Linarejos recreation area and walks at the Cerrada del Utrero

The Arroyo Linarejos flows down towards the Guadalquivir through the Sierras de Cazorla, Segura and Las Villas Natural Park, near Vadillo Castril. From Cazorla, take the A-319 over the Puerto de las Palomas and turn off at the Empalme del Valle towards the river valley.

The recreation area is used as a picnic site and car park. During the warmer months, a low weir holds back the stream and creates a pool where you can swim. From the picnic tables, a short path leads to some limestone pools and a viewpoint. A few minutes further on, at El Valle, the Cerrada del Utrero trail begins: a circular walk of around 1.6 km through the Guadalquivir gorge, with views of the Linarejos waterfall. When the stream is flowing well, the waterfall is known as the Cola de Caballo, or “Horse's Tail”.

If you still have time, the Tranco reservoir lies further along the same A-319. Torre del Vinagre and the Borosa River valley are also along this road, beyond this turning.

*After a dry winter, the waterfall may be reduced to little more than a trickle. After heavy rain, check the condition of the gorge trail before setting out.

The recreation area

There is a large car park, wooden picnic tables and benches, a drinking fountain and a kiosk that usually opens in July and August. The stream flows between poplars, willows, ash trees and holm oaks. Early in the morning or during the week, you may see fallow deer, a wild boar or even a mouflon coming down to drink.

The bathing pool is not a municipal swimming pool. A low weir holds back the stream: when the water level is good, there is enough water for swimming; after a dry summer, it may be very shallow. The water is cold even in August and there is no lifeguard.

From Cazorla, take the A-319 to the Empalme del Valle and turn right onto the JF-7092. After crossing the Guadalquivir, follow the road to the left (JF-7091). After about two kilometres, a turning on the left leads to the recreation area. The final stretch is unpaved and rather narrow: a normal car can make it, but an SUV or a vehicle with greater ground clearance is more comfortable, especially after rain.

Walks from Linarejos

Pools and viewpoint from the recreation area

From the picnic tables, a path follows the stream upstream. In around half an hour there and back, you reach some limestone pools and a viewpoint overlooking the gorge and the waterfall. This is the easiest walk and works well with a picnic and a swim, provided the water level is high enough. The rock arch at the viewpoint is not protected by a rail along its entire edge: keep a few steps back, especially with children.

Cerrada del Utrero trail

The marked circular route is 1.6–1.7 km long and takes around 45 minutes. It starts at El Valle, opposite the turning for Vadillo Castril, beside the information point and another kiosk. The car park at this junction is smaller than the one at the recreation area and fills up quickly during Holy Week and in August.

The path climbs alongside the Guadalquivir, with steps cut into the rock and a wooden handrail, as far as the Utrero weir. Here the water drops over a small waterfall. A little further on, you can see the Linarejos waterfall, which is around sixty metres high when the stream is flowing strongly. You then walk around the Peñón del Lanchón and return to the road through a stand of black pine trees.

The regional park authority classifies the route as moderate. There are steps, parts of the trail run above the river and loose stones may fall. For anyone who can walk independently and safely, the route is generally manageable. A pushchair is not suitable for this trail: the steps and the narrow sections make it impractical. With a small child, you will need to carry them or stay at the recreation area.

Making a longer day of it

If you want to walk further, you can follow the forest tracks towards Valdeazores, Los Órganos and Torre del Vinagre. This is a long day out of six or seven hours and is no longer the short walk through the gorge. It makes sense if you are staying nearby and can set off early; if you have mainly come for a picnic and the waterfall, the short loop is probably enough.

How to reach the Linarejos recreation area

To reach Cazorla from Málaga, take the A-92 and A-44, or the A-45 via Antequera. The detailed route is explained on the town page. From Cazorla, the recreation area is around 20 to 25 minutes away: take the A-319 towards the Tranco reservoir, pass the Empalme del Valle and follow the track to the picnic area. There is no bus service to the stream or to the start of the Cerrada.

Car hire

Car hire: the most flexible option

With a hire car, you can spend the morning at Linarejos and, if you still have enough daylight, continue down to the Tranco. The final kilometre is along an unpaved track: an SUV or a vehicle with greater ground clearance is more comfortable, especially after rain.

Hire a car at Málaga Airport
Private transfer

Taxi or private transfer: a convenient option

You can book a transfer to your hotel in Cazorla, La Iruela or Arroyo Frío and, the following day, take a local taxi to the Empalme del Valle or the Linarejos recreation area. It is best to agree the return journey as well: there is no regular service from the picnic area.

Book a taxi or transfer

*You do not need to enter your credit-card details or make any advance payment. Cancellation is free. We recommend booking in advance during the high season to avoid price rises and to make sure the car you need is available.

Other transport options

Cazorla can be reached by coach from Úbeda or Jaén and, with a change, from Málaga or Granada. The Cazorla guide explains how to make the journey from Málaga. None of these services enters the natural park: from the town, you need around another 20 minutes by car or taxi to reach Linarejos. If you are travelling without your own vehicle, the most practical option is to stay in Cazorla or Arroyo Frío and arrange a taxi for the return journey on the same day.

Practical tips

  • If you are going for a picnic or to the pools in the stream, park at the recreation area. If you only want to do the 45-minute circular walk, park at El Valle, by the turning for Vadillo Castril.
  • During Holy Week and in August, both car parks fill up early. It is best to leave Cazorla first thing in the morning.
  • The waterfall depends on winter rainfall. After a dry year, it may be almost completely dry.
  • Wear non-slip footwear on the gorge trail: the steps near the weir are often wet.
  • The kiosk at the recreation area and the one at El Valle usually open in summer. Outside those months, do not rely on them for food: bring water and something to eat.
  • The edge of the waterfall and the rock arch at the viewpoint are not continuously protected. It is not worth getting close to the drop for a photograph.

Frequently asked questions about Linarejos and the Cerrada del Utrero

Where does the 45-minute trail start?

At El Valle, opposite the turning for Vadillo Castril, beside the information point. From the recreation area, a shorter walk follows the stream to the pools and the viewpoint.

Can you go with children?

The picnic area and the walk along the stream are good options for families with children, provided you keep an eye on the edge of the viewpoint. The Cerrada del Utrero is suitable for children who can walk independently: there are steps and the path runs at some height above the river. A pushchair is not suitable for this trail.

Is there a swimming pool?

There is a pool inside the recreation area, formed by a low weir holding back the stream. It fills with water from the natural stream rather than from a municipal water supply. In summer, you can swim there if the stream is flowing well. After a dry year, the water may be very shallow.

How long does it take from Cazorla?

Around 20 to 25 minutes by car along the A-319 to the Empalme del Valle and then along the track to the recreation area. The journey from Málaga to Cazorla is a separate drive: it usually takes more than two hours and is explained on the town page.

When is the waterfall at its best?

In spring and early summer, after a winter with plenty of rain or snow. By late August, after a hot and dry summer, there is often little more than a thin stream of water over the rock.

Is there anywhere to eat?

There are picnic tables at the recreation area. The kiosk there and the one at El Valle usually open in July and August. The rest of the year, bring your own food and water; in Cazorla and Arroyo Frío you will find bars and restaurants open throughout the year.