vilamarxant): 3.5 km, easy, with viewpoints over the Turia canyon. The closest to the city. See route.
• 3 Waterfalls of Anna: 3 km between waterfalls and turquoise pools, with steps cut into the rock. Access to the site has a fee; check hours and price before you go. See route.
• Cova Tallada (Dénia to Xàbia): 4 km along the Les Rotes cliffs to a half-submerged cave. In summer you need a booking to enter. See route.

The hard ones (if you want a summit)

The Barranc de l'Infern is the "Cathedral of Hiking": a 14 km loop from Fleix down and up thousands of stone steps carved by the Moriscos. No technical difficulty, but long and tough. The climb to the Montgó (PR-CV 355), 753 m above Xàbia and Dénia, ends on a ridge where you use your hands. The Penyal d'Ifac in Calp climbs 332 m through a tunnel and along fixed ropes to a 360° summit. And the Pic de l'Àguila from Porta-Coeli is a 30 km traverse across the Serra Calderona.

In between sit the Hoces del Cabriel (14.5 km of viewpoints over the canyon, at Venta del Moro) and the loop around the Muntanya de les Raboses and Cullera lighthouse (14 km, PR-CV 336), with the castle-shrine and the sea at your feet.

Getting there and when to go

Chulilla, Chelva and Navajas are just over an hour by car from Valencia; Chelva and Navajas also have a Cercanías/bus stop nearby. The Marina Alta routes (Montgó, Ifac, Cova Tallada, Barranc de l'Infern) are 1.5 to 2 hours away. Skip midday in July and August on exposed climbs like Ifac or Montgó: start early and carry plenty of water. Canyons and waterfalls run fuller in spring and autumn. If you pair the hike with city plans, check the live agenda.

Frequently asked questions

Which route is easiest to start with?

The Ruta del Agua de Chelva and the Senda de los Pantaneros at Chulilla: both are flat, signposted and family-friendly. La Pea at Vilamarxant is the shortest and closest to Valencia.

Are there routes with waterfalls and pools to swim in?

Yes: the Salto de la Novia (Navajas), the 3 Waterfalls of Anna, and La Playeta at the end of the Ruta del Agua de Chelva. Check the flow and water temperature before swimming.

Are they free?

Almost all are public, free trails. Access to the Anna waterfalls site has a fee, and Cova Tallada needs a booking in high season. Check the conditions before you set out.

Which are the hardest?

The Barranc de l'Infern (thousands of steps), the Pic de l'Àguila (30 km), and the Montgó and Penyal d'Ifac summits, the last two with sections where you use your hands.