El Pinar de Negral or Resinero

El Chorro is on a platform at an altitude of 1,350 m, flanked to the west by the great cliffs that raise the foothills of the sierra above the Jaén countryside, and to the east by Mount Gilillo (1847 m). In the skirt that forms this platform extends an extensive pine forest of black pine, which is how the Pinus pinaster is called in the area.

The orientation of this slope on which we walk is west and northwest, so that the sunsets are a great added value to the enjoyment of the pine forest. In this area an observatory for birds of prey, especially griffon vultures, has been installed.

This black pine saw its area of ??natural presence expanded by serving as raw material in the extraction of turpentine essence (turpentine), the main product obtained from resin. At the beginning of the 20th century, many slopes of these mountains were populated with this pine.

The pine forest we visit has hardly any understory at first, but later it becomes enriched with sloe (Prunus spinosa), hawthorn (Crataegus monogina), rose hips (Rosa spp.). As we reach the Chorro stream, this undergrowth thickens and on the opposite slope that faces north is enriched with honeysuckle (Lonicera peryclimenum hispanica), bush roses (Paeonia broteroi), and numerous orchids (Orchis cazorlensis, Orchis tenera, Neotinea maculata,…).

LOCATION

We access the road that leaves La Iruela in the direction of Riogazas and El Chorro. After about 10 km we come to an old forest house that is on our left and is on the side of the road. From this point we follow the trail on foot, no more than 2 km., Through a thick forest of black pines (Pinus pinaster).