The Elche Reservoir

The starting point for this walk is in the car park at Pantano de Elche (the Elche reservoir). To get to this starting point by car, see the ‘Practical Information’ section below.

(S/E) Go through the car park entrance gate, head left towards the River Vinalopo and you’ll arrive at the foot of the dam.

(1) Head towards the steps on the right to continue along the path. Climb a short way up to reach the top of the dam and enjoy a view of the lake. Continue along the path.

(2) You’re now on a footbridge over the water. You can end the walk here if you wish.
But carry on a little further to explore the whole water supply system, and even a few aqueducts.

(3) Take a small path on the left. Contrary to what it looks like on the map, you aren’t actually walking on the water! There is indeed a very narrow dirt track which, running through the reeds, will take you to the other side. It’s great fun to try this safe crossing.

(4) You arrive at a property, a vast orange grove. The owner forbids access to his land (no doubt he’s fed up with people constantly stealing his oranges?). This is why the route ends here.

Turn round and follow the same route back along which you came to return to the car park where you set off (S/E).

By car, from Alicante city centre, take the A31 motorway (from Calle México) towards Madrid, then take exit 235B onto the A70 towards Murcia/Aeropuerto/Elche. Continue on the AP7.
Take exit 518 towards the CV 84 towards Elche and Aspe.
Keep right towards the CV 84 towards Elche and Aspe.
On the CV84, at the roundabout, take the first exit (i.e. turn right).
At the junction, turn left onto Camino de Los Magros.
At the roundabout, take the first exit onto Camino de Los Magros.
Stay in the right-hand lane. You’ll start to see a sign pointing to our starting point, ‘Pantano de Elche’.
At the end of the road, go straight on to enter the Pantano de Elche car park and park there.

No water source.

The Elche reservoir is a pioneering structure, as it was the first arch dam built in Europe. It is 23 metres high and 62 metres wide.
Historically, the first dam was built on this site in 1589 and was used for human consumption as well as for irrigating crops in Elche.
Along the walk, you can see the water diversion channel and a number of aqueducts.