Ruta Rio Fraile: Natural pools, gorges, cliff jumps & ropes

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“Ruta Rio Fraile” is a river route, which can be followed either on foot, or more interestingly (and more dangerously) through the water itself.

It is home to the best selection of natural pools in the Valencia Region, and is situated in the lush forest of Macizo del Caroig.

The water is crystal-clear and ice cold, making it a very popular place to visit in the summer season.

You can visit the Ruta Rio Fraile for the day, or your adventure can be combined with a stay at the campsite (just a 15-minute walk away from the first natural pool).

Dogs are welcome at both too!

If you love natural pools, the biggest and best (and the coldest!) is Pou Clar Ontinyent.

Summary of the Ruta Rio Fraile

The full Ruta Rio Fraile is 5km (one way). However, this is not suitable for everyone!!

I would divide the route into four sections, with four distinctive vibes and levels of difficulty/danger:

Section 1: A natural swimming pool suitable for all the family (safe)
Section 2: A long river route with lots of pretty natural pools, small waterfalls, and mostly shallow stretches of water (done by families, but take care!)
Section 3: Awesome pools and fierce waterfalls with rope climbing and cliff jumping (adventurers only)
Section 4: More rope climbing and cliff jumping, with no walk back.

If you are looking for some safer short hikes to swim in rivers and natural pools below waterfalls, take a look at these…

Warning!

This warning is for anyone planning on visiting Sections 2, 3 and 4 of the Ruta Rio Fraile…

Accidents happen here REGULARLY!!

The first time I attempted this route and didn’t finish it because I slipped and headbutted a rock, and I was only placing my bag down on the ground! (on wet rocks and/or with wet shoes).

When I arrived to record this route, a vehicle was allowed to access the river route area with a vehicle – to pick up a friend that had broken a leg!

When I checked-in, the campsite worker told me that there are rescues by helicopters and fire services occur several times a week.

On a Saturday morning, I saw a fire services (BOMBEROS) vehicle arriving at the site, in anticipation.

It is made very clear on signage and on the information boards about the Ruta Rio Fraile that swimming is at your own risk.

So do not expect the staff to rush and offer you first aid!

The staff are so used to seeing accidents, and pay little attention to them.

However, they are well aware that everybody visits to swim, and an emergency phone is provided in the restaurant (since mobile phones have zero signal here).

The official literature even states: “if you are going to swim, make sure that you do it as safely as possible, and wear suitable clothes and shoes”.

You are responsible for yourselves, so make sure you only do the Ruta Rio Fraile with other people so that you can look out for each other.

Now that you have been warned…let’s get to the good stuff!

If you prefer to do the Ruta Rio Fraile with a guide, check out this Excursion with transport from Valencia…

The full 5km Ruta Rio Fraile

The full route is a 5km linear route each way, so 10km in total.

Officially, the Ruta Rio Fraile route starts here, at the “Inicio descenso del rio Fraile”, where the path first meets the river bed (which may or may not contain water).

To access this point, follow the road and pass the barrier just after the restaurant/campsite entrance.

This is a concrete road, which gradually declines. As soon as you enter this scenic area, you are immediately embraced by mother nature with the sound of crickets, and the lush aromatic flora.

The river begins with shallow with algae, but don’t worry, it soon clear.

Section 1:

“Charco del Paso” and the river leading towards it

This is suitable for a low-risk visit with children, including pushchairs
It involves an easy 15-minute hike to the first natural pool
The “Charco del Paso” is right on the path, and looks more like a pool, which you can easily walk in from the far end, making it ideal for young children to bathe in
On a quiet evening, I met a turtle here. Read more about to find them here.

Immediately beforehand, there is a rocky overhanging area with stone benches There are no tables, but it is a good place to relax off the main path
On the way to the “Charco del Paso”, there are a few detours from the main path, on the right-hand side, where you can access the shallow river. If you want a quick dip away from the crowds, you can enter here. It is pretty, with clear water and a nice little waterfall, but there is still some moss on the rocks

Section 2:

“Charco La Tosca”, “Charco Fraile”, “Azud” “Charco Purgatorio” and “Playeta Falsa”

This is the most common section that people do, and it largely involves walking through the water and scrambling down small waterfalls or around wet rocky areas
It is probably where most of the accidents happen!
This section begins after the first pool (“Charco del Paso”). From here, you can choose whether to:
- Follow the hiking path near the water, and enter the natural pools as you pass (this is the safest option)

If you want to do a short hiking route covering the majority of this section on foot, you can read more here.

