A Costa Blanca summer walk is best enjoyed on shaded trails with flowing water, where cooler temperatures and gentle gradients make exploring the countryside far more comfortable during the hottest months.
Rather than tackling the highest peaks or longest routes, choosing well-shaded paths allows you to enjoy nature while staying cool in the summer heat.
One of the finest examples is the Barranc dels Molins in Ibi. This family-friendly walking route features peaceful woodland, historic watermills and plenty of natural shade, creating the perfect escape from the summer sun.
Located just a short distance from the town centre, it’s an ideal choice for anyone looking for an easy and refreshing Costa Blanca walk.
A walk shaped by water
The Barranc dels Molins sits on the northern edge of Ibi, close to the Sierra
del Menejador and Font Roja Natural Park.
The trail follows a narrow ravine where water has shaped both the landscape and the town’s history.
Along the way, walkers pass former flour and paper mills, some carefully restored and others left as atmospheric ruins. The route also features irrigation channels carved into the rock, an old aqueduct and two bridges, including a beautifully restored stone bridge.
Thanks to the flowing water and mature woodland, the ravine stays noticeably cooler than many other inland walking routes during the hottest months of the year.
An easy walk for all the family
The route suits most ages and remains a favourite with families looking for a gentle outdoor adventure.
Many people start near Parc de les Hortes or Ibi’s historic washhouse before following the trail uphill. The return walk covers around four kilometres with roughly 130 metres of elevation gain and usually takes about 90 minutes.
Walkers should also take extra care when crossing the CV-801, which cuts across the route.
History and nature side by side
For centuries, the ravine supplied the water that powered Ibi’s flour and paper mills.
Today, the old irrigation channels and watercourses still form one of the walk’s main attractions. Meanwhile, the damp conditions support elms, poplars, willows and other mature trees that create welcome shade throughout much of the trail.
As a result, the Barranc dels Molins offers a very different experience from many of the Costa Blanca’s drier mountain walks.
Don’t miss the Elephant’s Trunk
One of the route’s best-known landmarks is the Trompa del Elefante (“Elephant’s Trunk”).
Over many years, flowing water sculpted this smooth rock formation into a shape that resembles an elephant’s trunk. Today, it ranks among the trail’s most photographed spots.
A little further on, the Fuente de Santa María and the Racó de l’Almarra picnic area provide an ideal place to rest before making the return journey.
How to get there
