This hiking trail is ideal to do in spring and autumn. In winter there may be snow in the pine forest and it is not recommendable in summer, unless you get up very early. The first section of the route coincides with the local path (SL) Junta de los Ríos.

Bérchules is an attractive town in the upper Alpujarra that preserves the construction style of Berber origin, so well integrated into the landscape, and that characterises this region in the south of the Sierra Nevada Natural Park. During the second war of the Moors, it was the scene of terrible fights in which the rugged landscape played an important role. The route enters a remote area known as the Tajos del Reyecillo, and it is in this area where Abén Aboo, the leader who replaced Abén Humeya in the rebellion of 1568, passed away.

We cross the town of Bérchules and along García Street we come out to a laundry and a fountain, where we can stock up on water. We begin the tour along a path between terraced orchards of fruit trees, vegetables and some walnut and chestnut trees. We are then forced to follow a recently built track for a few minutes, to return to the path.

We ignore the paths that go up to the left, our reference being the Acequia Nueva irrigation canal below us and with which we will converge in the Junta de los Ríos, an hour's walk from the town, where the Grande and the Chico rivers meet with a thunderous noise.

We cross the bridge over the Chico river (to our left) and at Horcajo we can see an Arab construction, known as the "Moorish factory". The cobbled path goes up the valley of the Rio Grande in front of the Tajos del Reyecillo.

About half an hour from Horcajo, we take a path to the right that descends to the river, observing the path that we will then follow on the other side. We cross the river and in the shady side of the mountain, now heading south, we ascend for a little over an hour through a pine forest over the Tajos del Reyecillo, with impressive rocky outcrops. We reach the forest track that we will follow for about 300 m, to then take a steep downward lane to the right until we reach the track. Continue this descent to the Cortijo de Cortes where there is a small hermitage.

From here we connect with the Long Distance (path (GR-7) that connects Mecina Bombarón with Bérchules. We go down to the Los Bérchules river between lavender, marjoram, foxgloves etc., passing through a threshing floor next to a rocky outcrop, an extraordinary natural viewpoint of the valley. We cross the river over a bridge, on the edge of the national park, then climb up a short but steep slope between ash, chestnut, walnut and elderberry trees until we reach the town of Bérchules.


Ecosystems passed through:


Mid-mountain ecosystems: dominance of the holm oak and pine forest on siliceous substrates. Riverside ecosystem.


Highlights:


Islamic ruins in Horcajo in the Chico and Grande de Bérchules rivers, views of the Tajos del Reyecillo, panoramic view of the town of Bérchules from the Cortijo de Cortes.

Recommendations:
Recommended period during spring and autumn: bring drinking water, mountain shoes, a hat and sun protection, as part of the route runs through open areas.