La Rioja is not only vineyards. To the south there is a succession of seven valleys formed by the tributaries of the Ebro, and in the heart of the Sierra de Cebollera there is a waterfall with a name of its own that fills the Rioja autumn with water.
Puente Ra waterfalls, in Sierra Cebollera
It is the best-known waterfall in La Rioja: a triple drop inside the Sierra Cebollera Natural Park, near Villoslada de Cameros. The trail that leads to it — route number 4 of the park, waymarked — is a 6.9-kilometre circular that starts at the hermitage of the Virgen de Lomos de Orios and takes a little over two hours. It is of low difficulty, except for the last fifty metres of climb to the waterfall viewpoint. Autumn, with the beech forest in colour and more flow, is the season when most people go up.
The Three Valleys Route
Najerilla, Iregua and Leza give their name to a 188.8-kilometre route that crosses 29 municipalities in Rioja Alta and Rioja Media following their banks. It was born as a motorcycle route, but works just as well as a driving itinerary for those who want to see inland La Rioja — Cameros, above all — without repeating roads.
The Ebro, the river that organises everything
All these valleys run down to the same place: the Ebro, which crosses the region from west to east marking a good part of the boundary with the Basque Country and Navarre. Haro, Logroño and Alfaro are the three Rioja cities that look directly onto its course.
The vineyards can be seen from the road. The water you have to go and look for.
The waterfalls carry more water in spring, with the thaw, and in autumn, with the rains; in high summer there may be less water. Access to Puente Ra is by track and mountain path, not suitable for city footwear.
Can you take us to the Lomos de Orios hermitage?
Yes, it is access by a normal road. From there, the trail to the waterfall is done on foot.
Can it be combined with a winery route on the same day?
It depends on the area: Cameros and the Sierra de Cebollera are far from the wine areas, so the usual thing is to give them a full separate day.
We take you to the waterfall
Road access as far as the Lomos de Orios hermitage; the rest on foot. We wait.