Walk through the water from the first “Charco del Paso” (more dangerous).

This section ends where the wide track that crosses the river (it is very obvious)
After completing this section, you can return by walking all the way back on the forest track.

Section 3:

“Estrecho de la Marina”, “Charco de la Marina” and “Charco los Guetanos”

This is only for adventurers! (includes rope climbing and/or cliff jumping)
To descend into the “Estrecho de la Marina”, it is necessary to either jump down into the water, or use a rope to descend to the waterfall. Pretty cool, eh!
To descend into the “Charco de la Marina”, there are two ropes that you can use to descend right next to the waterfall, and then you have to jump in to the water (or you can walk around).
To enter the “Charco los Guetanos” you can cliff jump (or scramble down).
This is the route back from the end of section 3 back to the start point.

If you love cliff jumping…

There is lots of Cliff Jumping in Anna
You can go Rafting and cliff jumping on the River Júcar
You can go Paddleboarding on the Embalse Escalona with cliff jumping

Section 4:

“Estrecho Los Guetanos”, “Estrecho de Ibles”, “Charco Gamellón” and “Charco Los Picantes”

This is only for adventurers! (includes rope climbing and/or cliff jumping)
Once you begin this route, there is no path to walk back, which means that you will return via the water, which doesn´t look easy!
I haven´t done this part yet, because we ran out of time (follow on Facebook to stay updated). However, I have seen that…
To descend into the “Estrecho Los Guetanos” it is necessary to either jump down into the water, or use a rope to descend to the waterfall.

Short Hiking Route

If you want to do a short hiking route (a total of 5km), incorporating a nice selection of natural pools, small waterfalls, which largely follows the river, you can follow this route here.

On this route, I stayed on dry land, apart from the river crossing.

On the way there I walked as close as I could to the river, but on the way back I followed the forest track.

Here is a description of this hiking/swimming route:

“Charco La Tosca”. This is a waterfall, natural pool, and is a waterfall with natural pool below. To reach the “Charco la Tosca”, you need to turn left off the main path and descend through the bushes on the left (follow the sound of the waterfall)

“Pico Fraile“. From the path you can see this mountain peak (look high up, to the right)
Small jump. The concrete path crosses the river.

When you see a smaller footpath, veer down right to enter a small idyllic stretch of water where you can do a small jump from the closest rock

From here, follow the water past a beautiful rock oasis to some small gushing waterfalls.

Warning! These waterfalls are dangerous. Avoid them by walking around the big rocks on the right.

“Charco Fraile“. This is a beautiful pool, which is about chest-deep for an adult. Therefore, you can do a small jump in!
Small waterfall. In the narrow stretch of the river, after a cave, is a small but gushing waterfall.

Warning! This is a little risky to descend. You can either scramble down to the right, or traverse along the small ledge to the left and gently jump in.

Or, avoid it by walking up to meet the forest track at the top.

On this route, I took the hiking path, but the following day I went through the water via the small jump.

Wide river crossing. The forest track leads down to the river to a river crossing

If you cross at the beach, it is almost waist-deep. However, if you follow the official hiking path through the grass, it is shallow.

Low detour: natural pool. Walk up the hiking path and take a detour to the water
High detour: Final natural pool. Follow the hiking path right up the hill, then scramble down the steep unofficial footpath to the river.

Key GPS Coordinates

There is no internet signal anywhere near the Rio Fraile, including on the drive in from the main road.

Here are some of the key GPS coordinates along the Rio Fraile route, which you can use to monitor where you are, in case you get confused, like I did!

It also includes an escape route, where you can leave the water and join the path, if you decide that you have had enough.

Make sure that you copy these coordinates while you have an internet signal – before you travel to the area!

