Les Salinetes de Novelda: Natural salt pool, mud bath and icy cold shower

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“Les Salinetes de Novelda” is a hiking area, with a route that runs along the Barranc de les Salinetes, situated in the Vinalopó Valley.

The area is a terracotta canyon landscape comprised of clay that is known for its medicinal properties to heal the skin and bones.

It is home to a true hidden gem, the “Clot del caño de agua dulce” mud bath known only to the locals, and the curious:

A natural salt pool that you can float on and drift asleep
Clay that you can use to give yourself a natural mud bath treatment
Icy cold (drinkable) water jet, with water fresh from the mountain. It is about shoulder/head height, and can be used like a shower.

You can also give yourself a wild mud bath treatment at the nearby Els Clots de la Sat Alicante.

However, this clot is more known for its crystal-clear naturally occurring jacuzzi.

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Situated very close to the carpark, at “Les Salinetes de Novelda” is a second icy-cold water jet. This one is lower to the ground, about knee height, and can be used to collect water in a container.

Here, you can collect clay from the surrounding area, and wash it off with the cold water.

This tends to be visited by locals who simply want to cool off on a hot day, without hiking anywhere.

Both of these areas are popular with the locals, but largely unknown by the general public.

Where to park

To visit “Les Salinetes de Novelda” and have a wild natural spa experience at the “Clot del caño de agua dulce” mud bath, you can park just off the main road here.

There is an upper and a lower parking area.

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Hiking option 1

This is a linear route along the river bed…

The easiest and most direct route is a linear route directly from the carpark.
Go down to the riverbed at “Les Salinetes de Novelda”, turn right and walk for about 20 minutes until you reach the “Clot del caño de agua dulce” mud bath.

Hiking option 2

This is a circular route along the river bed and a low path…

This involves a hiking path from “Les Salinetes de Novelda” to the “Clot del caño de agua dulce” mud bath, and then returning along the river bed.
On the first part of routes 2 and 3 you can enjoy some shade in a small section of pine forest, listen to the crickets chirping, and pass a ruin.
The second part of the path passes through an area which I think is dumped marble, creating a whitewashed hilly landscape.
To descend to the “Clot del caño de agua dulce” mud bath, the path it is quite steep for a few metres.
You can follow my route here.

Hiking option 3

This is a circular route along the river bed and a higher path…

This involves a hiking path from “Les Salinetes de Novelda” to the “Clot del caño de agua dulce” mud bath, and then returning along the river bed.
The second part it more scenic. The path goes higher than option 2, as well as taking an optional small circular detour, towards the mountains
There are a few short steep paths on this route, including the descent to “Clot del caño de agua dulce” mud bath.
You can follow my route here.

Hiking option 4

This is a linear route along a quiet road…

You can walk along the quiet road, which crosses over the main road, and then back under it again right at the end
However, this is quite close to the traffic noise
Also, you can cannot avoid walking through the barranco completely, since the “Clot del caño de agua dulce” mud bath is located in it
However, I suspect that you could drive this route and then park closer to the “Clot del caño de agua dulce” mud bath, because I have seen cars parked in that general area while hiking on the opposite mountainside.

(Google Maps™ mapping service is a trademark of Google LLC and this blog is not
endorsed by or affiliated with Google in any way)

Rules

“Clot del caño de agua dulce” at “Les Salinetes de Novelda” is not an official tourist attraction, and therefore not formally managed.

Consequently, some parts of it are neglected, such as rubbish dumper in the carpark.

However, it really is a unique place, which you won´t find anywhere else (although El Clot Negre and Clot Roig very nearby has some similar features). It is definitely worth a visit!

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It is actually maintained voluntarily by local people.

Over the last couple of years, I have seen various improvements, such as:

Trees planted
Concrete seats constructed at the “Clot del caño de agua dulce” mud bath
Wooden picnic benches, tables and chairs at “Les Salinetes de Novelda”
Waste bags provided at the “Clot del caño de agua dulce” mud bath
The locals also unblock the pipes through which the water flows from the salt pool.

Therefore, you must respect their time and effort, and follow their unofficial rules

If you don´t respect the area, and the locals see you, they will reprimand you!

It is the same situation at the nearby Els Clots de la Sal Novelda Alicante.

“Les Salinetes de Novelda” mud bath

To carry out a mud bath at “Les Salinetes de Novelda”…

Take two containers with you. Use one container to collect the mud from here (or anywhere else in the area)

There are different coloured clays, which apparently contain different minerals

Cover your body in mud and let it dry in the sun
Use the second container to collect water, and rinse off the mud so that it drains away in the river bed.
Take your waste containers with you when you leave.

“Clot del caño de agua dulce” mud bath

To use the “Clot del caño de agua dulce” mud bath…

You can collect mud from a designated basin located here.
Cover your body in mud and let it dry in the sun
You must only rinse the mud off your skin by sitting under the waterfall that comes from the salt pool.

Do not enter the salt pool while muddy

Do not rinse the mud off in the water jet

This is because the mud can either fill up those areas, and/or block the waterfall and drainage pipes.

Want to extend the route?

There is a hiking route called the “Ruta dels clots de la sal” (SL-CV 127), which begins at the “Clot del caño de agua dulce” mud bath and ends at the “Fuente del Castillo de la Mola”. It also passes by the open air spa “Clot Negre” and rustic natural pool “Clot Roig” at Els Clots de la Sal Novelda Alicante…

Distance: 8.8km
Duration: 5 hours
Linear route
Download the route map here.

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Want to explore more?

For a fresh take on exploring Alicante, consider taking on an “Adventure Hunt”.

Or you browse the hidden gems of the Costa Blanca on an interactive map…