Climbing in Chulilla
More than 1,400 limestone sport routes, according to the local guidebook, and your accommodation in the village, right by the sectors.
| +1.400 | routes in the 2025 guidebook, from 3 to 8c+, spread across 59 crags |
| 35–40 m | the usual length of a route; those in the canyon reach 40–55 m |
| 80 m | of rope and about 18 quickdraws cover almost everything |
| Oct → May | the season; December to February gives the best conditions for pushing your limit |
Limestone, tufas and long routes
The rock is a compact red limestone: vertical or slightly overhanging walls, thin tufas, crimps and sidepulls, with lots of continuity. Long routes are the canyon’s hallmark: climbing here is mostly about endurance, and for many it is ‘7c paradise’.
Many routes have an extension, marked ‘L1+L2’. They aren’t multi-pitch routes: the extension grade is for climbing from the ground to the top without stopping. That’s why you need an 80 m rope.
The routes are equipped with expansion bolts and glue-ins. Check the wear on the lower-off karabiners: re-bolting is funded by donations and sales of the guidebook.
Sectors, sun and shade
Guidance on the most visited sectors. To choose a route, the reference is Pedro Pons’s Chulilla Climbing Guide, sold in the village.
| Sector | Sun or shade | Character | To try |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pared de Enfrente | East: sun until 2 pm, sheltered from the wind | Tufas | Cantalobos 7b |
| Muro de las Lamentaciones | South: sun until midday | Technical slab; you cross the river | El Ramallito 6c · Blue Agave 7a |
| Oasis | Shade | Mostly 6b to 7a+, at the far end of the gorge | Magnetoresistencia 6b+ · Top of the Rock 7a |
| Tufas | Shade | Long tufas; via the metal bridge | Sendero Luminoso 7a · Camino de Leche 7a+ |
| El Balcón and Balconcito | Shade | High-grade routes of 35–40 m | Agent Naranja 8a · La bella protegida 8b |
| Pared Blanca | Shade | Endurance | Super Zeb 7c |
| Sex Shop | South: sun all day | 7a to 7c, about 15 min from the village | Conflicto Territorial 7a+ |
| La Peñeta | South: sun all day | Mostly 6b to 6c+, many with extensions | Annie Hall (L1+L2) 6b |
| Competición and La Ceguera | Under a roof: climbable in the rain | Routes of 15–20 m; almost all from 6c | Si Vols Pots 7a+ |
| Embalse | North-west | Continuously overhanging: the place for 7c and 7c+ | Via the Los Calderones walkway |
| Cherales | First sun on Alta Tensión and Dátil | Sector Grande: 4 to 7a+; quiet | Los Cuatro Paganos 6a |
For beginners or climbing as a family: La Peñeta, Cherales’ Sector Grande and the right-hand side of La Ceguera, though the latter is polished.
Climbing in Chulilla
The canyon, its walls and the people who climb them, in the Chulilla Town Council video.
Next to the village: 442 routes in 16 sectors
The area closest to the accommodation: you reach almost every sector directly from the car park, along a path on the other side of the fence. Data from theCrag (November 2026); the logged ascents give an idea of how busy each sector is.
| Sector | Routes | Height | Logged ascents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pared de Enfrente | 91 | 33 m | 1.339 |
| La Peñeta | 77 | 37 m | 1.155 |
| Las Cuevas | 50 | 25 m | 379 |
| Competición | 32 | 23 m | 250 |
| La Ceguera | 27 | 22 m | 635 |
| Charco Azul | 25 | 46 m | Quiet |
| Los Perros | 24 | 12 m | Quiet |
| Muro de las Lamentaciones | 22 | 34 m | 971 |
| Moratín | 21 | 28 m | Quiet |
| Rogelio Mastrolindo | 12 | 43 m | Quiet |
| Odín | 5 | 48 m | Quiet |
| Rogelio | 4 | 56 m | Quiet |
Classics by grade
A selection of routes highly recommended by people who climb here. Check the grade and description in the guidebook before you climb.
| Grade | Route | Sector | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5c | Caravana de Mujeres (L1+L2) | Fantasía | Short and pretty, on the left of the sector |
| 6a | Verano del 97 | Fantasía | Very good, bolts a bit spaced |
| 6a+ | Pesadilla de un borracho (L1+L2) | Cherales | Technical and beautiful |
| 6b | Annie Hall (L1+L2) | La Peñeta | Slab and cracks below the castle ruins |
| 6b+ | Long Dong Jhon | Tufas | 40 m of very unusual tufas |
| 6b+ | Ceguera Temporal | La Ceguera | A well-placed face on the left edge |
| 6c+ | La Diagonal | Pared de Enfrente | Good line and a hole to rest in at the end |
| 6c+ | Cantina Marina | Tufas | Next to Long Dong Jhon, just as good |
| 7a | Blue Agave | Muro de las Lamentaciones | A crack running straight up the whole wall |
| 7a | Richar line | Oasis | A proper 7a |
| 7a | El fantasma de la ópera | La Peñeta | Black streaked slab, fingery |
| 7b | Segul lluitan | Nanopark | In a different area, and worth it |
| 7b+ | Los Franceses | Pared de Enfrente | Roofs at the start and a headwall that never ends |
| 7c | Los Caminantes (L1+L2) | Tufas | 55 m of tufas, among the best in the area |
Routes by grade
This is how the Chulilla routes logged on 27crags break down: most are between 6a and 7c.
