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CURVESCOUT / MOTORCYCLE RIDE

Arroyo de la fuente de las Zorras and Cañada de la Cruz

Plan this ride

Recorded distance
118 km
Riding-time estimate
3 h 08
Journey
Recorded itinerary
Distance and timing basis

Ordered leg totals agree within rounding. Stop distances are approximate sums of rounded legs. Stops, delays, approach and any separate return travel add time. Basis: producer-declared routed record.

Reading history stays on this device. My road watch requires a separate selection; opening it does not subscribe this ride.

Distance and riding time are measured on the routed road. Check local closures and conditions before you ride.

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Why this ride

A 118 km round trip from Nerpio - roughly 3 h 08 in the saddle. On the way it passes Abrigo del Engarbo, Cañada de la Cruz and back through Abrigo del Engarbo. The stored terrain estimate reaches about 1,450 m; a measured road-elevation profile is not available. The line favours views over speed.

Waypoint introductions and full write-ups

  1. 1. Arroyo de la fuente de las Zorras

    The name means the stream of the foxes' spring, which is the kind of place name that only survives in country where people still walk. The ravines around Nerpio hold dozens of painted rock shelters, with Levantine and Schematic paintings of hunters, animals and symbols, and they form part of the UNESCO listing of rock art of the Mediterranean Basin on the Iberian Peninsula. Visits to many of them need to be arranged through the local interpretation centre.

    Read the complete Arroyo de la fuente de las Zorras write-up.

    Recorded stop-planning note

    May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

    Planning note

    Arroyo de la fuente de las Zorras is where the day begins. Next is Abrigo del Engarbo.

  2. 2. Abrigo del Engarbo

    Deep in the Sierra de Segura in the northeast of Jaén province, close to where the Segura river is born, the Engarbo rock shelters hide a few small painted figures under limestone overhangs. They belong to the great serial UNESCO listing of Levantine rock art, prehistoric paintings found along the mountains of eastern Spain, with stylised humans and animals in red ochre that have survived thousands of years of sun, frost and goats. The shelters are modest and fragile, often fenced, and visits usually need to be arranged locally, so treat them as a reason to explore this remote corner rather than a guaranteed sight.

    Read the complete Abrigo del Engarbo write-up.

    Recorded stop-planning note

    May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

    Planning note

    Abrigo del Engarbo comes up about 35 km into the recorded legs. Next is Cañada de la Cruz.

  3. 3. Cañada de la Cruz

    The Cañada de la Cruz is a high valley or drovers' pasture in the Segura mountains; cañada is the word for the traditional livestock routes and grazing grounds used by shepherds moving their flocks between summer and winter pastures, and this part of Spain has a long history of transhumance.

    Read the complete Cañada de la Cruz write-up.

    Recorded stop-planning note

    May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

    Planning note

    about 58 km into the recorded legs you reach Cañada de la Cruz. Next is back through Abrigo del Engarbo.

  4. 4. back through Abrigo del Engarbo

    Return visit. Read the place description above.

    Read the complete Abrigo del Engarbo write-up.

    Recorded stop-planning note

    May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

    Planning note

    back through Abrigo del Engarbo, late in the day. Next is Arroyo de la fuente de las Zorras.

  5. 5. Arroyo de la fuente de las Zorras

    Return visit. Read the place description above.

    Read the complete Arroyo de la fuente de las Zorras write-up.

    Recorded stop-planning note

    May refer to an earlier itinerary; verify against your selected route before riding.

    Planning note

    Back at Arroyo de la fuente de las Zorras. That is the ride.

Leg by leg

Arroyo de la fuente de las Zorras to Abrigo del Engarbo

Arroyo de la fuente de las Zorras → Abrigo del Engarbo is 35 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.

Abrigo del Engarbo to Cañada de la Cruz

Abrigo del Engarbo → Cañada de la Cruz is 23 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.

Cañada de la Cruz to back through Abrigo del Engarbo

Cañada de la Cruz → back through Abrigo del Engarbo is 25 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.

back through Abrigo del Engarbo to Arroyo de la fuente de las Zorras

back through Abrigo del Engarbo → Arroyo de la fuente de las Zorras is 35 km of rhythm rather than effort. Let it flow and let the view breathe.

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