Exploring the wild side of the Costa Blanca
Exploring the wild side of the Costa Blanca
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Els Clots de la Sal Novelda Alicante is a hiking area situated between the towns of Novelda and Monòver, belonging to the municipality of Novelda.
This area has significant environmental, cultural and historical importance.
The Els Clots de la Sal Novelda Alicante area is home to the “Vinapoló River”, the “Sierra de la Mola” mountain range, as well as “Clot Negre” and “Clot Roig” which are saline natural pools unique in this province.
Traditionally, these clots have been used for bathing as open-air spas, and upon entering the area, it does feel like walking into paradise.
“Clot Negre” is a natural pool located in the bed of the Vinalopó River in the Els Clots de la Sal Novelda Alicante area
It contains crystal-clear water, which bubbles-up from an underground aquifer, creating a subtle jacuzzi effect.
The sulphurous-iron water is known for its healing properties, used to treat skin conditions, and rheumatic ailments. Or you can visit “Clot Negre” simply to cool off in an exquisite natural environment.
The water is icy cold, and very refreshing in the summer.
Apparently, the water is the same temperature all year round, and therefore deemed “warm” in winter (I´m not sure about that!)
You can also give yourself a wild mud bath treatment here, although it is more practical to do a mud bath at the nearby Les Salinetes de Novelda.
“Clot Roig” is a natural pool that emerges naturally near the mouth of the Salinetes Ravine in the Els Clots de la Sal Novelda Alicante area
The water is a reddish-brown colour, due to the high content of iron oxide.
Immediately surrounding the “Clot Roig” pool is a very unique crust-like landscape, caused by the saline reaction.
This clot is home to the Ochthebius beetle, which is native to, and only found in, this area. Therefore, it´s probably better not to disturb them by bathing in the apparently beneficial waters.
There is only one way to drive into the Els Clots de la Sal Novelda Alicante area – do not be fooled by your GPS/maps app!
https://maps.app.goo.gl/7mTWR4YjFhQU9E9y9
You must leave the A-31 at Junction 208 drive to Monòver town, and drive in on this road: “Camino de Molinos”.
There is a long straight track running through the Els Clots de la Sal Novelda Alicante area, next to which “Clot Negre” and “Clot Roig” are located.
However, barriers have recently been installed at either end to prevent vehicles from easily accessing and parking there…
(Google Maps™ mapping service is a trademark of Google LLC and this blog is not
endorsed by or affiliated with Google in any way)
Risky parking
It is still possible to access the Els Clots de la Sal Novelda Alicante area, via another less direct vehicle track, and park on the roadside.
If you wish to do this, you can follow my route (in reverse) from Monovér town to the two natural pools, “Clot Negre” and then “Clot Roig” further up the track.
However, the Police sometimes come to check, so I avoid it.
Safe parking
Consequently, the locals have designated a new parking area in the Els Clots de la Sal Novelda Alicante area, which is actually just an old olive tree orchard!
The GPS/maps app doesn´t recognise this track, so you will have to follow my route, and stop just before the small incline.
To park:
(Google Maps™ mapping service is a trademark of Google LLC and this blog is not
endorsed by or affiliated with Google in any way)
All-terrain route
There is a shorter route through the country, on tracks, that leads down into the Els Clots de la Sal Novelda Alicante area.
However, the terrain is quite damaged now, it is steep and rocky, and involves driving through the salty stream several times.
I have done this route in my car, and I made it to “Clot Negre”, but I would not do it again!
Only take this route if you have an all-terrain vehicle!
TOP TIP: If you do drive this way, be sure to clean the underside of your vehicle fairly soon afterwards, so that the salt water/debris doesn´t corrode it.
(Google Maps™ mapping service is a trademark of Google LLC and this blog is not
endorsed by or affiliated with Google in any way)
To walk from the new carpark to “Clot Negre” you can:
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To get from “Clot Negre” to “Clot Roig” you can follow my hiking route (Clot Negre-Clot Roig).
To visit these locations, it is only a short hike. However, you can extend the route through the Els Clots de la Sal Novelda Alicante area.
“Clot Negre” to “Clot Roig” are not managed tourist attractions.
However, the Els Clots de la Sal Novelda Alicante area is monitored voluntarily by local people.
For example, I have seen them enforcing rules such as:
.
Every time I go, I chat to the same guy!
Once I accidentally left my footwear there, and he had picked them up and stored them in the shed for me (although the shed doesn´t exist anymore).
It is the same situation with the local volunteers at Les Salinetes de Novelda.
Firstly, you will need to take a container with you.
Do not enter the salt pool while muddy
It is difficult to rinse the mud off without a container, especially if you have covered your whole body, because the stream is so shallow!
The water at “Clot Negre” is REALLY salty!
TOP TIP 1: Do not put your head into the water, because the salt will sting your eyes
TOP TIP 2: After bathing in the “Clot Negre” pool, and before leaving the Els Clots de la Sal Novelda Alicante area, either:
.
If you don´t do this, you will have a layer of itchy white salt all over your body when it dries!
Local circular route
If you are visiting “Clot Negre” to “Clot Roig” you can do a short hiking route around the Els Clots de la Sal Novelda Alicante area including…
(Google Maps™ mapping service is a trademark of Google LLC and this blog is not
endorsed by or affiliated with Google in any way)
There are also some other features in the area that I have only seen on the information board, which you could try and find, such as a:
Ruta “Els clots de la sal” (SL-CV 127)
This is a linear hiking route called the “Els clots de la Sal” (SL-CV 127), which begins at the “Fuente del Castillo de la Mola” and ends at the “Clot del caño de agua dulce, which is located in “Les Salinetes de Novelda”…
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You can download the map here.
Buy me a coffee to keep them coming!
If you like “Clog Negre” and “Clot Roig”, then you should definitely visit Les Salinetes de Novelda, which is also in the Els Clots de la Sal Novelda Alicante area.
This consists of a short hike to a wild mud bath, salt natural pool and cold shower, and is very unique to this area!
I usually go to both on the same day, since they are so close together.
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Wild Child Costa Blanca
