Chorreras del Molinillo

Chorreras del Molinillo is a striking waterfall system in the Sierra Nevada mountains, within the municipality of Dílar, formed where several mountain streams converge on the range's northeastern face and plunge into the deep ravine of the Río Dílar. The main drop reaches roughly 100 meters and feeds the Río Dílar with water flowing down from the Lagunillo Misterioso, a small tarn higher up the mountainside. It's one of the more dramatic yet still under-the-radar hiking destinations in this part of Sierra Nevada, favored by walkers looking for an alternative to the busier routes toward Mulhacén or Veleta.

How do you get to Chorreras del Molinillo?

The most common approach starts at Hoya de la Mora, the car park by the Sierra Nevada ski station, from where the trail cuts across the old ski-lift terrain before descending into the Río Dílar valley through wide stretches of borreguiles — the high-mountain meadows typical of this range. An alternative route begins at La Cortijuela and climbs the Peñón de Dílar (2,466 m) via the Barranco de Benalcázar ravine, then descends to the point where the Río Dílar meets the Barranco Misterioso — exactly where the Chorreras del Molinillo form. A circular return is possible by skirting the Loma de Peñamadura and coming back through the Collado Chaquetas. Both routes require solid navigation skills and fitness, since they cross high-altitude, partly trail-less terrain.

What will you see there?

The waterfall itself impresses with its scale: water cascades down a rock face in several smaller steps before reaching the main, roughly hundred-meter drop. One of the standout features is that you can actually walk in behind the falling curtain of water — a rock ledge creates a fairly wide gap behind the cascade, letting visitors stand there and watch the water fall from the other side. The surrounding scenery is classic high Sierra Nevada: bare rock, borreguiles grassland, and open views over the Río Dílar valley and the peaks around it.

When is the best time to visit?

Spring and summer are the best seasons. In spring, once the snowmelt kicks in, water flow is usually at its heaviest, making the waterfall most impressive. In summer the trail is technically safest and most accessible for an averagely fit hiker. In winter this part of Sierra Nevada holds substantial snow, and reaching the falls without crampons and high-mountain experience can be genuinely risky — the winter route is for properly equipped, experienced hikers only.

What should you know before setting out?

This is a demanding route: long approaches, high-mountain terrain, and no tourist infrastructure — no waymarking, no rescue points — mean you should carry a map, plenty of water, and ideally go with company, especially outside the summer months. Dílar works well as a base for exploring the wider Sierra Nevada trail network, but reaching either Hoya de la Mora or La Cortijuela realistically requires a car.

Frequently asked questions

Can you reach Chorreras del Molinillo without a car? There's no direct public transport to the trailheads (Hoya de la Mora, La Cortijuela), so having your own vehicle or arranged transport is practically essential.

How long is the hike to Chorreras del Molinillo? It depends on the route chosen — the Hoya de la Mora approach through the borreguiles covers more distance, while the Peñón de Dílar variant is more physically demanding due to the climb to the 2,466 m summit.

Can you get close to the waterfall itself? Yes, the rock formation lets you step into the space behind the falling water curtain, which is one of the site's main highlights.

Is this route suitable for beginners? Given the high-mountain terrain, patchy waymarking on some stretches, and the changeable weather typical of Sierra Nevada, this route is better suited to hikers with some mountain experience.