Hiking route: “Fuente de la Gota Aspe” natural spring (PR-CV 315) + 5 natural pools
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This route begins on an official route (PR-CV 315) to the Fuente de la Gota Aspe, which is a natural spring hidden away in a beautiful canyon near Aspe.
The area also has the potential for an amazing waterfall to form, which can be seen by the shape of the land as you approach the natural spring.
This hiking route also includes a visit to the five natural pools, the “Charcas de Uchel”. These natural pools are hidden away in the hiking area, unknown to many locals.
There was very little water in the Fuente de la Gota Aspe natural spring when I visited in March 2025, but the Charcas de Uchel natural pools were a delight.
This route can be shortened slightly to visit either the natural spring, or the natural pools.
Or it could be extended further up the canyon, to take in more of this beautiful hiking area.
Route Summary
This hiking route to the natural pools and Fuente de la Gota Aspe consists of:
- Distance: 15.3km
- Time: 5 hours
- Difficulty: Easy – Moderate
- Type: Circular
- Elevation gained: 292 metres
- Alternative options: Shorter options are available.
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If you like easy hikng routes, then you will also like Els Arcs, and the Ruta del Agua Sella.
What is the terrain like?
This route to the Fuente de la Gota Aspe is an easy-moderate hike, with a mixture of:
- Concrete country roads
- Wide gravel tracks
- Narrow sandy hiking trails
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Most of the route is easy terrain, excluding the wild detour, which can be avoided.
If you want to see some incredible waterfalls in the Costa Blanca, some with crystal clear water which you can swim in, check out this blog.
Who is it suitable for?
The Fuente de la Gota Aspe route is suitable for:
- People with a medium level of fitness (or a low level of fitness if you complete just the official linear natural spring route)
- Children
- Dogs (especially if they like swimming!)
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The route is not suitable for:
- People with a low level of fitness (unable to hike the 15km distance)
- People with mobility impairments
- Wheelchair users
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However, there are two shorter alternative options to this Charcas de Uchel and Fuente de la Gota Aspe hiking route.
When is the best time to visit?
There is almost no shade (just a short tree archway, and a rock-sheltered area where the natural spring is located), so I recommend that you avoid hiking when it is very hot.
The pools are not suitable for people to swim in, so you cannot cool off there. However, dogs can take a dip!
If you love natural pools, and want to cool off yourself, then check out wild swimming in Sella.
Where to park
To do this Fuente de la Gota Aspe hiking route, you can park in various locations:
- The official starting point for the Fuente de la Gota Aspe route is the Parque de Vistahermosa, which has on-street parking.
- There is a gravel carpark here that is used by some nearby businesses, which will ensure that your car is safe
- If you want to avoid walking in the streets altogether, then you can park along Avenida de Santa Pola, which is a street right on the edge of the urban area. This is very close to where I started my route.
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My hiking route
You can follow my hiking route to the Charcas de Uchel and Fuente de la Gota Aspe here.
Route Description
- The route begins on the road, then passes through tunnel to a road with lots of barking dogs
- You will reach a hiking track and go in a southwest direction following a water channel, which you will then cross and descend
- The wide gravel track then veers left and upwards at the end (there is no signage here)
- As you approach the metal factory you will clearly see three hills looming behind it, which you can read about at the end of this blog.
- When you reach the roundabout, take the first road to the right towards “Paraje Uchel” (not the hiking path)
- When you see the reeds to the left, veer left to the hiking path (not the vehicle track)
- TOP TIP for Explorers: To see a hidden cave with a clear natural pond below take this secret path
- TOP TIP for Explorers: To see another small natural pond hidden away in the rock wall take a look here just before the wooden footbridge
- TOP TIP for Adventurers: If you like scrambling, there is a rope here, leading up into some caves, and then up out of the top.
- Enjoy the beautiful barranco, then veer right and up at the cairn
- The Fuente de la Gota Aspe (218m above sea level) is nestled away in cove above the dry waterfall
- TOP TIP for Explorers: To see some cool rock formations up close, follow the cove around to the left, and ascend a short small path, taking you up and above the cove
- Return on the same path
- TOP TIP for Adventurers: If you want to enjoy a 1km wilder route with great views and a “first look” of the Charcas de Uchel natural pools from above, follow my route
- To avoid the wild route (and reduce the route by 0.7km) follow the same path back to here where you will cross the stream and continue following my route towards the Charcas de Uchel natural pools (do not veer left at the 6km point on my route).
- “Charcas de Uchel”. If you stay on the path, you will only see some of the pools once you have passed them, because they are hidden by the shape of the land!
- TOP TIP for Explorers: Follow my route to explore pools 1-4 properly, and after the fourth pool, make sure you follow the small track around it to the left (that I didn´t take) to see the fifth pool up close. I actually missed this one, and only saw it later from above!
- Enjoy a more peaceful but slightly hillier route back to the roundabout, passing by an orchard and a ruin.
Alternative options
Shorter option: Fuente de la Gota Aspe
If you prefer a slightly easier hike, then you can stick to the official PR-CV 315 route, which involves following the route to the “Fuente de la Gota Aspe”, and then returning on exactly the same path:
- Distance: 6.1km (12.2km both ways)
- Time: 3h and 40 minutes
- Difficulty: Easy
- Type: Linear
- Elevation gained: 110 metres
Shorter option: Natural pools
If you would like hike only through the Charcas de Uchel natural pools, then you can follow my route to here where you will cross the stream, and then follow the latter part of the route.
- Distance: 12.65km
- Difficulty: Easy-moderate. The terrain is easy, but there is more elevation gained (i.e. more ups and downs) on this return route.
- Type: Circular
Want to explore more in this area?
If you are in the Aspe area, then you could also:
- Go hiking or trail running in the Los Algezares natural landscape area
- Go mountain biking in two dedicated mountain biking areas near Aspe
- Visit an archaeological site as part of a short hike up three hills.
…You can read about all of these places here.
There is also an incredible outdoor rock art museum hidden in the mountains quite close by, with four different hiking routes providing something for everyone!
Challenge yourself and up to three friends while discovering Alicante’s hidden spots on an awesome “Adventure Hunt”.
Share these adventures with your friends!
Learn more about the Wild Child Costa Blanca here
Check out my Costa Blanca outdoor adventures here
