Schedule: 2 h 50 min
Unevenness (+): 405 m
Unevenness (-): 405 m
Distance: 8 km
Type of road: Trail-path
Severity of the medium: 2
Orientation in the itinerary: 2
Difficulty: 2
Necessary effort: 2
Track GPX
Track KMZ
Track TRKFrom the town of Obón, we will cross the Martín river over the bridge towards Estercuel and Torre de las Arcas. Next to the bridge we will find some traditional washing places in a cave. At the turnoff to the municipal hostel is located the beginning of the path to Alcaine.
After a steep slope we will ascend to a panoramic viewpoint of the town of Obón. Afterwards, the path takes a route with little slope through a rocky area to flow into the Martín River at the height of the Barranco del Regallo (there is a diversion conditioned with ropes and steps to the area of the pools and narrows of this ravine).
During the descent there are beautiful views of the Coquinera Canyon, which we will enter after crossing the river by a footbridge hanging over the rock, to continue the trail along the right bank of the river under the protection of the limestone walls of this charming river canyon., until reaching the shelter with cave paintings of the Coquinera, located on the other side of the river, which we will identify by its protective fence that prevents us from partially seeing the paintings from outside the enclosure if we do not have permits or if we are accompanied by authorized guides.
Shortly after we will cross the river by a footbridge, at the foot of the mouth of the Gabache ravine, limit of the municipalities between Obón and Alcaine, where a small rest area is located (we are approximately halfway).
We will climb a rocky path that, gaining altitude, offers extensive views of the river canyon. A narrow pass between boulders allows us to descend to the alluvial plain and continue on our way until a new steep slope leads us up to the slopes of the Benicozar mountain on the left bank of the Martín river. Shortly after, Alcaine is already visible, protected by the rocky ridges that surround it and the shelter with cave paintings of the Cañada de Marco, declared World Heritage in 1998.
The mountain of Benicozar with 848 meters and the cabezo de Guardias with 894 make up the passage through the Martín river known as “Cañamarco” or Cañada de Marco where the shelter with indicated cave paintings is located and where the Martín river is reborn through the springs of Benicozar that are known as the Fuentes. Most of the cave paintings can be appreciated quite well from outside the protection fence, so it is worth climbing up to the shelter. The different indicators (springs, paintings…) will guide us through this corner of unique beauty and great natural and cultural wealth, to arrive shortly after to the town of Alcaine.
