What they don't tell you about this river in Malaga: a natural pool in the middle of nowhere and a hiking trail to discover it in June

Deep in the interior of Málaga, there is a river that hardly appears on any list of the great spots in the province, but in June, when the thermometer starts to become the protagonist of any plan, it offers exactly what is needed: flowing water, a waterfall cascading between green walls, and a natural pool formed next to one of its dams where you can immerse yourself in nature. The Río Turón originates in La Fuensanta, flows into the Conde de Guadalhorce reservoir, and along its course creates one of the richest, most quiet, and genuine river landscapes in the entire province. A corner that does not need fame to justify the journey.

The Río Turón: A Natural Corridor Between Mountains

The Turón is a tributary of the Guadalhorce that runs through one of the most valuable natural corridors in the interior of Málaga. To its left, the mountains of El Burgo and Ortegícar; to its right, Prieta, Cabrilla, and Alcaparaín. A frame of mountains that turns the riverbed into a path of coolness, biodiversity, and silence, flanked by lush vegetation that provides natural shade during the summer months like few other inland routes can match.

The flow of the Turón is fed by an extensive network of tributary streams, including those of La Fuensanta, Sopalmito, Requena, Botera, Blanquilla, Cantarrana, and De la Doncella, among others, enriching the river landscape with their own stretches, pools, and water nooks. Each contributes its unique character to a water system of complexity and beauty that rarely receives the attention it deserves.

The Waterfall of the Río Turón: The Water Jump of Arroyo Blanquillo

The most cinematic moment of the journey arrives at the site of Arroyo Blanquillo, very close to the crossroads connecting Ardales with Casarabonela. There, the water gains speed and volume before plunging into a waterfall of surprising beauty, especially spectacular in the months following the rains, when the flow is at one of its strongest points.

The environment surrounding the waterfall is as significant as the fall itself: the green of the vegetation dominates the landscape, the sounds of wildlife accompany each step, and the temperature noticeably drops near the water. A visual and auditory experience that makes this spot on the Turón one of the most evocative corners of the interior of Málaga in June.

The Long Pool of the Dam: The Natural Pool for Bathing in Nature

Beyond the waterfall, one of the most frequented spots of the Río Turón is known as the long pool of the dam, a natural pool formed next to one of the river's dams that offers the chance to bathe in crystal-clear waters in a natural setting. The area combines deeper zones with more accessible areas where you can immerse yourself peacefully, all surrounded by the river landscape that characterizes this stretch of the river.

In June, when the beaches of the Costa del Sol start to fill up and the heat tightens in the capital, this inland enclave offers a valuable alternative: the coolness of the water, the absence of overcrowding, and the feeling of discovering something not on the major tourist circuits of the province.

From El Burgo: Pools, Irrigation Channels, and Traditional Orchards

One of the most common starting points to explore the Río Turón is the town of El Burgo, one of the towns that embrace the river's course in its middle section. From there, the path along the water runs between pools, irrigation channels, and traditional orchards that frame the route with a rural stamp of great authenticity: unfarmed fields, riverside vegetation, and the constant sound of water accompanying each stretch of the path.

This access point to the river allows a calm approach to the river landscape of the Turón without the need for extensive technical preparations, making it a valid option for very different profiles of visitors. The environment conveys a serenity that contrasts with the usual pace of the busiest routes in the province, and in June, with the heat already settled on the Costa del Sol, it is especially welcome.