Pontones: Source of the Segura, hiking trails and village history

Segura River and Source of the Segura

The settlements of Pontón Alto and Pontón Bajo are crossed by the Segura River. At the Source of the Segura, the spring emerges from a crystal-clear pool in a high-mountain limestone landscape. The area at the Source of the Segura has tables with benches, barbecue areas, a children’s play area and a spring. The river course, spring area and limestone landscape form specific points of observation; for planning purposes, it matters whether a walk, a hiking route or a drive is the main focus.

Hiking trails to the Cueva del Agua

The Pontones option of the route to the Cueva del Agua begins at an open area on the outskirts of Pontón Bajo in the direction of Santiago de la Espada. It runs along the Masegoso stream, first leads to Charco del Humo and then climbs to the Cueva del Agua. It is described as a 15 km circular route. The fixed starting point and the sequence of stream, Charco and cave mark the sections of the route. The stated distance supports straightforward stage planning.

GR247 between Pontones and La Toba

Stage 18 of the Rutas Bosques GR247 runs between Pontones and La Toba. A stage connects two places as a type of trail, while a circular route returns to its starting point. This distinction helps keep the two route types separate in daily planning and maintain orientation according to the respective course.

Village structure and church

During a walk through Pontones’s irregularly laid-out, narrow streets, visitors can discover traditional houses, bread ovens and grain mills. The Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Rosario in Pontones was built at the end of the 19th century. It is a small single-nave church with a rectangular floor plan, a simple façade and a stone portal. The construction period and architectural details open up two perspectives for observation: the walk through the streetscape and the view of the small religious building.

History and festivals

Historical depth is also evident in the Cueva del Nacimiento near Fuente Segura in Pontones: one of the oldest documented human settlements in the province has been identified there. Local festivals in Pontones include bull runs with fighting bulls. As part of the traditional seasonal celebrations, a livestock fair takes place between 10 and 12 October.

Routes to the Source of the Segura

From Pontón Bajo, the area at the Source of the Segura can be reached on foot via the 4,862 m-long Fuente-Segura hiking trail. The scenic road from Pontones to the Source of the Segura is 5 km long. Both routes state their length and their respective means of travel; for daily planning, road travel and hiking should therefore be considered separately.

Other options for selecting destinations also include Coto-Ríos and Santiago De La Espada.

For the overall travel overview: Jaen.

More destinations

More places within the same destination:

Hinojares, Las Escuelas, Jimena, Arjona, Quesada, El Almicerán.