Mesones is the starting point for two differently laid-out hikes. The Mesones–Argel route is a challenging 18.20-kilometre circular route. The Ruta micológica de Mesones al Quejigal, by contrast, is a linear trail connecting Mesones with El Quejigal. Two questions can help you choose an outing: Do you prefer a circular route, or would you like to focus on a trail between two named hamlets? And are you more drawn to the combination of pine forest and summit terrain, or to a route along the Río Mundo? The two routes therefore differ both in their layout and in the landscapes they pass through.

Forest and summit on the circular route

The Mesones–Argel trail begins in the hamlet of Mesones. Its length and challenging rating make it a full-day hiking focus, not a short addition between other activities. Check the route conditions before setting out. The trail passes through extensive pine forests and explores a small part of the Calar del Mundo. At the summit of Calar Pico Argel, at an altitude of 1,690 metres, dense forests give way to open areas with shrubs and scrub. The transition from forest to open summit terrain shapes the circular route’s landscape. At the foot of Pico Argel, the thousand-year-old yew known as “Tejo milenario” stands in the middle of a sinkhole. It adds a single, precisely located natural landmark to the broader landscape.

The Río Mundo and riverside vegetation

The Ruta micológica de Mesones al Quejigal offers a different focus. It is linear, connecting Mesones and El Quejigal rather than returning to its starting point as a circular route would. This layout makes the two hamlets the key place names to consider when choosing; the route also follows the Río Mundo for most of its length. Poplars, willows and ash trees grow along the river, while London plane trees appear only occasionally. These tree species give the route’s connection with the Río Mundo a distinctive character, setting it apart from the extensive pine forest and summit terrain of the Mesones–Argel route. If riverside vegetation and a linear route appeal to you most, you can make this trail your focus; if you are looking for a circular route with forest and summit sections, choose Mesones–Argel.

Finding the starting point

The starting point of the Ruta micológica is at kilometre 205 of the CM-412, level with the hamlet of Mesones (Molinicos). The CM-412 connects Elche de la Sierra and Riópar; the hiking route, by contrast, connects Mesones and El Quejigal. The kilometre figures refer to different things: 205 is the location on the road, while 18.20 kilometres is the length of the Mesones–Argel circular route. This helps distinguish the road reference, the trail’s course and its length when planning.

Fiestas de Mesones in August

The Fiestas de Mesones, in honour of San Antonio, take place in August. If the celebration is important for your travel dates, check the exact date and programme locally before planning your stay around it.

For the broader travel overview: Molinicos.