7 Natural Parks in Alicante to the best Mountain Biking

Talking about Alicante and the Valencian Community is talking about plenty of Parques Naturales (Natural Parks) to enjoy nature. That is why many sports fans of all kinds, from hiking to climbing and, of course, cycling, are encouraged to stroll through Alicante's network of Natural Parks.

However, it should be borne in mind that these Natural Parks enjoy special protection in terms of their use, and the practice of mountain biking is not allowed on trails and off-road. In addition, cycling on forest paths and rural roads (i.e. roads where four-wheel vehicles are permitted) may also be restricted in some cases. It is therefore important to bear in mind that we cannot cycle unlimitedly within the Natural Park if we take an MTB route within the protected area.

If you want to practice MTB in the middle of nature, here are some of the most outstanding Natural Parks in Alicante.

La Marjal Pego

Parque Natural del Marjal de Pego-Oliva has great biodiversity. The rivers Bullent and Molinell flow through it, and it has numerous spring tributaries, being declared Natural Park in December 1994.  The disappearance of an important part of the wetlands of the Valencian Community means that this marsh has a great value in the outcrop of mainly avian fauna, with species such as the coot, the water fowl, the Calamón or the small grebe. 

We can enjoy an MTB circular route without major complications, in an area that thanks to its low gradient can perfectly become a family MTB route. It is a route to stop and contemplate. 

Parque Natural del Montgó

The rocky mass of the Montgó (753 m) is one of Alicante's most iconic mountain elements. Its imposing altitude just a few kilometers from the coast makes it especially appreciated, and highly visible throughout the territory. It was declared a Natural Park in 1987, and covers an area of 2117 hectares located between the municipalities of Denia and Xàbia.

The extension of the Natural Park reaches the sea to Cabo Sant Antonio (cape and magical spot for lighthouse lovers), forming one of the most fascinating coastal landscapes on the Costa Blanca. We can explore the surroundings of the Park as long as we follow the tracks, streets and roads of the municipality of Denia, with routes that are not very challenging.

Parque Natural del Peñón de Ifach

Anyone who has visited Calpe cannot imagine the charm of this municipality without the presence of the Peñón de Ifach. Calpe and Ifach are a unique and indivisible identity, marked by the brutal height of this rock just a few meters from the sea. This 332 m high rock has a surface area of 53 hectares. Despite its small size, its orographic uniqueness together with the richness of its historical heritage means that it enjoys special protection. 

It is also important to note that we can't climb to the top by bicycle, so we will have to settle for observing the immensity from below or park the bicycle for a while if we want to view Calpe from above. Given the narrowness of the paths, the passage of bicycles on the road to the Rock poses a risk to the physical integrity of both hikers and cyclists. On the other hand, we can take the opportunity to get to know Calpe by MTB with a family ride along the bike lanes of the municipality that ends at the Parque Natural del Peñón de Ifach (Natural Park).

La Serra Gelada

Since 2005, this Natural Park has a number of very popular routes for both cyclists and hikers, in a mountain range that allows us to glimpse the skyscraper landscape of Benidorm or the Montgó itself from a distance. 

In its 5,600 hectares we find popular routes such as the one that leads to Punta del Cavall, a window open to the sea; the one to the Faro de Albir (lighthouse), with a stamped feature, probably one of the most photographed in the area; and the ascent to the Antenas del Albir, a climb that is already a classic of the Five Continents MTB Race Costa Blanca, one of the most popular MTB races in Spain. However, the ascent is not exactly a relaxing ride, .....

La Font Roja

Located between the municipalities of Alcoy and Ibi, La Font Roja has 2,298 hectares preserved as a Natural Park, highlighting the Alt de Sant Antoni, the Font Roja holm oak grove and La Teixereta, in addition to its summit, El Menejador, which is the highest point of the park, over 1,300 m. One of the most common routes is the one that leads to the Santuario de la Font Roja (sanctuary), located at about 1,000 m, which can be reached by road on a somewhat demanding route leaving from Alcoy itself.

Sierra de Mariola

Parque Natural de la Sierra de Mariola covers up to 17,000 hectares in the provinces of Alicante and Valencia, being the largest in the entire Valencian Community. It was declared a Natural Park in 2002 and its maximum height is the 1390 m of the Montcabrer peak, to which are added numerous peaks of more than 1,000 m such as the Alto de Mariola, El Contador or El Portín.  

Due to its extension and number of trails, this Sierra mountain range is one of the most popular for MTB in the Valencian Community.

Las Salinas

In Santa Pola, Elche, one of the salt-producing wetlands with the highest ecological value in Alicante awaits us. Here it is not unusual to see all kinds of birds, especially flamingos, which with a little patience we can photograph without changing their lives in this dune park that is their home.

We can approach these Salinas (salt flats) on a pleasant family bike ride where we can observe first-hand the abundant fauna present in them.