682 routes counted
Map of the walls
The Turia canyon by the village, with the walls and sectors listed on OpenStreetMap, the car parks and the hanging bridges route. For the approach to each sector, follow the guidebook.
- Chulilla Castle
- Hanging bridges
- Hanging Bridges Route
- Path
- Track
- Climbing wall
- Car park (yellow: paid)
Map data: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Approximate map: it doesn't replace the waymarks or the guidebook.
Don’t miss
Tufas in the shade
Oasis and Chorreras on mild days: thin tufas and long routes out of the sun.
Shade · 6b to 7c
Below the castle
La Peñeta: 77 sunny routes, with extensions that reach up to the ruins of the fortress.
On foot from the village
Climbing in the rain
The roof over Competición and La Ceguera keeps them dry when it rains.
Plan B for grey days
The Embalse overhang
An orange wall that gives no respite: the best collection of 7c and 7c+ in the area.
7c–7c+ · via the walkway
Rest day
The Los Calderones walkway and the hanging bridges, shaking out your legs with the routes in view.
~5 km through the canyon
Cold mornings
Pared de Enfrente gets the sun until two and is sheltered from the wind.
East · tufas
Getting started at Cherales
Sector Grande: routes up to 40 m and beginner grades, away from the crowds. No mobile signal.
3.5 km of dirt track
Before you come
- The guidebook: Chulilla Climbing Guide, by Pedro Pons. It’s sold in the village, for example at the Al Coxinillo climbing shop and at the tobacconist’s on the square.
- Gear: Al Coxinillo sells ropes, quickdraws, harnesses and climbing shoes. Ask about opening hours when you arrive.
- Parking: use the public car parks at the entrances to the village; in the square you can only load and unload, and the streets are narrow.
- Respect the area: the canyon is the Los Calderones Municipal Natural Area. Give way to residents and farm machinery, take your rubbish home and don’t light fires.
- Getting here: Valencia airport is about 40 km away, between 40 minutes and an hour by car.
- Shopping: the village has a small shop and a bakery. For a big shop, the nearest supermarket is in Villar del Arzobispo.
Frequently asked questions
How many climbing routes are there in Chulilla?
More than 1,400 sport routes, according to the 2025 guidebook, from 3 to 8c+ and spread across 59 crags. Right by the village alone there are 442 routes in 16 sectors, according to theCrag.
What grades are most common in Chulilla?
Most routes are between 6a and 7c. The area is famous for long endurance routes on limestone: for many, “7c paradise”.
What length of rope do I need for Chulilla?
An 80 m rope and about 18 quickdraws cover almost everything. Routes are usually 35–40 m long, those in the canyon reach 40–55 m, and many have an extension (L1+L2) that you climb in one go from the ground.
When is the best time to climb in Chulilla?
From October to May. December to February offers the best conditions for climbing at your limit. On cold mornings, Pared de Enfrente gets the sun until 2 pm; on mild days, Oasis and Chorreras are in the shade.
Can you climb in Chulilla when it rains?
Yes, at the Competición and La Ceguera sectors: the roof keeps them dry. The routes are 15–20 m long, almost all from 6c upwards.
Where can beginners and families climb in Chulilla?
At La Peñeta, at the Grande sector of Cherales (4 to 7a+) and on the right-hand side of La Ceguera, although that one is polished.
Where can I buy the Chulilla climbing guidebook?
The Chulilla Climbing Guide, by Pedro Pons, is sold in the village: for example, at the Al Coxinillo climbing shop and at the tobacconist’s on the square. Sales help fund rebolting.
Where should I stay to climb in Chulilla?
In the village, so you can walk to the rock: our apartments and the rural cottage are in the centre, with a fully equipped kitchen and Wi-Fi for rest days.
Sleep above the sectors
Fully equipped kitchen, Wi-Fi and the village on your doorstep. You walk back from the crag.
-
Apartment La Muela 1
200 m from the main car park
- 5 guests
- 2 bedrooms
- 1 bathroom
- 65 m²
Two bedrooms with two beds each, a living-dining room open to the kitchen and a work corner with good Wi-Fi.
from 90 € / nightSunday to Thursday · 2-night minimum
-
Apartment La Muela 2
Balcony with views of the Turia canyon
- 5 guests
- 2 bedrooms
- 1 bathroom
- 65 m²
Second floor with a balcony over the Turia canyon, two bedrooms, a living room and an equipped kitchen.
from 90 € / nightSunday to Thursday · 2-night minimum
-
Apartment La Muela 3
Private terrace with views of the castle and the canyon
- 3 guests
- 1 bedroom
- 1 bathroom
- 55 m²
Third floor with a private terrace and views of the castle and the canyon, next to the main car park.
-
Rural cottage La Cambreta
Terrace with castle views
- 3 guests
- 1 bedroom
- 1 bathroom
- 55 m²
A former farm storehouse restored in 2020: two small floors and a terrace facing the castle.
