Despeñaperros Natural Park

The famous Despeñaperros Gorge, with its nearly vertical cliff walls, is the result of the waters of the river of the same name.

The Despeñaperros Natural Park is located in the north of the province of Jaén. It spans a total of 7,840.82 hectares within the municipality of Santa Elena, forming a natural passage from the Castilian plateau through the famous gorge. It is the result of the movement of the waters of the Despeñaperros River, which runs transversely to the Sierra Morena mountain range and flows into the Guarrizas River. The area is full of stunning, almost vertical cliffs and beautiful spots, like “Los Órganos” and “Las Correderas.” Its vegetation includes forests of alder, ash and willow trees, holm oaks, cork oaks, gall oaks, stone pines, holm oaks and black pines. The scrubland mainly consists of strawberry trees, heather, rockrose, myrtle and cork oak.