How to visit and what to see in Río Lobos Canyon (Soria)

On a getaway Soria province, riding a Castilla y Leon, in addition to visiting its very interesting corners of artistic heritage, like its famous hermitages, you also have the opportunity to know outstanding nature places.

In this regard, it is worth visiting its two natural parks, the one of the Black Lagoon and Urbión Glacier Circuses, and that of Lobos River Canyon.

It has been many years since I visited the Black Lagoon, but it has not been until now that I have known the aforementioned Lobos River CanyonWithout a doubt, one of the most outstanding natural places in all of Castilla y León.

What is the Cañón del Río Lobos natural park in Soria like?

El Lobos River Canyon Natural Park is characterized by its limestone formations and for the very diverse fauna that you can see.

Among the latests Moravia's compositions birds that you will have the most chance of seeing, the griffon vultures, royal eagles and the colorful Kingfisher.

El Lobos River Canyon It extends for about 10.000 hectares, two-thirds of which northwest of the province of Soria, and the rest, in the province of Burgos, where the head of the river that formed it is located.

They are 26 kilometers long where you can follow various marked hiking routes and, as a curiosity, the aforementioned Lobos River changes his name to Ucero river when it stops being underground and comes to the surface.

How to visit the Río Lobos Canyon in Soria

This parque natural has three hits, one to the north, in the aforementioned province of Burgos, another in the central part, by what is known as Seven Eyes Bridge, and another in the lower part from the town of Ucero, where the canyon already opens, very close to The Burgo de Osma.

This access is the most used by visitors, just like we did, as it allows you to quickly get to the area with the most spectacular landscapes.

When you arrive at the Río Lobos Canyon from Ucero, you meet three parking spaces successive ones, which you can access without problems with your vehicle even in high season.

Hermitage of San Bartolomé in Río Lobos Canyon

From there you begin a walk through the canyon following the course of the river, so that in just over half an hour you arrive at the beautiful landscape corner that is icon image of the Lobos River Canyon, where surrounded by large rock formations is the Hermitage of San Bartolomé.

From the 13th century, it is thought that this hermitage has templar origin, although there is no documentation to confirm this.

The truth is that in the hermitage they find esoteric symbols that are not found in the rest of Europe, specifically the pentagram of its rosette, known as Solomon's Seal, and which was used as a seal in the city of Jerusalem

The Romanesque architectural style y gothic notes, on its exterior façade its gothic cover with six archivolts decorated with floral motifs, as well as the aforementioned rose window.

With a Latin cross plan and semicircular apse, the roof highlights its corbels with geometric, vegetal and anthropomorphic shapes.

It should be noted that this hermitage has been a place of passage for pilgrims who used the Lobos River Canyon as a protected route to link with the French Way of the the Camino de Santiago.

Here you can consult the Visiting hours of the Hermitage of San Bartolomé.

Large Cave in Lobos River Canyon

Behind the hermitage opens the big cave: Saint Bartholomew's Cave, inside which remains of rock engravings from the Bronze Age, which have also been located in other caves in the canyon.

During your visit it is essential that you enter the interior of the aforementioned big cave, from where you will have a very suggestive view of the hermitage next to the rock formations.

In short, a walk through the Río Lobos Canyon Natural Park must be an essential stage in a tourism route through the province of Soria.

Map: where it is and how to get to the Río Lobos Canyon

The most visited access of the Lobos River Canyon It is located near the town of Ucero, 45 minutes west of the city of Soria, and just over two hours north of Madrid, accessing through El Burgo de Osma.

Photos Lobos River Canyon and San Bartolomé Hermitage

Here you have more photos of the Río Lobos Canyon natural park and the Hermitage of San Bartolomé, which you can visit in the Soria province.