Arco de las Peñitas from Vega de Río Palmas — round trip through the Barranco de las Peñitas (SL FV 6)

Do not try to reach the chapel from the bottom of the gorge. Return and follow paved walk.

The ascent to the rock gate via points 1 to 2 as a circular route is only recommended for experienced hikers as there are also climbing sections here. If in doubt, do the tour as a one-way tour and choose the upper route, there are only a few harmless scrambles here.

Very very nice walk , but with z lot of real climbing rocks ans moutain wall , pls no sandals on this walk , the arc is wonderfull also the manu squirrels eat out of the hand , watch out to go down back of the arch , dont do the back lower pad to the arc , take the high pad to reach it , not for everybody , be awere pls there is no way back to go down its to steep

A truly magnificent hike from Vega de Rio Palmas through the Barranco de las Penitas, along a palm-fringed dry riverbed of a former reservoir. From the dam, a steep stone staircase leads down in switchbacks, following the old pipelines along the rocky slope to the somewhat hidden pilgrimage chapel, the Eremita de la Pena (Virgin of the Rock), nestled in the ravine – a truly delightful spot. The trail continues uphill along the cliff face. Upon reaching a viewpoint, you'll pass an old stone hut. Shortly after the hut, the path veers right, becoming a trail. Now the real ascent begins, requiring some sense of direction (keep to the right of a prominent rocky outcrop), via an unmarked, very steep rocky path (alpine terrain) to the Arco de la Penitas, a mighty rock arch. The descent follows a different route, but over even steeper, rocky terrain (in places slightly exposed). This ascent and descent requires a good sense of direction and sure footing. Using your hands (a little scrambling) on the rock is essential during both the ascent and descent. PS: Start the tour between 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. at the latest, as it gets very busy.

The wind had died down significantly today, but the air was hazy and dusty. Accordingly, the pictures today, unlike yesterday, lack the blue tones. 😅 No big deal, so we went for a short hike through the Barranco de las Peñitas, the goal was a stone arch carved out of the rock. The tour suggested by Komoot was basically fine, but it would have been very dangerous to walk along a really narrow ridge and a steep precipice after a small bridge. So the alternative was to continue down the riverbed, the problem here was the smoothed rock. After Yvonne's shoes slipped and I was just able to hold her down while sliding down on the seat of my pants, that was the end of the road for her. After a short "gathering" we agreed that she would wait at the La Peña chapel and I would walk the loop to the rock arch. Without Komoot, however, it would have been difficult to find this highlight, as the paths were barely recognizable, you somehow find your way back up the slope between the rubble and there were no trail markings from the dam onwards. Ultimately, it was still worth it, you sweated endlessly, and you look forward to the pool after the return trip to the hotel. 💦😂 Conclusion: It was a walk up to the dam, relatively flat on fine gravel. After that, it was definitely not suitable for everyone, especially not without hiking boots (which we had)...

Along the river bed past the dam wall to the chapel and then on to the Felsentor, you should have good shoes 😉

It looks harmless enough at first... but of all our over 1,200 hikes, this was the toughest and most dangerous: climbing sections, often unmarked, and at the end, the absolute danger of slipping into some body of water...

The sun's rays timidly illuminate the rock faces, the world still seems asleep, yet I am already ready with my backpack on. I head onto the trail for the Barranco de Las Peñitas, which runs along imposing walls of igneous rock. Being alone, I am fortunate to observe a pair of chamois, ducks with orange-copper plumage: a spectacle! Arriving at the Malpaso dam, I descend and continue towards the chapel of the Ermita de Malpaso. Legend has it that the Virgin Mary appeared here to two friars, and so the hermitage was built. From here begins the most fun part: the ascent to the Arco de Las Peñitas. If the trail was perfectly marked up to this point, things are now different. I follow the most evident track, but it soon becomes a tangle of paths. I climb up a simple, well-graded rock face, enter a cavity, and emerge on the opposite side, right under the Arch. What a spectacle of nature! From here, I notice the presence of another trail, I take it and it turns out to be much simpler. However, in this case too, I have to pay attention. I realize how necessary shoes with a sole with good grip are on this stretch. I retrace the rest of the trail backwards, in a new light, in the company of a squirrel that opens the way for me.