Vía Verde de Ojos Negros: from Teruel to Valencia by bike
The Ojos Negros Greenway is one of the most attractive greenways in Spain for cycling.
The reasons are several but the five main ones are these:
- You pedal through three provinces: Teruel, Castellón and Valencia.
- Most of the route is downhill, making it very affordable and suitable for everyone.
- The route runs along the old train tracks that linked Ojos Negros and Sagunto, which is safe, without cars.
- It is the longest greenway in Spain.
- You can enjoy different landscapes and interesting tourist enclaves at a cultural and gastronomic level.
For all these reasons, it is not surprising that the Vía Verde de Ojos Negros arouses much interest as a cycling route, both among regular cyclists and among those who use this form of transport less.
However, it still raises a basic question that seems not to be clear:
Where does the Ojos Negros route begin?
To answer, a bit of history and some nuances are needed. And although we explain it in more detail below, we now tell you the essentials.
The thing is that during the 20th century, the town of Ojos Negros (province of Teruel) and the port of Sagunto (Valencia) were joined by train. The reason for this was to transport the high-quality iron extracted in the first enclave to the Blast Furnaces of Sagunto to be smelted. And although in the 1970s this mining route ceased to be used as such, at the beginning of this century the governments of the Valencian Community and Aragon adapted it for use and enjoyment by bicycle, in what is known as a greenway.
Can you go from Ojos Negros to Sagunto by bicycle?
Of course. Although the official route, the one that flows through fully adapted sections, goes from Santa Eulalia del Campo (still in Teruel although somewhat closer to the destination than Ojos Negros) to Algimia de Alfara (province of Valencia and a town that, although close to Sagunto, is in the interior).
This is what is technically known as the Vía Verde de Ojos Negros.
But we can still complicate it a bit more. More and more people choose to lengthen the route and instead of finishing in Sagunto, they complete an additional stage that takes them to Valencia. This last section is done through the Vía Verde de la Xurra and although it is not particularly beautiful, it is safe and allows you to enjoy Valencia.
Depending on which origin and destination you choose, there are 160 / 217 / 249 km of bike route. It all depends on the time you have and the desire you have to give everything, as there is no section of great technical difficulty.
Below we give you all kinds of useful information about the Ojos Negros Greenway so you can prepare for this bike trip.
Technical sheet of the Ojos Negros Greenway
Here is the general information on the Ojos Negros Greenway:
- Distance:
- Official route: 160 km (from Santa Eulalia to Algimia de Alfara).
- Full route: 217 km (from Ojos Negros to Sagunto).
- Extended route: 249 km (from Ojos Negros to Valencia).
- Duration (non-stop cycling):
- Official route: 8 hours and 30 minutes.
- Full route: 10 hours and 45 minutes.
- Extended route: 12 hours and 25 minutes.
- Elevation gain: from 1,151 m at Ojos Negros we climb to 1,230 m at Puerto de Escandón (passing through Teruel at 915 m above sea level) and then it is a continuous descent to sea level in Sagunto.
- Difficulty level: Low (no preparation required) – Moderate (due to the length).
- Suitable for: Solo | In a group | With children | With pets.
- Route type: Linear – Not circular.
- Main tourist attractions:
- Teruel’s historic centre
- Segorbe’s historic centre
- Jérica’s historic centre
- Regajo Reservoir
- How to get to the starting point:
- By train: medium-distance line 49 linking Valencia and Teruel. Telephone bookings: 912 320 320.
- By taxi: carries passengers, bicycles and luggage. Telephone: 629 522 300.
- Rest areas: Puerto Escandón, Puebla de Valverde, Sarrión, Estación Mora, Albentosa, Palancar, Barracas, Jérica and Navajas.
The Ojos Negros Greenway in stages from Teruel to Sagunto and Valencia
As you’ve seen, there are plenty of options for exploring the Ojos Negros Greenway: starting point, destination and style. As for style, you have two choices: cycle the route non-stop, or adopt the ‘slow cycling’ philosophy. In other words, savouring every moment, every landscape, every corner and every meal. Without rushing.
We recommend the latter. The Ojos Negros Greenway is a cycle touring route, and to enjoy it to the full you need to do both: get pedalling and explore the surroundings. Of course, the choice is yours. We’ll explain the entire route from Ojos Negros to Sagunto and from there to Valencia. In five stages. You can complete them in a single day, over two days or over five.
It’s up to you to decide which sections you do and how. It’s not the same going on your own as it is with children. So, below adapt what we tell you to suit your preferences and needs.
