Tales from the Trails III: the smiles creator river.

A Natural playground for centuries, the Eresma is a jewel in the Sierra. Photo: www.fotonatura.org

There is a network of trails in the Segovian side of the Sierra, where we love to head in summer, looking for cooler temperatures. Down the valley and before epic climbs such as the Peñalara trails, we find the Eresma river and its wonderful singletracks on the riverside. It is a unique spot, with multiple ancient constructions and rests of medieval roads, that are  visible while riding.. 

Sepu and Emilio in one of the trails that take to the river.

Summer time is probably the perfect season for a ride by the Eresma trails.

One of the most significant singletracks is The "Pesquerías" trail, located close to La Granja Royal Palace, the Summer residence for the Spanish Kings since 1725. Due to his passion for hunting and fishing, Carlos III, king of Spain between 1759 and 1788,used to spend long periods of time in the Palace, not only in summer. He was an avid fisher and with the goal to leverage the huge volume of trouts in the Eresma, he ordered to build a trail following the river and with different bridges and spots to have a proper fishing. The legend says the King was transported in his special cabin to the trail, although some say he was an avid hiker and used to trek long distances in the Sierra.

Heading to the river, through the Valsaín woods

It was a location he specifically chose to practice one of his favorites hobbies and that for sure, was creating smiles on him, due to the huge amount of trouts that can be found in its stream. It can be a similar sensation as the one that we have when we ride up and down through its flowy singletracks, keeping a constant smile, having the feeling of being in a fairy tale, surrounded by the forest, the river and its ancient bridges. ​Part of the magic of riding in the Sierra is that ancient historic constructions can be found: from roman roads and bridges, to medieval castles or hundreds-year old shelters and trails, delivering the feeling of being in a different era., transported by a time machine. 

El Puente de los Canales, built in the XVI century, in king Carlos I's time. A perfect spot for cooling down in Summer.

The trails never stop delivering joy.

In our constant mission of creating smiles, we find the Eresma river to be an unlimited source. Will you join us in our mission? Let us put a smile on you, come join us!

Words: Félix Torija
PIctures: BlackTown Trails. 
Riders: Sepu, Emilio, Félix 
Special Thanks: LTM Racing, Santa Cruz Bicycles, Maloja