Walks in the Montes de Toledo from Hontanar · Route no. 09

Collado de Pasamontes and Hoz de Carboneros Walk

A mountain walk for experienced hikers: up a scree slope with old charcoal pits to caves shaped like a vault and the summit of the Collado de Pasamontes, at about 1,400 m, then down the gorge of the Trevejiles stream, the Hoz de Carboneros, past one waterfall after another.

Quartzite scree slopes on a hillside in the Montes de Toledo — Quartzite scree, typical of the slopes of these hills. Photo: Cillas, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

⬇ Download the full route guide (PDF)Collado de Pasamontes and Hoz de Carboneros Walk · map, GPS points and practical information to print and take with you

Route facts

Distance17.4 kmloop

Time7 hwith stops

Ascent+678 mtotal climb

DifficultyHardaccording to the Wikiloc track

A loop from La Milagra. Figures from the Wikiloc track by J. Eugenio Gmz (March 2021): about 4 h moving and 7 h with stops.

🐕 Dogs: not recommended
Waymarking: only on the Hoz path
Dangerous section: the descent to the falls
Best season: winter and spring, with water
Easy option: to the falls and back on the path

Distance from Cork Valley

6.8 km

6.8 km by road and track from Cork Valley to the start, on the tracks leaving La Milagra (Navahermosa).

Road distance to the start of the walk, measured on the OpenStreetMap road network from Cork Valley in Hontanar.

Directions from Cork Valley Start of the walk on Google Maps View and download the track on Wikiloc

Route map

The numbered points open Google Maps when tapped. Route drawn from the track published on Wikiloc by J. Eugenio Gmz, over tracks, streams and roads from OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL licence). The arrows show the direction of the walk.

Waypoints and how to get there

Drive to La Milagra, in the municipality of Navahermosa, and take the middle one of the three tracks on the left as far as a chain: the walk starts there. It is 6.8 km from Cork Valley.

1
Start at La Milagra — from La Milagra (Navahermosa) take the middle one of three tracks on the left, as far as a chain.GPS: 39.6187, −4.4761 · Open in Google Maps
2
Water intake — you cross the stream and the steep climb up a scree slope with old charcoal pits begins.GPS: 39.5946, −4.4585 · Open in Google Maps
3
Caves below the summit — a rocky outcrop with caves forming a natural vault with windows.GPS: 39.5885, −4.4628 · Open in Google Maps
4
Pasamontes summit — a cairn and views of San Pablo de los Montes, Hontanar and Navahermosa; Cruziana fossils.GPS: 39.5891, −4.4666 · Open in Google Maps
5
Hoz de Carboneros waterfalls — the gorge and its waterfalls; a very steep descent with rocky sections.GPS: 39.5785, −4.4582 · Open in Google Maps
6
Arroyo de la Gimena — you leave the gorge on the marked path and return along tracks to the start.GPS: 39.5828, −4.4527 · Open in Google Maps

⚠ The descent from the summit to the waterfalls is off-path through ravines, with almost vertical sections and a risk of falling. The author of the track himself recommends that, unless you are used to this terrain, you walk only the Hoz de Carboneros path: to the waterfalls and back the same way.

What the walk is like

From the chain you follow the track past a pond and a stone water tank until, shortly before it ends, a path leaves to the right along the foot of the slope, beside a water-intake pipe. After crossing the Arroyo de la Gimena you climb straight up a long, very steep scree slope, with the remains of old charcoal pits on either side.

Near the top a rocky outcrop appears with caves that form a natural vault with windows. Skirting it on the right you reach the top of the Collado de Pasamontes, at about 1,400 m, with a cairn and views of the San Pablo de los Montes range, Hontanar, Navahermosa and Los Navalmorales; up here there are Cruziana fossils. From here you drop into the gorge of the Trevejiles stream, the Hoz de Carboneros, with a string of waterfalls, and leave it on the marked path by the Arroyo de la Gimena, returning along tracks to the start.