By the way, you can do the route in reverse, starting in Valencia or Sagunto and finishing in Ojos Negros. But that would be an uphill climb and makes it more difficult.
Stage 1: Ojos Negros – Teruel (56 km)
Ojos Negros is the town in Teruel where the Ojos Negros Greenway technically begins (which is why it features in the route’s name). It’s an appealing idea to start at the beginning, at the very place where it all began. You can leave your car in Sagunto and take the train to Monreal del Campo, and from there cycle to the village to begin this adventure, also known as the Ojos Negros route. There you’ll also see a Sierra Menera locomotive.
Another option is to get off the train two stops earlier, at Santa Eulalia del Campo. This village in Teruel is about 30 km from Ojos Negros, but it is where the official route of this greenway begins. From here to Algimia de Alfara (Valencia), the route is fully equipped for your use and enjoyment.
You decide where to start the Ojos Negros Greenway!
Along this stage, we come across several dilapidated railway stations. Despite their condition, we can imagine what they used to look like and the scenes that must have unfolded here over the more than half a century during which the Sierra Menera railway transported iron along this mining line to the blast furnaces in Sagunto.
In any case, the end point of this first stage is Teruel. This provincial capital is recognised by UNESCO as the capital of Mudéjar art and boasts an architectural and cultural heritage that makes a leisurely visit well worth your while. For example, the old town, the Cathedral of Santa María de Mediavilla and the Mausoleum of the Lovers of Teruel. Not to mention its cuisine, which is renowned for its ham and black truffles.
Stage 2: Teruel - Mora Station (47 km)
Shortly after leaving Teruel, about 25 minutes’ drive and 6 km away, we passed under a bridge over which the train ran, known as the Fuente Cerrada Viaduct (photo). This is what is shown in the image above.
However, the highlight of this stage is the climb up to Puerto Escandón, the highest point on the entire Ojos Negros Greenway. In other words, the next 12.7 kilometres are the most challenging, although they aren’t exactly difficult. We go from 915 metres above sea level in Teruel to 1,230 metres at Puerto de Escandón.
The good news?
Then it’s all downhill! The descent is gradual down to sea level.
Puerto Escandón is nothing more than that. It’s simply the railway station in the Teruel municipality of La Puebla de Valverde. These days it’s largely disused, but it’s a good place to take a break before setting off again.
It’s worth noting that before reaching the highest point, we pass through several tunnels which, although they’re supposed to be lit, sometimes don’t work, so it’s a good idea to carry a torch or headlamp. A little tip aside, cycling through these tunnels is quite an experience: if you’re travelling with children, they’ll love it!
Shortly afterwards, we pass through marvellous landscapes of truffle-bearing holm oaks, particularly around the village of Sarrión. After all, this is the world’s most important region for the production of black truffles!
To round off this stage, we have decided to stay in the province of Teruel for a while longer. Specifically, at the Mora Station in Rubielos, in the village of Albentosa. Along the way, we cycle across the Albentosa Viaduct, a bridge once used by the railway and undoubtedly one of the most spectacular experiences on the Ojos Negros Greenway so far.
Stage 3: Mora Station – Segorbe (52 km)
This section of the Ojos Negros Greenway has many spectacular tunnels and viaducts, but for us, the one at Albentosa is the most spectacular of them all.
Bear in mind that from here on, the route is downhill: we’ve already done the hardest bit! Shortly afterwards, we cross into a different province and enter Castellón. On the way to Segorbe, the end point of this stage, we pass two places well worth seeing: Barracas, Jérica (where we recommend visiting the old town and the Mudejar Tower) and Navajas (a charming village home to El Salto de la Novia).
Shortly after leaving Jérica behind, we entered the Sierra de Espadán Natural Park and enjoyed some stunning views of the reservoir from the Mirador del Regajo viewpoint. This is undoubtedly one of our favourite stops (you can spot us in the photo, can’t you?) and we highly recommend taking a break to take in the spectacular views.
Finally, Segorbe, the capital of the Alto Palancia region. It’s a place well worth spending time in for two reasons:
- To visit the old town, whose architectural heritage has been declared a Site of Cultural Interest.
- To try its traditional dish: the olla segorbina. A hearty stew that more than restores our strength.
Stage 4: Segorbe – Sagunto (38 km)
We leave Segorbe behind and head into the Sierra Calderona Natural Park, another natural gem. We also pass through the orange groves of the Campo de Morvedre. There’s no denying it: it’s a lovely sight.
We arrive at Algimia de Alfara, where the official route of the Ojos Negros Greenway ends. Up to this point, the route is fully signposted; further on, towards Puerto de Sagunto, there are sections where you have to share the path with cars (although there aren’t usually many).
