Júzcar - SL-A 176 - Los Riscos - Arroyo Majales (Valle del Genal)

Andalucia's Sendero Local 176 (SL-A 176), Sendero de Las Eras, allows walkers to explore crags in Los Riscos that might otherwise be inaccessible. This beautiful trail could be the high point of any visit to the Genal Valley both literally and figuratively.

Los Riscos are the karst formations seen rising behind the villages of Júzcar and Cartajima. They are formed from limestone laid down under the sea during the Jurassic Period and have been shaped by erosion into the formations that appear today.

A lane leads from Juzcar to a parking lot with informational signs, maps, and markers for the SL-A 176 trail. Although the trail climbs steeply, rising to 1009 meters, it is easy to follow. The well-defined path winds through formations that that remind one of an eagle, a camel, and other animals.

Several circular eras (threshing circles) are also visible along the trail. We wondered who could possibly have used these as it didn’t seem like there was a spot for a house to exist anywhere. We had the good luck to meet a local shepherd who answered our questions. He said that during his father’s time, many families lived in the crags. They grew or raised all their own food and were totally self-sufficient. Today, no one lives out here, but in his father’s day there were thirty or forty shepherds and their families in the area. It was the same in every village of the upper Genal Valley. Now there are only one or two shepherds left in each village.

To return to Juzcar, we followed a route down the Arroyo Majales. The upper part of the arroyo is beautiful and wild with magnificent scenery. After the trail reaches the midpoint of the arroyo, it crosses the steam and then winds along an eroded hillside, becoming quite narrow in places. Ropes in the most eroded sections help the less than sure-footed. The trail ends near the road bridge on the MA-7301.

Notes
This track is on the hillside of the arroyo and is not the same as the canyoneering route within the arroyo that requires special equipment.

Walk 16 of a long-distance walk through the Serranía de Ronda
From our journal:
During our planning for this trip, we kept running across references to Los Riscos de Júzcar y Cartajima. When we found out there was an accessible trail through the crag formations that the average person could hike, this trail rose to the top of our list. Now all we needed was good weather on the day we were in Júzcar. And good weather was exactly what we had today, our fourteenth day in a row of blue skies. It’s hard to put into words the joy one feels when walking in such beautiful mountain environments, but to have perfect weather, spring flowers, and plentiful birdsong in addition to this beautiful trail was a lovely bonus.

Possibilities for eating/sleeping
Hotel Bandolero is a great choice for a place to stay in Júzcar. The rooms are warm in February and have access to a deck with a view. The delicious meals in the restaurant are just what a walker needs to complete the day.
Ultramarinos Sonia is the grocery shop in the village.

Resources
SL-A 176 Los Riscos trail leaflet
https://static.malaga.es/malaga/subidas/archivos/1/1/arc_198011.pdf

Karst formations in the province of Malaga
http://www.surinenglish.com/lifestyle/201803/02/other-torcals-malaga-province-20180302094127-v.html

Previous day’s walk: Faraján - Río Genal - Real Fábrica de Hojalata - Júzcar
https://www.wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/farajan-rio-genal-real-fabrica-de-hojalata-juzcar-valle-del-genal-73647413

Next day’s walk: Júzcar - Nacimiento Las Zúas - Ruta de los Molinos
https://www.wikiloc.com/hiking-trails/juzcar-nacimiento-las-zuas-ruta-de-los-molinos-valle-del-genal-79790335

Link to journal
http://hiking.topicwise.com/doc/GenalValley