Walks in the Montes de Toledo from Hontanar · Route no. 10

Hoz de Carboneros and Pico de la Sombrerera Walk

The most complete walk in this part of the Montes de Toledo: from the La Milagra hermitage to the Hoz de Carboneros gorge, a scrambling climb beside the Cascada de los Fresnos, a quartzite ridge to Pico de la Sombrerera, at about 1,400 m, and back down a forest track. Long, tough and spectacular.

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

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

Route facts

Distance19.1 kmloop

Time8–9 hwith stops

Ascent+660 mtotal climb

DifficultyHardaccording to the Wikiloc track

A loop from the La Milagra hermitage. Figures from the Wikiloc track by australangel (April 2024): 9 h 20 min with rests, photos and visits.

🐕 Dogs: not recommended
Waymarking: only the Hoz path
Scrambling: yes, at the Cascada de los Fresnos
Best season: spring and autumn
Time: a full day

Distance from Cork Valley

5.6 km

5.6 km by road from Cork Valley to the La Milagra hermitage, where you park.

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

Directions from Cork Valley La Milagra hermitage 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 australangel, 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

Park by the La Milagra hermitage, in the municipality of Navahermosa, 5.6 km from Cork Valley. Walk a few hundred metres along the road towards Navahermosa and take a path on the right up to the second track.

1
La Milagra hermitage — park by the hermitage. Start and finish.GPS: 39.6219, −4.4869 · Open in Google Maps
2
Hoz path — past the Collado de Portachuelo the signed path to the Hoz de Carboneros begins.GPS: 39.5852, −4.4451 · Open in Google Maps
3
Hoz de Carboneros — the gorge and its first waterfalls.GPS: 39.5803, −4.4523 · Open in Google Maps
4
Cascada de los Fresnos — the big waterfall; you climb up to its right with several scrambles. The hardest section.GPS: 39.5779, −4.4551 · Open in Google Maps
5
Pico de la Sombrerera — a survey pillar, two antennas and steps cut into the rock on the way down.GPS: 39.5946, −4.4691 · Open in Google Maps
6
Collado de la Madroña — you go down the Valcavero track to the hermitage.GPS: 39.6095, −4.4812 · Open in Google Maps

⚠ Unofficial route. At the Cascada de los Fresnos you have to scramble over rocks several times, with loose stones and no marked line, and then climb off-path along animal trails. No rope is needed, but experience is. If you lack it, go only as far as the Hoz and return along the same path.

What the walk is like

From the hermitage you climb to a track heading south-east for just over 5 km, with the Valdecavero stream on your right, to the Collado de Portachuelo, where you cross it on a small bridge. A kilometre and a half later the Hoz de Carboneros path begins (a sign says 4.1 km): easy at first, it gets harder as it enters the gorge, with a first waterfall and then the big one, the Cascada de los Fresnos.

That is where it gets serious: very steep paths to the right of the falls, several scrambles and loose stone. At the top spectacular views open up, and you keep climbing along animal trails to a track high on the sierra, then along the quartzite crest to Pico de la Sombrerera, with its survey pillar, two antennas and two small huts. You go down northwards by steps cut into the rock to the track, which leads to the Collado de la Madroña and, along the Valcavero track, back to the hermitage.

Photographs

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

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

The Hontanar valley and the Montes de Toledo from the track along the sierra — The valley from the track down, in the last few kilometres.

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

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 scrambles at the Cascada de los Fresnos.

No booking or permit is needed. Start early: this is a full-day walk. Take the track, plenty of water, gloves for the scrambles, and do not attempt it on wet rock. As the track’s author insists: «read before you go».

Frequently asked questions

How hard is the Sombrerera walk?

Hard for about 3 km: the climb beside the Cascada de los Fresnos involves scrambling and loose stone. The rest is tracks and paths.

How high is Pico de la Sombrerera?

About 1,400 m. The track’s author gives 1,401 m and OpenStreetMap 1,390 m.

Can I walk just to the Hoz de Carboneros?

Yes: from La Milagra to the Hoz and back the same way, without the climb to the Sombrerera.

Where do I park?

By the La Milagra hermitage, in Navahermosa, 5.6 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 Walk · hiking route in ToledoCaves, a 1,400 m summit and waterfalls · 17.4 km · 6.8 km from Cork Valley
Hoz de Carboneros and Pico de la Sombrerera WalkWaterfalls, 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)Hoz de Carboneros and Pico de la Sombrerera 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 australangel (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.