We continue towards the Mediterranean and pass close to Torres Torres. We’re based in this village (right here, to be precise) – do come and say hello if you’d like!
Once in Sagunto – the most common final destination on the Ojos Negros route – we continue on to its port. More specifically, to Blast Furnace No. 2. This is where the iron extracted from the mines in the town in Teruel, where we began this cycle touring adventure, was smelted. If you’re interested, 90-minute guided tours are organised in the mornings (call 611 072 510 for details).
Other places in Sagunto that are worth a look include its old town, the Roman Theatre and the castle. And if you fancy a spot of seaside, you can head to Sagunto’s own beach or cycle to the nearby town further north called Canet de Berenguer (it’s less than 20 minutes by bike).
Stage 5: Sagunto – Valencia (35 km)
This final stage we are suggesting is not, strictly speaking, part of the Ojos Negro Greenway. In fact, the route from Sagunto to Valencia follows the so-called Vía Verde de la Xurra. It is an extra section of less than two hours that allows us to visit the capital of the Valencian Community.
Although we cycle through the Valencian countryside, the views aren’t the most spectacular, but the cycle route is fully kitted out and provides a safe way to reach Valencia, where we recommend spending the day and even the night. It is a charming city, full of hidden gems, both modern and classic at the same time. Some notable monuments and places of interest include:
- Valencia Cathedral
- The Silk Exchange
- The Central Market
- The City of Arts and Sciences
- The Barrio del Carmen neighbourhood
- L’Oceanogràfic
La ruta de Ojos Negros, de Teruel a Valencia: preguntas frecuentes
What is a greenway?
A greenway is a former railway line which, after falling into disuse, has been restored and converted into a non-motorised nature trail, becoming an ecotourism route. To put it another way, every greenway was once a railway line. These routes are open to everyone and are accessible by bicycle, on foot, on horseback and in a wheelchair (the sections adapted for these purposes are clearly signposted). They have their own distinctive and easily recognisable symbol: a green leaf.
By 2020, the Spanish Railways Foundation – the organisation responsible for the “restoration, preservation, promotion and dissemination of the historical, cultural, scientific and technological heritage of the railways” – had restored and transformed more than 3,000 km of former railway lines into non-motorised routes.
What is the origin of the name ‘Ojos Negros Greenway’?
In 1900, two Basque businessmen founded the Sierra Menera mining company to mine several high-quality iron ore deposits near the town of Ojos Negros, in Teruel. To transport the ore for smelting at the port of Sagunto, they built their own railway network; a railway line from Ojos Negros to Sagunto. This mining railway was used until 1972, when it was abandoned in favour of a nearby line with greater transport capacity. In the early 21st century, the regional governments of the Valencian Community and Aragon converted the old railway line into a greenway. Photo courtesy of the Historical Railway Archive of the Madrid Railway Museum (Gustavo Reder Kleingebeil).
Why is the Ojos Negros Greenway so popular with cycle tourists?
Here are 10 reasons to help you understand it – and which will make you want to discover and experience it:
- Because it has a fascinating history.
- Because it’s the longest greenway in Spain. Stretching over 160 km, it invites you to explore it at your own pace, for as long as you like and in whatever stages you choose.
- Because it’s an easy route. Apart from the Puerto de Escandón, the toughest section, the rest is flat and downhill. You don’t have to be a professional cyclist to tackle it. And if you want to enjoy the Ojos Negros greenway without any effort, do it on an e-bike.
- Because it’s well signposted and accessible. You can do the route with children and pets.
- Because you’ll discover three provinces in a single trip: Teruel, Castellón and Valencia.
- Because on the same trip you’ll cover sections of five major routes: the Ojos Negros Greenway, the Camino del Cid, the Vía Churra, the Vía Augusta and the Ruta del Grial. And soon, the EuroVelo Ibérica.
- For the culinary journey that will let you discover the delights of each place.
- Because, weather permitting, you’ll see the starriest sky in Spain.
- Because you can discover and savour the black truffle.
- Because the whole trip offers you peace, freedom and happiness.
When is the best time of year to walk the Ojos Negros route?
The Ojos Negros Greenway can be enjoyed all year round, although we recommend avoiding it during the coldest or hottest months. The best time to visit is therefore from March to June and from September to November, both for the temperatures and the scenery.
How do I get to the starting point?
The usual route is from the province of Teruel to that of Valencia. You can do it the other way round, from the coast inland, but then the route is uphill. That’s why the starting point of the Ojos Negros Greenway is usually Ojos Negros itself or Santa Eulalia del Campo.
