Hey everyone! Welcome to the third edition of Segovia Outdoors! Today, from the comfort of our couches, beds, and desks, weāre going to take a journey along the Rio Cambrones to Las 9 Calderas, my last trail before the COVID-19 crisis locked us all indoors.
First, as always, we need to know what weāre going to pack! Of course we need the essentials – a nutritious lunch, good hiking shoes, an extra pair of socks, etc (you can check with our previous hikes to see) – but weāre also going to bring something special along – a bathing suit! The 9 Calderas provide refreshing and little known swimming holes perfect for cooling off during a hot summer (or September) day. Weāll need to bring along a towel as well so youāre not sopping wet when you continue hiking. Now that weāre ready, letās go hiking!

To start off our hike, weāll use the same path we used to go to La Chorra Grande. Take the M8 to F. Cristal in San Ildefonso, then take the second road to the left to start walking up to the trailhead. From the trailhead, weāll go straight up to the waterfall, but weāll stop just below where it becomes steep. Here, youāll see a dirt road across a creek. From here, itās easy!Ā
Take that dirt road along the ridge for 8 kilometers (5 miles). The views from this ridge will blow you away, I promise. Youāll pass a couple creeks and lookout spots, providing great opportunities for photos and water breaks. At 8 kilometers, the dirt road joins into another, and from here weāll descend to the Rio Cambrones.Ā

Now, this descent takes some effort and skill to complete, as it does not really follow a trail. You can see where people have walked before, and itās best to follow these āpathsā. When placing your feet, do your best to find rocks or roots to step on, as they provide the best support. If it has rained or snowed in the past days, donāt try this! Once we descend about 120 meters we reach the river, along which weāll follow towards San Ildefonso.

Along here, we find Las 9 Calderas. They take this name as they bear resemblance to calderas, or cauldrons, splitting up the river into little swimming holes. The most famous caldera, La Caldera del Guindo, has a small dirt area to lay down and rest at. This one is deep enough to swim comfortably in, and downriver thereās a natural dam to keep you safe from drifting away. If you try to swim in any others, make sure you check the currents so as to not injure yourself or even drown (you should always do this when swimming in nature).

After the Caldera del Guindo, weāll cross the river and start ascending from the river valley. This trail will take you to a farm, from which youāll turn left and continue back to San Ildefonso. You will come into the town right at the bus station, but if you have time before the bus, you should definitely check out the town! Iāve got some recommendations for that here.
Hopefully those reading this after the quarantine can make a fun weekend day trip out of this article! And for those like me, stuck indoors, keep this in the back of your mind for when you return to Segovia, either in May or August!