Alto Tajo Natural Park

The Alto Tajo covers about 1,760 square kilometres where the Tagus and its tributaries, the Gallo, the Cabrillas and others, have cut deep gorges through red sandstone and grey limestone in the highlands of Guadalajara. The colour of the rock and the pine and juniper on the slopes give the canyons a character unlike the rest of central Spain. The area is among the least populated in Europe, part of the so-called Serrania Celtiberica, with villages of a few dozen people and long distances between services. Kayaking and rafting run on the Tagus in spring, and the Barranco de la Hoz with its cliff-set sanctuary and the Salto de Poveda are among the marked routes. Otters, vultures and golden eagles are present.

What you actually see

• The red canyons - gorges cut through sandstone by the upper Tagus.
• The Barranco de la Hoz - a narrow gorge with a sanctuary under the cliff.
• The kayaking - spring paddling on the Tagus headwaters.
• The empty villages - settlements of a few dozen residents.

When to go

April to June for water levels and green, September to October for autumn colour; the highlands are severely cold in winter, with Molina de Aragon regularly recording Spain's lowest temperatures. Summer brings fire restrictions.

Honest expectations

Services are very sparse, with long distances between fuel, food and accommodation, and phone coverage is patchy. Roads are slow and winding. Kayaking depends on water releases and is seasonal.

Nearby

Molina de Aragon and its castle lie northeast; Siguenza is west.