You have three options for getting to the starting point:
- By train. It turns out that the route runs parallel to Renfe’s medium-distance Line 49, which connects the cities of Valencia and Zaragoza, passing through Teruel. So you can leave your car in Sagunto and take the train to Santa Eulalia or Monreal del Campo (if you want to start in Ojos Negros). Or the other way round: leave your car at the starting point and then return by train. Bikes cost an extra €3 and there’s usually space for three bikes, which don’t need to be dismantled. If there’s no space or you don’t want to pay the extra charge, you can dismantle your bike and wrap it in plastic so it’s treated as luggage. More info at 912 320 320.
- By taxi. There’s a taxi service that can carry up to eight people with their bikes and luggage. More info at 629 522 300.
- By post. For luggage, of course. Among the most experienced cyclists, the preferred method is to send everything via Correos to the post office closest to the start. You can pack whatever you like into a large box provided by Correos: panniers, helmets, a tent, a sleeping bag and, of course, your bike.
What should I take with me when I go cycling?
- Light. Whichever you prefer: a head torch or a hand torch. Bear in mind that we pass through many tunnels and, although they are all lit, the lighting sometimes fails, so it’s a good idea to have your own light source.
- Water. It is essential to carry two litres of water in bottles, small bottles or water canisters. Whilst there are many rest areas with taps for topping up your water, there are sections where there aren’t any: for example, between the city of Teruel and the town of Cella in Teruel province. You need to stay well hydrated, especially in summer.
- Windbreaker. Preferably waterproof (you never know). A windbreaker is lightweight and, depending on the time of year you’re walking the Ojos Negros Greenway, you’ll need it.
- Provisions. It’s always a good idea to carry some solid food with you to replenish your energy and keep your strength up. It isn’t always possible to buy provisions along the entire Ojos Negros route, particularly in Aragón. However, in the Valencian Community, you’ll pass through Jérica and Sagunto, where you can stock up without any problems. It’s important to bring some from home, especially if you have any allergies or intolerances.
- Essential kits. A first-aid kit for people and a tool kit for your bikes.
- Sunglasses. To protect yourself from the sun and flying insects.
- Sun cream. If you’re doing the cycle tour in summer, sun cream is essential to prevent sunburn.
Where to stay?
There are plenty of rural accommodation options along the Ojos Negros Greenway. We, in particular, invite you to relax in some little cottages we have in the village of Torres Torres. They’re called El Rincón de Pau and they’re absolutely brilliant.
Is the Ojos Negros route suitable for children?
Of course! Throughout the entire official route, from Santa Eulalia del Campo to Algimia de Alfara, the Ojos Negros Greenway is completely safe as there are no cars. What’s more, the gradients are minimal and the route is well signposted. That said, if you’re travelling with young children, we recommend tackling the route in several stages.
Is it advisable to complete the Ojos Negros Greenway in one go?
Well, technically, it is possible to do it all in one go. To do so, you’d need to set off very early in the morning. But if this is your first time cycling the Ojos Negros Greenway, we don’t recommend it. We’re advocates of slow cycling – taking it slowly and enjoying the scenery, the places, the people and the food.
Is there a track covering the whole of the Ojos Negros Greenway?
There are plenty of maps and tracks for this fantastic cycle route. This is because there are several options for where to start or finish it. But here’s a pretty good track that goes from Ojos Negros to Sagunto:
Would you like us to organise everything for you so you can just sit back and enjoy yourself?
We’ve come to the end of this guide to the Ojos Negros Greenway. We hope you’ve found it useful and that you’re keen to come and cycle along it.
To do so, you have two options: either plan everything or plan nothing at all. If you don’t want to have to worry about transport, accommodation, meals, potential setbacks or the bikes, we can take care of everything.
At Mediterranean Bike Tours , we organise cycling adventures tailored to each person’s tastes and needs . We’re locals (we’re based in Torres Torres, right next to the official finish line in Albalat de Tarongers) and we love the area. So we can recommend places to stay and eat that we’ve personally checked out and know inside out. Specifically, for the Ojos Negros route, we offer options to complete it in 3, 4, 5 or 6 stages. Click here for more information.
The idea is that you leave the boring bits to us so that you can focus on cycling and enjoying yourself. And if anyone in the group feels a bit lazy about cycling, we’ve got you covered: we have some excellent e-bikes! They’re the ones practically everyone wants.
You can contact us by calling 629 522 300 or by emailing us at hello@mediterraneanbiketours.com. Just let us know how much time you have available and we’ll take care of the rest. We’d be delighted to assist you and see how we can help!