La Moleta de Aitana from Font de l'Arbre near Confrides

The starting point for this hike is at Font de l'Arbre, near Confrides.
To get there by car, see the "Practical information" section below, as it is not that easy to reach.

(S/E) At the blue "Font de l'Arbre" sign, take the cement path that goes uphill, following the PR®-CV 20 Cim Aitana direction. Immediately afterwards, leave this wide track and take a small path on the left that goes straight up, thus avoiding a few bends in the track that you will then follow.

(1) This time, leave the track for good at the bend and take the path opposite, which climbs uphill. This will take you to Col de l'Arbre, at an altitude of 1,378 metres.

(2) Take the path on the right.

(3) Cross the ridge and, immediately after turning left, climb a short section of rock face: first follow the rock face for 1 or 2 metres (almost retracing your steps), using your feet for support and your hands for security, then climb straight up. It is a very short climb, but you need to be used to using your hands. This passage may be prohibitive for some.

(4) This will take you to the summit of Moleta d'Aitana, at an altitude of 1,466 metres. The summit is marked by a cairn with a cross. The 360° view is extraordinary, with views of the peaks and the sea (Benidorm, Alicante).

To complete the circular hike suggested here, continue along the path and descend into an area known as "dels Esquiladors". In this very rocky area, you will need to walk over the rocks and try to guess where the path is. Proceed with caution, and the use of GPS is absolutely essential.

(5) You must pass through here to safely descend a small cliff. Further on, you will come to a very large cairn, where you will find the path again.

(6) At a rusty upright stake, head to the right. You will then arrive at a complicated area of scree, where you must both descend (overhanging a snow pit) and go to the left until you come to a cairn. Then take the visible path that descends to the right. You will arrive at a scree slope with a well-marked flat path. Descend this path to the left, passing in front of some ruins. Continue across the fields until you reach the snow pit: Clot de Banc dels Esquiladors.

(7) Continue until you reach a very wide path, which you should follow. Old terraced fields: when this very wide path ends, descend these fields towards a house visible a little further down. Then pass in front of the house and take the path that descends.

(8) You will come to a very wide path. Follow it to the right: this is the path that goes from Port de Tudons to Benifato. Follow it to reach Font de l'Arbre (S/E).

Journey by car to the starting point of the hike.

From Alicante city, take the A31 motorway (from Calle Mexico) towards Madrid and quickly take exit 236A towards Benidorm and Valencia.
You are now on the A70, which becomes the AP7 towards Benidorm.
Take exit 648: N332/Benidorm (Levante)/CV70 La Nucia, then quickly take the N332 Alacant exit on the right and follow the CV 70 La Nucia.
Continue in this direction, following the signs for CV70/La Nucia.
Pass through a large number of roundabouts, always following CV70/La Nucia.
When you finally reach the last roundabout in La Nucia (rotonda 1), turn left towards CV70/POLOP/Castell de Guadalest, then follow CV70/Benimantel. Even by car, the view until you arrive is spectacular.
In Benimantel, do not enter the town centre but follow signs for CV70/Alcoi. Leave Benimantel.
Further along the road, you will see a sign for CV70/Confrides/Alcoi and, on the left, CV-7681 Benifato. Continue on the CV-70 towards Confrides.

Pass the sign for the entrance to Confrides. A little further on, you will see a sign for Confrides on the left. Turn left (at the El Pireneo restaurant): there is a small sign on the wall indicating Font de l'Arbre as PR®-CV 22. Then take a small street on the far right (the one above with a barrier along it and a small sign on the wall indicating Font de l'Arbre as PR®-CV 22): this is a difficult turn that requires manoeuvring to take. You are now on Carrer d'Alacant. At the junction, continue along the street on the right that goes uphill (not the flat street with streetlights). Continue along this street, which becomes Carrer San Antoni. There are about 7 km to go along a very small asphalted mountain road (with a few potholes) before reaching Font de l'Arbre, where there are a few houses. This place is marked with a sign from the Confrides town hall and a large blue sign indicating "Font de l'Arbre Area Recreativa". There are also tables and chairs for picnics. Park here without blocking the passage, as there are houses around. (Just before arriving, always continue on the asphalt road on the right).

For information, by car from Alicante it is about 87 kilometres and takes approximately 1 hour 30 minutes.

Note: some satnavs do not recognise the road between Confrides and Font de l'Arbre, so you will need to follow my directions.

Difficulties: I got the idea to hike La Moleta from Font de l'Arbre from a blog called Las Rutas de Moskis. Starting from this point, you can reach the summit in a very short time (less than an hour), but don't forget that you are in the high mountains and that this hike is only suitable for experienced hikers. In addition, there is a short section involving a very short climb that may discourage some people. Finally, while the ascent is easy, the descent from La Moleta is more complicated because there are scree slopes and the path is not easy to follow: I think it's essential to usethe Visorando app or another GPS device.