El Pozo De Los Frailes: Waterwheel and Hiking Trails

El Pozo de los Frailes has two defining features: the restored waterwheel and its history of water use, and hiking trails S04 and S06, each with its own landscape. For orientation, the village’s location on the AL-3108 and the information point in the town center are also useful.

Water and Cultural Heritage

The restored Noria del Pozo de los Frailes historically ensured the supply of water for people and livestock in an extremely dry environment. The complex includes a waterwheel, a washhouse, and a livestock watering trough. An animal-powered waterwheel channeled water to the public washhouse and public watering trough. The site can therefore be understood as an integrated system: the waterwheel, washhouse, and trough have a specific functional relationship.

At the beginning of the 20th century, a large landowner built the complex to irrigate his estates with surplus water; it remained in use until the 1980s. The site thus brings together two aspects of water use: supplying people and livestock in a dry environment, and using surplus water for irrigation. The Molino del Pozo de los Frailes is associated with the year 1805.

Location and Hiking Trails

Two kilometers from San José, in the direction of Níjar, El Pozo de los Frailes lies on the AL-3108. The Noria del Pozo de los Frailes information point is in the town center, right next to the restored waterwheel. The small kiosk is in a landscaped area and provides information about Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park. Its location alongside the waterwheel therefore connects a site steeped in water history with information about the natural park.

Hiking trail S04 directly connects El Pozo de los Frailes with San José via the AL-3108; the trail can be accessed from either village. It also passes through different habitats within Cabo de Gata-Níjar Geopark and Biosphere Reserve. Crossing different habitats adds a landscape dimension to the route between the villages.

Hiking trail S06 Escullos–Pozo de los Frailes passes through hilly terrain between volcanic mountains, offers sea views, and runs past abandoned grain fields. The trail passes Cerro de los Frailes, considered the largest volcanic outcrop in the natural park; its two volcanic domes reach a height of 493 meters. Birds that can be spotted include the stone-curlew, the kestrel, and the whinchat, a migratory relative of the stonechat. Ocellated lizards and horseshoe whip snakes can also be seen there.

For planning your hikes, the difference can be summed up briefly: S04 connects El Pozo de los Frailes with San José and passes through different habitats; S06 focuses on hilly terrain, sea views, abandoned fields, and wildlife watching.

Discover more destinations: Los Albaricoques, Las Negras, San Jose-Nijar, La Isleta, Rodalquilar

Back to the main travel overview: Nijar.