Hiking on the Costa Blanca is at its best in the cooler months. Clear skies, mild temperatures and quiet trails make it ideal for getting outdoors.
While the province offers routes for every level, few are as unusual as the Clots de la Sal trail in Novelda. With white salt crusts, dark pools and a red lagoon, the landscape feels almost unreal. Many walkers say it looks like Mars, yet it sits just beside the Río Vinalopó.
Clots de la Sal Trail, Novelda
The Clots de la Sal route follows the SL-CV 127 footpath. It links Castillo de la Mola with the Salinetes spring.
- Distance: around 15 km
- Elevation gain: 175 metres
- Time: about 4 hours
- Difficulty: easy overall, with one steeper climb up to the castle
The walk runs through the Barranco de la Sal ravine, a tributary of the Vinalopó River. The profile is gentle, making it suitable for most walkers with a reasonable level of fitness.
Starting point: Castle and sanctuary
Right beside the castle stands the Santuario de Santa María Magdalena, built in a striking Modernist style. The mix of history and open views makes this a lovely place to begin your walk.
The whole route lies within the Clots de la Sal and Serra de la Mola Municipal Natural Area.
Walking towards the salt pools
From the car park, follow the signs for PR-CV 311 and SL-CV 127. The path descends from the north side of the castle hill and heads towards the CV-832 road. From there, it continues along a track towards the Vinalopó River.
After crossing the river, walk left along the track. About 1 km later, you reach the Barranco de la Sal ravine. This is where the scenery starts to change.
To reach the Clots de la Sal pools, take a short detour upstream.
- The first pool appears about 200 metres from the junction.
- The second lies roughly 400 metres further on.
These pools are filled with salty water and mud. Many people treat them as a natural spa.
Each litre of water contains between 150 and 250 grams of salt. For comparison, seawater usually has around 35 to 45 grams per litre. The water temperature is often close to 22°C, even in cooler months.
The most striking pools
Several pools in the area have their own names and features.
Clot Roig sits near the Barranc de les Salinetes. It is known for its reddish-brown colour, caused by iron deposits. The white salt crust around it makes the colours stand out even more.
Clot de les Aigües Negres is the largest pool. It lies on the left bank of the Vinalopó River, near the Barranc de la Casa Mitjana. It has a strong spring flow of 20 to 30 litres per second. The water contains sulphur, which gives off a noticeable smell.
Towards the Salinetes spring
After returning to the main ravine crossing, continue on the SL-CV 127 towards Salinetes.
The trail passes under the railway line and then drops into the riverbed. In some sections, the ground can be damp. Along the way, you will see another pool used for bathing, plus a small freshwater spring for rinsing off.
The route ends at the Salinetes spring. In the 19th century, a spa stood here. Today, only the spring and the remains of a small hermitage are left.
Bridging the Gap’s top tips
You return along the same path to the Vinalopó River. If you wish, you can add a short section along the opposite bank towards the bridges of the Acequia Mayor before heading back up to the castle.
Near the starting point, there is a picnic area. It is a good place to rest and refuel after the 4 hour walk.