Access

39.086107, -0.867969 = Official car park

39.085018, -0.857700 = Official “Ruta Rio Fraile” starting point

Section 1

39.086559, -0.854422 = Charco del Paso

Section 2

39.086488, -0.852910 = Charco de la Tosca

39.086230, -0.852474 = Footpath (right) leads down to the water route / Forest track (left) leads up to mountain

39.085767, -0.850285 = Charco Fraile

39.086332, -0.849747 = Escape route (river crossing)

39.084775, -0.848773 = Pico Fraile (mountain peak)

39.086592, -0.847891 = Escape route (steep path on the right)

39.086858, -0.843849 = *Azud

39.086288, -0.842047 = *Charco del Purgatorio

39.086477, -0.838882 = Escape route (track on the left. Turn left at the top)

39.085953, -0.838281 = *Playa Falsa

Section 3

39.087620, -0.836119 = Road crossing / beginning of section 3

39.089194, -0.833415 = Estrecho de la Marina

39.089450, -0.831835 = Charco de la Marina

Section 4

39.088809, -0.828911 = Footpath to/from the “Charco los Guetanos”

39.089771, -0.825932 = Charco los Guetanos

39.090459, -0.823490 = **Estrecho Los Guetanos

39.091588, -0.820856 = **Cascadas de Ibles

39.093603, -0.820250 = **Charco Gamellón

39.095043, -0.815105 = **Charco los Picantes (also knows as “Cascada de les Fades”)

*I passed these locations, but they didn´t recognise them at the time

**I have not visited these places personally

In both cases, I have determined the locations by looking at various maps.

How long does it take?

The full Ruta Rio Fraile is a 5km linear route each way, so 10km in total.

However, doing a route through the water takes a LOT longer than on foot!

The official guidance suggests 3-4 hours to complete the 4-5km linear route.

Then you have to return, and if you do section 4, this part can only be done through the water.

Based on my experience, this is an underestimation.

I recommend that you set-off early if you are doing the entire 10km Ruta Rio Fraile (the day visitors´ carpark opens at 9am).

Here are some examples:

I did a 5km hiking route, mainly on foot but with dips into the water, including section 1 and most of section 2

…this took 2 hours (1.5 hours there + 30 minutes back)

We did sections 1, 2, and 3 mostly through the water, and returned by walking all the way back on the forest track

…this took 6 hours (4.75 hours there + 1.25hours back)

There are various time limitations that you might be bound to:

Day visitors´ car park closes (9pm)
Campsite check-out time
Restaurant reservations (1pm/3pm/dinner reservations)

Directions and Parking

You must follow directions for “Aparcamiento Río Fraile” in order to reach the official (controlled) entrance with facilities such as the picnic area (Area Recreativa Benefetal), campsite and restaurant.

DO NOT follow directions for “Ruta Rio Fraile” because this just points to a pool along the route, and your GPS/maps app will lead you towards the other end of the river (many people make this mistake).

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

It is not possible to drive on the forest track alongside the river, because emergency vehicles need easy access, so there is a barrier prohibiting entry.

If you are visiting for the day, you must park in the “Aparcamiento Río Fraile”.

There is a shed at the entrance with a staff member, which will stop you to take payment.

Everything here is CASH ONLY, so make sure that you bring plenty with you.

How much does it cost?

For day parking to visit Ruta Rio Fraile, the prices are:

Car: 5€
Van: 6€
Minibus: 30€
Motorbike: 1€

Carpark Rules:

You can enter from 9am
You must leave by 9pm
Coaches are prohibited
Overnight stays are not allowed in this carpark.

However, if you spend a night in the Ruta Rio Fraile campsite, you will pay a different price.

Facilities at Ruta Rio Fraile

his is a small picnic area called the “Area Recreativa Benefetal”. This is situated just after/opposite the main Ruta Rio Fraile carpark entrance, and consists of four picnic benches under shade of the trees.

There are big general waste and recycling containers in the carpark (but none in the campsite).

There are no toilets!

Instead, there are posters with instructions of what to do if you need to poop…

Find a hidden location away public areas, hiking paths and the water
Bury or cover it (e.g. with a rock)
Take your toilet tissue away with you.

There are toilets in the campsite, but they are only for campers, and entry to the campsite is controlled.

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