Welcome to SENDITUR.COM · paths · routes · tourism
Difficulty-Adapted
1:00 h.
3.2 km.
Difficulty-Adapted
1:00 h.
3.2 km.
Located in the municipalities of Muriel de la Fuente and Cabrejas del Pinar, the Natural Monument of La Fuentona of Muriel, in Soria, is immersed in one of the largest and best preserved sabinares in the Iberian Peninsula. Undoubtedly, the limestone moor on which it stands has contributed significantly to the process of creating the unique landscape that characterizes this region, making it an ideal habitat for various species of both plants and animals.
This route of hiking with hardly 3,2 km enters us from the same doors of Muriel de la Fuente, where the zone of parking is located, until the same birth of the Abión river that arises from the bowels of the earth in La Fuentona. We will follow a pleasant walk that will allow us to cross the first meters of this river surrounded by the thick vegetation that characterizes this region and under the attentive look of the tireless griffon vultures that populate the vertical cliffs that mark the valley that we are going up. Cliffs and rocks full of life, like the one that opens its way taking advantage of the cracks and fissures they find there. Cracks and fissures that channel rainwater, filtering it into the very interior of the earth, eroding it and creating a complex hydrological network that ends up forming the Cabrejas aquifer. This network is composed of at least one gallery yet to be fully explored and in which speleodivers have already submerged to at least 100m.
It is linked to another large cave full of torrents of water and cavities, some of which are up to 80 metres long, and this large cavity is in turn linked to a huge siphon 54 metres deep and more than 200 metres long from which La Fuentona or the Eye of the Sea, as it is also known, emerges on the surface. A subterranean world hidden from our eyes but that gives us all the special landscape that surrounds La Fuentona, gateway to the unknown. But the uniqueness of this natural place does not end here, to the junipers and rocks joins the Waterfall of La Hoz or La Fuentona. This is a spectacular waterfall that, with some luck, we can see almost from its base, as long as the generally dry riverbed of the La Hoz stream presents us with its presence. A natural monument that will undoubtedly envelop us with its beauty, making it more difficult to say goodbye to it and return to the hermitage of the Virgin of the Valley, from where we started.
According to the legend, the deepest part of La Fuentona is inhabited by Las Ondinas, mythological beings that bewitch with their songs those who dare to lean out of the crystalline waters of the Eye of the Sea in search of the entrance to the mysterious world in which they live. A world to which they drag everyone who insists on trying to discover the hidden entrance under the cold crystalline waters.
To get to La Fuentona, we must follow the SO-P-5026 road, which starts 25 km from Soria on the N-122, between this road and El Burgo de Osma, and after passing through Calatañazor, we reach the gates of Muriel de la Fuente. This same road leads to Muriel de la Fuente, but in the other direction, it connects the town with the towns of Muriel Viejo and Cubilla. Once there and just after passing the bridge over the river Abión, just before entering Muriel de la Fuente always, of course, if we arrive from Calatañazor, we will find the track that takes us to the different regulated car parks that this natural monument has. There is also a small parking area at the foot of the road.
Although in principle there are no clear rules requiring us to keep our dog on a leash, we are advised to keep them under control, that is, to use common sense. On the other hand, we can find a lot of people with their vehicles, so we have to be careful.
There are no areas where you can drink without having to go near the river, so it is not too much trouble to bring some water even if we are on a short route.
Surely there will be several pets that we have to go to meet, while the local fauna will be more difficult to see, except for birds that fly over us almost at all times.
The car park (0h 00min) at the foot of the hermitage of the Virgen of the Valley, a short distance from the road where we arrived here, is our starting point for this interesting and simple route.
The wide track that leads to the next parking lot serves us, under the attentive eye of the hermitage, of unbeatable route to enter this natural monument. The river Abión will accompany us on this walk to La Fuentona.
We leave on our right a long footbridge that crosses it, where the path that comes from the house in the park reaches here, on the other side of the road where we arrived.
Without almost noticing it, we will find ourselves in front of the old , and its corresponding parking area.
It is right here where the real adapted tour begins that will lead us to our unique goal. A wooden footbridge is now in charge of leading us smoothly through this natural space.
After passing this first rocky area, a tree-lined walk opens up before us, leading us to a new footbridge through which we will cross the riverbed.
The gentle undulation of the terrain in this part of the route is how many complications we should encounter along the way.
Soon after, we reached another bridge that marks the beginning of the trail that, if followed, would take us to the La Hoz stream waterfall. We left this detour to the waterfall (0h 25min) behind for the moment and continued on our way, crossing the conditioned little bridge.
Not much further ahead, among the vegetation that surrounds our route, the silhouette of La Fuentona of Muriel (0h 30min) emerges, the place where the route ends.
Once we have enjoyed the spectacular landscape that this natural treasure offers, we must return following the same itinerary that brought us here.
Of course we have the opportunity to approach, once crossed the bridge, to the peculiar waterfall of La Hoz. To do so, we will only have to follow the quiet path, which, without any conditioning, will lead us to it.
This trail crosses the leafy forest of this part of Soria without any major complications. The flow of the stream, which we will cross, helps us to predict the state in which we will find the waterfall.
Sooner than we had probably imagined, we reached the abrupt end of the trail, right at the foot of this whimsical waterfall, although to see it properly we will have to climb up on the rocks that cut our path or descend to the usually dry stream bed.
After contemplating the enormous and vertical walls that surround us, we will return until the beginning of the path to retake the course of the walkway that will take us back to the information booth and from there to the beginning of this route of La Fuentona of Muriel.
Distance. 3,2KmThe place where we are forced to park our vehicle will mark the final distance.
Time. 1:00hThis is the approximate time it will take us to do the route without going near the waterfall. If we dare to visit it we will have to add about 20 minutes which is how long it should take us to do it.
