From the city of Albacete the Sierra de Alcaraz Greenway (74 km) crosses the plains of the province of Albacete and drops down into the meadows of the rivers Jardín and Cubillo before reaching the city of Alcaraz in the foothills of the Sierra de Alcaraz mountains. There are plans to extend it as far as the border with the province of Jaén (106 km).

Km 0

After setting off from the Fiesta del Árbol Park, the first 6.5 km of this route runs along the reclaimed María Cristina Canals, which link up to the Greenway proper, where it continues as a broad track surfaced with compacted earth and gravel. The route of this first section is shared with the Don Quixote Route. We make our way through flatlands sown with cereals and irrigated crops, which in spring are studded with colourful poppies, before arriving at the rest areas at San Jorge railway station (Km 9.0) and, later, Santa Ana station (Km 16.0).
 

Km 21,5

Balazote detour. At this point the old rail bed is interrupted since the Greenway is being refurbished and is therefore temporarily out of bounds to users. Instead we make a detour onto a small public road on the right which takes us to the N-322 road, where we use the hard shoulder (taking great care) to head towards Alcaraz. Once we have passed the quarry at Balazote railway station (Km 31.4), we climb back onto the Greenway proper via a short ramp, and leave the provisional detour behind. From this point on the landscape changes radically as we pass along embankments and through cuttings excavated in reddish earth, brushing past the poplars lining the meadows of the river Jardín.

Km 35

Just beyond the first railway tunnel on our route we have to leave the rail bed for the second time (Km 35.1), joining a signposted alternative trail which crosses the river and skirts around the Finca de la Torre estate. Here a tough climb followed by a steep descent takes us back to the Greenway proper at the mouth of the second tunnel on our route (Km 37.9). Beyond Rambla station (Km 40.0), the landscape changes again and we now pass through a rugged landscape via long curving tunnels and valleys hemmed in by vertical scarps, holm oaks and pines. This is a spectacular section punctuated by a succession of tunnels, none of which have lighting, so a torch or cycle lamp is essential.

Km 48,6

The rest area at the village of El Jardín gives us another chance to take a break before starting the last section of our route, which is a properly developed Greenway marked by a change in the surface, signposting, rest areas, and, in particular, lighting in the tunnels, although there are still some defects which will be addressed shortly. Access to the village is easy and you can find restaurants, bars, shops, etc

Near the El Jardín railway station (Km 51.40) are the Arquillo Lake and the Laguna de los Ojos de Villaverde Natural Reserve, both offering considerable biological diversity, especially birdlife. Near the village of Los Chospes we will find the longest tunnel on our route (770 m) and a little further on, at El Cubillo, we have another opportunity to stop for food and drink.

Km 62

After Robledo railway station, now refurbished as a rural hotel, we travel through farmland dotted with holm oaks and savin. At Salinero station (Km 65.9) the trail reaches its highest point. From here the Greenway now winds downhill, and once through the curved tunnel at Km 71.85 (that makes twenty tunnels so far!), the trail passes over the two Solanilla viaducts, which provide two magnificent viewing points from where we can see the Caserío de Solanilla, the city of Alcaraz, and the Virgen de Cortes Sanctuary which sits on a rocky hill just outside Alcaraz. From this point the trail begins a continuous, gentle descent until the exit of the final tunnel on our route marks the end of the developed part of the Greenway. Before arriving at the Sanctuary we will have crossed the busy N-322 road over a modern foot/cycle bridge

From here (Km 74) until Bienservida, on the border with the province of Jaén, the trail is undeveloped and unviable. But plans to recover this section for use as a Greenway are already underway and will provide over 30 more gentle kilometres through the Sierra de Alcaraz mountains.