Desfiladero de la Yecla

Useful Information

Location:	Santo Domingo de Silos. BU-910, near the Bar La Yecla. Parking lot at the entrance to the gorge. (41.94964144182949, -3.4425464384721147)
Open:	no restrictions. [2020]
Fee:	free. [2020]
Classification:	Gorge
Light:	n/a
Dimension:	L=400 m.
Guided tours:	self guided, L=1 km, D=30 min.
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Desfiladero de la Yecla, BU-910, 09610 Santo Domingo de Silos, Burgos.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

10-MAY-1991

La Yecla y los Sabinares del Arlanza protected natural area created.

Description

Desfiladero de la Yecla (Yecla Gorge) is a narrow canyon formed by the Arroyo del Cauce an just a couple of meters wide. It was developed with an elevated trail and railings, and is freely accessible. It is reached on the road BU-910 from Santo Domingo de Silos, which is quite famous for its monastery. When the river reaches the limestone mountain ridge Peñas de Cervera its cuts through with the gorge. The road runs parallel and it crosses the ridge underground through two tunnels, right beneath the gorge. At the end of the second tunnel is the parking lot for the gorge.

The La Yecla y los Sabinares del Arlanza protected natural area protects the gorge and the Peñas de Cervera with the unique flora and fauna. Notable are the griffon vulture, wolf, roe deer, wild boar, otter, wild cat, golden eagle, short-toed goshawk, peregrine falcon, gray partridge and waterfowl. It also has the most extensive and best preserved sabinars in the world. A sabinar is a plant formation with the evergreen tree juniper (Juniperus thurifera) which is also called sabina albar. This vegetation form can be found more or less only in Spain.