Elche Dam is one of the most spectacular I’ve seen in Spain. With a massive waterfall flowing down like a shower fountain and continuing onto the mountainous rocks in front of it, it leaves me speechless every time.
Visiting the dam is easily one of the best things to do in Elche and it’s easily accessed by only a 10-minute car ride from the center.
After visiting this masterpiece several times, I decided to write this guide so you can visit it too, including a recorded route that you can follow on Wikiloc.
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Hi, I’m Linn Haglund, the face behind Brainy Backpackers. I’ve been based in Spain for the last 10+ years, and travel locally and abroad whenever I have a chance. I’m passionate about responsible travel, slow and off the beaten path travel, and outdoor activities, especially hiking. I’m currently slow traveling in my van Persistence (Persi among friends) with my fiancée Mohammed and rescue puppy Atlas. I’m excited to help you explore this planet responsibly!
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Hiking specs
🏠Trailhead: Aparcament del Pantá d’Elx, Alicante Spain
👣Type of trail: Semi-Loop
🥾Distance: 1.8 km
⏰Hiking Time: 40 min-1 hour
⛰️Difficulty: Easy
🍃Hiking season: all year round
🐶Hiking with dogs: Hiking with dogs is allowed. It’s also safe in the Pine Processionary Caterpillar season. There are just a few pine trees in the parking area, but we didn’t see any nests in any of the trees in the season – just be aware of them if you see them and watch your dog when you’re at the parking, the rest of the trail is pine tree free. There are also natural water sources on the trail for your dog to drink.
How to get to the trailhead of Elche Dam
Elche Dam is located just north of Elche city and it’s just an 8-minute drive from Elche Bus Station to Aparcament del Pantá d’Elx where the walk starts.
If you opt for walking, it takes about an hour extra each way from the bus station and by bike it takes 15-20 minutes from the bus station or the city center. (Yes, I’ve done it all!)
It’s a spacious dirt parking area with 2-3 different levels which is super popular among campervans.
If you’re campervanning in Spain, I highly recommend staying there when visiting Elche.
The trail starts below the parking areas, following the dirt road, it soon converts to a trail.
You can download the app Wikiloc to follow driving instructions to the trailhead and follow the route I recorded on my last walk.
FOLLOW THE ROUTE ON WIKILOC
Best time to walk to Elche Dam
You can easily walk to Elche Dam all year round since there’s water on the trail so you can cool down even in the summer.
However, during the wet season and after heavy rains you’ll see more water in the waterfalls along the trail. On the other hand, it gets muddy after the rain.
Trust me, you’ll want to bring a change of shoes and pants if you walk after the rain. I did that the last time I went and it got pretty messy (and so did the dog!)
If you go in the summer, make sure you bring water, a hat, and enough sunscreen depending on how sensitive your skin is – it gets hot in Elche in the summer and most of the trail is very exposed to the sun.
Hiking Elche Dam
Just a few meters into the trail, you can either continue straight ahead or take the left down a set of stairs and continue on a smaller path along the water.
I prefer the latter as it takes you through palm trees and with the stream on the side it feels more like an oasis in the Middle East than Spain.
Further up, you’ll cross a small bridge to get back on the upper path again. The trail takes you a bit higher after the bridge, but I recommend keeping an eye to the left where you can take a small detour down to the river and find a beautiful small waterfall. You’ll have to jump across the stream to the waterfall, but it’s not a large gap.
The next highlight is the first aqueduct you’ll reach, there, the trail gets more rocky and is even cut “through” the rock which is pretty cool.
Continue down a set of steps and a couple of more bridges and it won’t be long before you reach the electricity station and the magnificent Elche Dam! You’re staring at one of the top reasons to visit Elche!
I recommend walking up behind the powerhouse for the views and continuing up to the top of the steps where you can walk down again to return the same way you came from. Alternatively, walk up the steps and down again.
If you have the time, head a little further on top of the steps to see the picturesque Pantano de Elche lake. If you’re up for a bigger adventure, you can add a couple of hours to hike the entire Pantano de Elche trail, which is absolutely stunning, or venture to the open-air museum of CAU de Elche.
On the way back, when you reach the aqueduct where the trail is cut through the rock, you can walk back where you came from.
But if you feel adventurous, my favorite route is to cross the small aqueduct straight ahead of the trail cut in rock (instead of walking down to the right where you came from). It’s narrow, but not too high, so even with a sprinkle of vertigo, I’ve never felt scared crossing it.
This trail continues along the old waterway on the edge of the hill and ends up at the top parking.
Summing up Elche Dam walk
Summing up, walking Elche Dam is a must-do in Elche and even if you’re on a day trip to Elche you can fit it in as the first or last thing you do.
There’s a reason why I walk there so much when I’m in Elche. The nature is breathtaking and it’s a refreshing natural space by the city where I can take Atlas all year round.
Happy travels!