Photographs

Young olive grove on the raña at Navahermosa, with the Montes de Toledo range behind — Olive groves on the raña at Navahermosa, with the sierra behind. Photo: LBM1948, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

The Montes de Toledo sierra seen from La Milagra, Navahermosa — The Sombrerera range from near the La Milagra hermitage.

Olive tree in the groves near La Milagra, Navahermosa — Olive groves near La Milagra.

Holm oak woodland and poplars in a valley near Hontanar — Holm oaks and poplars in a valley near Hontanar. Photo: 19migmas63, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Dalmatian on the terrace of a wooden cabin at Cork Valley — At Cork Valley your dog sleeps indoors and comes with you on the walks.

Practical information

What to take

Plenty of water and something to eat
Hiking boots
Sun cream, a cap and sunglasses
A charged phone with the track downloaded
A lead for your dog

Rules in the hills

Stay on tracks and paths
Close any gates you open
No fires
Respect livestock and private estates
During the hunting season, avoid hunt days
Take your rubbish home

🐕 Not recommended for dogs because of the rocky descent. The short option, along the Hoz path to the waterfalls, is fine for dogs used to the hills, always on a lead.

No booking or permit is needed. Carry the track on your phone or a GPS: the mountain section is not waymarked. Do not attempt the ravine descent on wet rock.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Hoz de Carboneros walk dangerous?

The path to the waterfalls from below is manageable. The dangerous part is coming down from the summit through the ravines, as this track does: there are near-vertical walls and a risk of falling.

What is the easiest way to see the waterfalls?

Walk the route in reverse only as far as the waterfalls on the marked path, and come back the same way.

Are there fossils on the walk?

Yes, near the summit there are Cruziana trace fossils, Ordovician trilobite trails. They must not be removed.

Where does it start?

On the tracks leaving La Milagra, in Navahermosa, 6.8 km from Cork Valley.

Where to stay

Casa Espejo at Cork Valley at sunset, with the private pool lit up

Cork Valley · Mirror Houses and wooden cabins

The natural base for this walk: adults-only, pet-friendly rural accommodation in Hontanar, in the heart of the Montes de Toledo, 130 km from Madrid and 55 km from Toledo. Mirror Houses that reflect the dehesa, wooden cabins, a private Nordic hot tub and a saltwater infinity pool. Your dog sleeps indoors, goes everywhere with you and even has a pool of its own.

Certified Starlight Destination and Alojamiento Rural Singular of Castilla-La Mancha.

Check availability See the Mirror Houses and cabins

Other walks from Hontanar

Walks in the Montes de Toledo that start in or near Hontanar, with their road distance from Cork Valley. See also our walks in Cabañeros National Park.

Los Porches Walk · hiking route in ToledoAn easy loop from the village · 8.5 km · 3.5 km from Cork Valley
Arroyo de las Lanchas Walk · hiking route in ToledoWaterfalls and a 1,297 m pass · 12.6 km · 3.5 km from Cork Valley
Corral de Cantos Walk · hiking route in ToledoHontanar’s summit, 1,421 m · 17.4 km · 3.5 km from Cork Valley
Collado de Pasamontes and Hoz de Carboneros WalkCaves, a 1,400 m summit and waterfalls · 17.4 km · 6.8 km from Cork Valley
Hoz de Carboneros and Pico de la Sombrerera Walk · hiking route in ToledoWaterfalls, scrambling and a 1,400 m summit · 19.1 km · 5.6 km from Cork Valley

Take the route guide with you

Everything about this walk — map, GPS points, what to take and the rules in the hills — in a PDF ready to print or save to your phone before you set off, as mobile coverage is patchy along parts of the route.

⬇ Download the full route guide (PDF)Collado de Pasamontes and Hoz de Carboneros Walk · map, GPS points and practical information to print and take with you

Route guide produced by Cork Valley from the track published on Wikiloc by J. Eugenio Gmz (view on Wikiloc). Map: track drawn over data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL licence. Distances, ascent and times as given by the original track. The map is for orientation and does not replace a topographic map or a GPS.