The best walks and hikes around Embalse de Arenoso

It is a spontaneous natural viewpoint, typical of high mountain areas where: There are panoramic views towards the surroundings of Vilafranca, The landscape of hills, terraces, pine forests and open areas can be observed, There are no built structures (railings, information panels, etc.).

Such a beautiful hike! During summer times don't forget to get extra water with you, even if hiking close to a river

Nibbling fish (Garra Rufa) perform a kind of fish pedicure: they gently nibble off dead skin cells from feet and hands, which softens the skin and promotes blood circulation, as they serve as a protein source and release special enzymes; this treatment is relaxing, but also controversial for hygienic and ethical reasons.

Swimming in this river is a highly recommended and unique experience. During the summer months, there is a fee to enter (unless you stay overnight at a Montanejos accommodation). There is also a charge for parking in the roadside lot. Outside of peak season, both access and parking are free.

The Charles IV Bridge in Olba is a historic structure that crosses the Mijares River. This bridge, built in the 18th century, is known for its stone architecture and its importance in connecting local routes. Originally, it had four arches, but two of them were destroyed during the Civil War. The bridge is a highlight on several hiking trails, such as the one from Olba to Fuente los Pertegaces. This circular route allows you to enjoy the natural beauty of the valley and other points of interest such as the Salud aqueduct.

The Chillapájaros Straits owe their name to the echoes of the birds that inhabit the rocky area, also known as the Mijares Canyon, which is an impressive limestone cut caused by a fault, patiently filed and excavated by the surface runoff of the Mijares River. Here the river bed passes through a deep gorge, two walls more than a hundred meters high in a vertical drop, in a passage about twenty-five meters wide. The road accompanies the river at different heights, approximately 40 m in elevation. The perspectives of this formidable gorge, of its cliffs, can be seen through two large “balconies”, built inside a tunnel that opens the way to the Mijares highway. Later, the viewpoints mentioned above were incorporated. From all of them, you can see the pronounced escarpments carved by the Mijares, whose rocky walls are the destination of numerous climbers throughout the year.

One of the most notable characteristics of the municipality and that draws the most attention is the dispersion of its population centers. Throughout the valley, groups of houses of various sizes are distributed. The largest is the core of Olba, itself. But we also find the following neighborhoods or villages: Los Lucas, Los Ibáñez Bajos, la Tosca, los Ramones, los Pertegaces, los Villanuevas, los Giles, Casa Bolea, el Casucho, la Artiga, los Ibáñez Altos, la Hoya Ramos, los Tarragones , the Tarrasones, the Moya, the Villagrasas, the Peñablanca, the Barranco del Lobo... among others. The so-called "upper neighborhoods" far from the river and located in the mountains are currently abandoned, with some exceptions. The neighborhoods receive the surnames of the first Christian settlers. Although the name of the neighborhood "Los Ramones" has nothing to do in its origins with the rock band of the same name, the traffic signs with the name of the neighborhood have been the subject of various thefts, presumably as "souvenirs" of the band.

Wonderful views !!