Aparcamiento Albuñuelas - Collado del Lobo - Pilar - Ermita San Sebastián - Barrio Bajo

This is a nice route in the Sierra de Albuñuelas. We will start it at kilometer 24 of the A-4050 highway, better known as the La Cabra highway. We will park on a large esplanade next to a small country house.

We will begin the journey through the Llanos de Julia or de la Juía; Then we will explain the middle name. On a gentle descent down a track we will reach Las Casas Forestal de la Huida or Juía. Of relatively recent construction, 1968, there are a series of somewhat deteriorated buildings, a pool under a large walnut tree that receives the newborn water a few meters above, a well with water and a little further away a large oven. Beautiful enclave surrounded by an exotic grove where cedars, cypresses and walnut trees coexist.

After the curious visit to the forest houses we will continue along the track, from which we will turn left, cross country, to go down to the beautiful Charca del Barranco del Tío Bernardo. Under the robust walnut tree in the background, we find this pond wonder with its reeds and even its minnows. It's only a few ducks missing.

We continue along a somewhat diffuse path that surrounds the pond, parallel to the Tío Bernardo Ravine and after passing a plain intended for planting cereals, we return again to the forest track. A few hundred more meters and we will access a hill where the true and ruinous Forest Houses of La Huida are located. A series of buildings, in terrible condition, make up what would be a street that ends in a building of larger proportions and better condition, which without a doubt was used as a huge dovecote Inside you can still see numerous wooden buildings so that pigeons could nest; and it was a series of small windows with their perch so that the birds could enter and leave.

We have looked for more information about this small village but we have found little. Just something about the striking origin of his name. Apparently, during the Civil War, and as the republican areas fell into the power of the rebels, escape routes were prepared for notables and threatened people, who remained in popular speech as “Juías” from the Huidas.. Generally this hasty exit occurred from the cities to the mountains and apparently one of those escape routes ran through these parts.

Next to the meadows that surround the forest house we were lucky enough to see some mountain goats. They were paralyzed for a few seconds by curiosity and after the kind of whistle they uttered when scared, they put on dusty legs; but not before being able to photograph them fleetingly. And on the other side of the hillock - actually a hill - that occupies the farmhouse, we are again marveled at the change of landscape:

We continue the path along a blurred path that enters a dense pine forest of Resineros Pines. At some point we find remains of the clay pots from collecting the resin, even with their last load; At another point, a suspicious alignment of stones seems like a jorfe or death of what must have been a path of certain substance, today in the process of disappearing. On this route we will also see some stone milestones that help us follow the hidden path that runs through a small ravine and that little by little descends, gently at first and abruptly later, until reaching a Forest Track. This is directed, parallel to the Barranco de la Huida, and in a gentle but constant ascent to the Cañuelo Recreational Area. The El Cañuelo controlled camping area is located in a medium-high mountain range known as Albuñuelas. This rises between small orchards and fruit trees arranged on terraces, in the very heart of the Lecrín Valley region. Natural environment where pines, holm oaks, rockroses and gorse nuance the tones of the landscape, the visitor will be able to enjoy the services available in the recreational area and the controlled camping area; Tables, barbecues, natural fountain and toilets allow you to comfortably enjoy a picnic. Located in a pine forest with an abundant shaded area. It can accommodate approximately 50 people


Authorizations
Managed by the Albuñuelas City Council, it is this body that grants authorizations. Tel.: 958776436

After a short pause we continue along Rambla del Cañuelo; but only a few hundred meters to simply admire it. Later and after a left turn along a path, we will return to the forest track we brought. This track now continues with a gentle ascent, parallel to the Barranco del Humo. Then we will pass through the ruined farmhouse of the same name surrounded by enormous cypresses. Later we will see on the right a Barracks of forestry agents, former ICONA, composed of two homes with their shield between the lintels of both doors.

To the right at the height, obviously, we will see the Smoke Heights. We will continue along a long ascending section; and we will be very steep to turn left along a small path marked with stone milestones, which will take us to a large firebreak through which El Cordel de la Venta de las Latas runs. This goes from the Trifinio de Albuñuelas, Otívar and Lentegí boundary marker, until its exit to the municipality of Jayena, in the municipality of Albuñuelas. In this natural hill we will enjoy the best panoramic views of the route. We will reach a stop by going up the firebreak from where you can see: Las Solanas de Las Huertas, Alto de los Bojes, Los Poyos del Pescado, Los Altos del Jaloche and La Sierra de Cázulas; and if the day is clear we can see up to Lentegí and the Granadina Tropical Coast. The panoramic also offers us multiple and beautiful calcareous prominences - karst towers - that stand out everywhere on the barraged southern slope.

We will return to the forest track along a path parallel to the one we had previously deviated from; surrounded by a fabulous rosemary more than a meter high. The next point of relevance is the Collado del Puerto de la Venta de la Lata or Lentegí.

Upon reaching the Barranco del Cañuelo we will turn left along the Cañada Real de Granada to Almuñecar. The path then indolently winds, among pine trees, cedars, some redwood, peonies, orchids or rosemary, depending on the season, already in the vicinity of Cerro del Chato, 1,342 m long.

A short more section and we reach the Carretera de la Cabra, little traveled, which we will take on the right, and after about 400 m. We will reach the start and end point of this recommended route. We would have liked to give more information about Las Casas de la Huida and Venta de la Lata, but we have not found more. If someone knows more details, let them tell us, we would be happy to know more and be able to share it.

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