Barranco Bermejo

A Quiet Watercourse on the Sulayr Trail

The Sulayr trail crosses Barranco Bermejo on a forest track (carril) that winds between the villages of Paterna del Río and Laujar de Andarax. Just at the crossing, a small ruined cortijo (farmhouse) perches above the track, a quiet reminder of the pastoral life that once sustained the high slopes of eastern Sierra Nevada. The watercourse itself is modest—barely two kilometres from headwater to confluence—but it gathers flow from two unnamed tributaries that drain the surrounding ridges.↗↗

This stretch of the Sulayr, known officially as Tramo 10, runs between the Barranco del Riachuelo and the Cerecillo area near Laujar de Andarax, passing through pine forests, abandoned terraced fields, and the kind of deep barrancos that give eastern Sierra Nevada its rugged character.↗

What to Notice

The Barranco Bermejo stands out as a green corridor in an otherwise dry, sun-baked landscape typical of Almería province. Poplars and willows line its banks, while scattered chestnut trees and a sparse chaparral of kermes oak cling to the slopes above. The dominant ground-level shrub is the bolina (Genista umbellata), a fragrant broom that perfumes the air in spring and early summer.↗

From the crossing, the trail continues to climb through the pine forest toward the high plateau above, offering expansive views across valleys and, on clear days, the distant Mediterranean coastline to the south. Looking back down the barranco, the abrupt topography reveals the alluvial geology of these mountain streams—shallow, flat channels cut deep into the rock by centuries of seasonal torrents.↗

Visiting the Area

Barranco Bermejo is reached on foot as part of the Sulayr trail, or by forest track from the vicinity of Paterna del Río or Laujar de Andarax. The nearest town, Laujar de Andarax, sits at 918 metres in the upper Andarax valley and is the gateway to the Alpujarra almeriense—a region known for its cool summer air, abundant water sources, and traditional hamlets.↗

The area falls within the broader Sierra Nevada protected landscape. There is no dedicated visitor infrastructure at the barranco itself, but the Sulayr is well waymarked and maintained. Hikers on Tramo 10 should carry water, as natural sources along the route are seasonal, and be prepared for a demanding day of climbing and descending through pine forest and open highland track.↗

Getting There

From Laujar de Andarax, forest tracks lead up toward the eastern slopes of Sierra Nevada where the Sulayr trail runs. From Paterna del Río, the trail descends from the Canalizo area to cross the Barranco Bermejo before continuing to the Río Paterna. The road AL-5402 from Bayárcal toward Puerto de la Ragua intersects the Sulayr about 8.3 km from that village, providing another vehicle access point to the wider circuit.↗

Nearby to Explore

The town of Laujar de Andarax offers a Centro de Visitantes (visitor centre) about the water resources and cultural history of eastern Sierra Nevada, plus three shorter circular walks departing from its Nacimiento recreation area along the Río Andarax. The villages of the Alpujarra almeriense—Paterna del Río, Bayárcal—make scenic base stops with local accommodations and traditional cuisine.↗