Dehesa del Oso Recreational Area

This small recreational area is situated next to an old forestry house at the foot of El Cambrón, a large rocky mass boasting almost vertical walls that rise above a sea of pine trees at the northern end of the park. The place’s name harks back to the days when bears roamed these mountains, up until the mid-eighteenth century. There is a spring with a strong flow, picnic tables, small meadows and beautiful walnut trees. This is the starting point for the ascent of El Cambrón along the PR-A 173 path, which is signposted.

LOCATION

There are two ways to reach Dehesa del Oso:

• From the village of Onsares, along the road heading towards Villarrodrigo. 3 km down the road, take the forest track on the right. Follow this track without taking any of the turnoffs that go back down to Onsares on the right. 6.5 km further along, you will come to the recreational area.

• At kilometre 17 on the A-310, between Siles and La Puerta de Segura, take a forest track that passes by the village of La Pendolera. Stay on the track and 14.8 km further along you will come to Dehesa del Oso. The first section of the track runs through an area where the Siles dam is being built.

If you are coming from Siles, a stop at the hamlet of La Cañada del Señor is worthwhile.

The whole area is covered by a splendid maritime pine forest, with oaks, gall oaks and dense Mediterranean scrubland.

From the Dehesa del Oso, you can follow the forest track to the hamlet of El Bellotar, 5 km away, in the province of Albacete. To do so, take the El Cambrón road but when you come to a crossroads after 0.7 km (Las Lagunillas hill), carry on straight ahead instead of taking the right turn to El Cambrón. From El Bellotar you can follow the paved road down to the charming hamlet of Villaverde del Guadalimar and close the itinerary by returning to Siles.