Time of yearThe winters in this area are hard, and can undoubtedly condition our visit, but also offer us a privileged picture, while the rest of the year gives us a pleasant walk that the flow of the river with the colorful state of vegetation around us will highlight even more if possible. Unfortunately, the periods in which we can find the waterfall with water are reduced to a few days a year.
Required equipmentAlthough the route is perfectly conditioned and we should not find ourselves with difficulties typical of larger routes, it is not too much to use a shoe that gives us greater functionality for land like those we are going to tread. To immortalize our passage by this place with a few photographies next to not forgetting to take something of water, generally are as many preoccupations to us, however we must not forget that we are in the natural enviroment, and that we will have to adapt us according to the moment that we choose to make this route. Consult our list of material and equipment for hiking. Read more.
Difficulty. AdaptedPhysical
With hardly any distance and a minimum unevenness, the only thing that stands out is the inclination of one of the few ramps that we pass, something more evident and that in these cases will require us to make a greater effort.
Severity of the environment
Taking into account the regulation that affects the area and that recommends and prohibits leaving the route, we should not have to face complications in this section. Being in the section that leads to the waterfall where something more abrupt we have to find the land. It is true that certain sections run at the foot of the rocky slope, somewhat exposed to possible landslides. Needless to say, bathing is totally forbidden.
Orientation
Given the perfect condition of the route, following it does not pose any complications, in addition to the different marks and indications that we will find. In La Fuentona the adapted route ends but not the short distance path with which we share our course and which should not be confused with its marks and indications.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| 1-Parking | 0:00h | 1004m | 0Km | 30T 511744 4619428 |
| 2-Information stand | 0:15h | 1008m | 0.8Km | 30T 511762 4619936 |
| 3-Detour to the waterfall | 0:25h | 1011m | 1.4Km | 30T 511439 4620271 |
| 4-La Fuentona | 0:30h | 1006m | 1.6Km | 30T 511329 4620325 |
| 5-Detour to the waterfall | 0:35h | 1011m | 1.8Km | 30T 511439 4620271 |
| 6-Information stand | 0:45h | 1008m | 2.4Km | 30T 511762 4619936 |
| 7-Parking | 1:00h | 1004m | 3.2Km | 30T 511744 4619428 |
Coordinates UTM Datum WGS84
Slope: 80m
Slope +: 40m
Slope -: 40m
Maximum altitude: 1015m
Minimum altitude: 1004m
This outline of the route is not to scale and does not contain all the information about the area, it is merely orientative.
This schematic with the path is approximate and has been created from the derived cartographic base © Instituto Geográfico Nacional "Cuadrante 348-4 y 349-3, 1:25.000"
Senditur has manipulated the tracks to correct the aberrant points that may exist, caused by problems with the reception of the GPS signal. In any case the tracks are always approximate. SENDITUR encourages you to use the new technologies within your reach, using them as support and consultation in your activity, not basing the realization and orientation of the same only and exclusively on them, since they may see their functioning altered by very diverse causes, not functioning correctly and their indications may not be precise.
Es un sitio bastante bonito y bien cerca está Calatañazor que también merece la pena conocerlo.
Rocks polished by natural elements that hold the memory of millions of years
One of the first villas, from the late Roman period, excavated in the Peninsula
Place of burial of a holy body, Saint of the River, Saint of the Duero
With a mountainous and wild character, The Caves, for the locals
Defensive bastion between the mountain and the river
Benedictine monastery where the monks raise their prayers through Gregorian chant
Find out what to see in...
¿Did you know that...
Different teams of speleodivers from the Al Filo de lo Imposible program have dived in La Fuentona, more specifically the first one in autumn 2003 reached 50 m and in 2010 they advanced 60 m more, turning La Fuentona into a temple of the speleobueco. Currently the maximum reached is 115 m depth achieved in the same year 2010.
Don't miss out...
The natural reserve of Sabinar of Calatañazor that you will find it in the road that joins Muriel de la Fuente and Calatañazor and that stands out, among other things, for the size of its specimens, some of them reach up to 20 m of height and 8 m of diameter of the trunk.
From the commitment of SENDITUR with Nature and the respect to the balance of the environment, SENDITUR urges you to travel in a responsible way, with low environmental impact and respecting at all times the Natural, Cultural and Social environment wherever you go.
Besides sharing with all of us your experience on the route we would be grateful if you could write to us to inform us of any erroneous or outdated information you may have found, or simply to let us know what you think at Thank you.
This route has been carried out in the field by SENDITUR on 25-04-2017. The route may vary greatly depending on the time of year, weather conditions and terrain, as well as the actions of third parties and the evolution suffered in the natural environment where it is located. All opinions, advice and/or assessments made by SENDITUR in their descriptions are for guidance only and are subject to and/or refer to the specific conditions of the specific day of the route, referring to that specific day, taken from trained people, with the appropriate experience and with a high level of physical and technical preparation as a reference, as well as correctly equipped.
All the times are approximate and take an orientative character, the stops have not been taken into account, no matter how small they are. All the information related to the route, texts, images, videos, maps, diagrams, tracks, towns, and places of tourist interest are published as a guide, and may not coincide with the current state of each place. Before undertaking any activity, assess your technical knowledge, your physical condition, find out about the weather and the variations that the route may undergo, equip yourself correctly, be prudent and responsible at all times, and do not exceed your capabilities. SENDITUR is not responsible for any misuse or inappropriate use of the comprehensive guides of its routes and/or publications as well as its electronic guides, nor for any variations in their descriptions for the aforementioned reasons, and recommends that everyone be responsible and prudent in carrying out the activity. We also encourage you to read books and specialised guides to complement the information described above.
Continue watching …
