Portal de Turismo de Castilla y León

Welcome to the "Lobos River Canyon" Nature Park Visitors’ Centre Just like the rest of the park visitors’ centres, all throughout the region of Castilla and León, this is the recommended access point for these nature areas. At this information centre, you will learn about the Nature Reserve, and it will help you to plan your visit.

Here, you can find information about the signature species and habitats, to help you identify and appreciate the cultural and natural heritage in a respectful way. It promotes the conservation and appreciation of biodiversity and cultural heritage.

The "Lobos River Canyon" Nature Park Visitors’ Centre is in the Ucero municipality. The predominant environments and ecosystems in the Nature Park are collected inside.

A stone path leads to the entrance. If you follow the path, you will cross a canal and come to a small pond. This small lake and the building are in the Aula del Río del Rincón del Ucero catch and release fishing area.

The Lobos River Canyon is an impressive gorge formed by the erosion of the Lobos river over thousands of years. It has surprising geology and rich biodiversity. The sides of the canyon reach heights of tens of metres and in some places, they form spectacular vertical walls. The scenic beauty of Lobos River Canyon is due to the notable rocky formations, such as the "Great Cave".

The canyon is also home to varied flora and fauna, like different species of flora that are adapted to the conditions in the gorge. The Lobos River Canyon Nature Park that protects this area, also has trails and viewpoints where visitors can discover the greatness of the landscape and the rich nature in the region. The canyon has caves and grottos, adding another point of geological and speleological interest.

The Lobos River Canyon Nature Park is a nature reserve which extends over the Soria and Burgos provinces. It was named as a nature park in 1985 and has an area of more then 12,238 hectares. It is also catalogued as a SPA (special protection area for wild birds) and a SAC (special area of conservation).

The Lobos River Canyon Nature Park is a nature reserve which is mainly in Soria, but also in Burgos. It was named as a nature park in 1985 and has an area of more then 10,000 hectares.

In terms of flora, the park has a diverse range of species adapted to the particular conditions in the canyon, including holm oaks, Spanish junipers, junipers and different aromatic plants. The fauna is equally varied and includes birds of prey, such as griffin vultures, golden eagles and peregrine falcons, as well as mammals such as foxes, wild boar and roe deer.

Go into the building.

Once inside, the reception desk is to your right. This is where staff can assist you. To the left of the desk, at the back of the room, is the green shop, where you can buy local products or souvenirs.

The wall opposite the entrance also has some exhibition displays. There is a display with a 3D model of a map of the area. To both sides of the display, there are doors leading to the toilets.

Go to the right. There are two aquariums with the most typical species found in the rivers that flow through the canyon, such as the Lobos River and the Ucero river. There are signal crayfish and fish, such as minnow, gobio, bermejuela and brown trout.

Go around the corner to your right. There is another display with information on the Duero River.

To the left of the entrance, there is a small rest area, with vending machines and seats. The lift and stairs are to the right of this area.

The tour starts in the permanent exhibition room, which is on the second floor. Take the stairs or the lift to the third floor.

There are four large displays in the room. Each one focuses on one of the ecosystems in the nature park: the cliffs, the páramo and the river, along with a fourth with a large model of the park.

The central display is opposite you. It has a model of the Lobos River canyon. You can get close and touch it. Run your hand over the display, touching the cliffs and relief on the canyon.

From a morphological point of view the Lobos River Canyon is a deep opening carved into the Mesozoic limestone by the stream bed, causing huge walls that are tens of metres high. This drop was caused by double erosion: on one hand, the erosion by the river itself, and on the other hand, the rock being dissolved by water.

The sinking of the riverbed has caused the caves, previously sculpted by water, to collapse. This collapse has left visible concave areas in the walls of the canyon and stained by oxides.

The most representative animal in the canyon is the griffin vulture. Above you, positioned on a break, there is a model of this animal.

The griffin vulture is an imposing bird of prey with a notable wingspan, which lives in the rocky and cliff areas. With brown plumage and a white head, this vulture plays a crucial role in the ecosystem, by mainly eating animal cadavers, contributing to the efficient elimination of organic waste. These social birds have monogamous mates and build colonies, with nests on the cliffs.

Go back to the entrance of the room and to the display to the right of the central one which focuses on the páramo. At the end, there is a screen. Below the screen, there is a series of square cards. One of the sides of these cards has the name of an animal and a small description. The other side of the cards has a symbol.

When you show this symbol to the screen, the animal will appear on the card. This technology is known as augmented reality.

Among the cards here, there is one of a crested tit and of a snub-nosed viper.

The crested tit is a bird that stands out due to the pointy, bristled crest on its head. At around 11 centimetres long, it has a colourful plumage in tones of blue, white and yellow. Some of the characteristic behaviours of these birds are their ability to nest in holes in trees, and their habit of storing food in groves in the bark during winter.

The snub-nosed viper is a venomous snake endemic of the Iberian Peninsula. From 40 to 70 centimetres long, they stand out due to their triangular head which is flat on the back, creating a small, pointy nose. Their variable colour and ability to adapt to their environment make it difficult to spot. Although it is venomous, their bite rarely presents a significant threat to humans.

Go along this display. To the left of the screen, there is a panel with information on the importance of livestock in this area, especially keeping sheep.

The area has a large number of livestock paths which transhumant shepherds used in the past to move their herds.

In Spain, transhumance is when livestock and shepherds move each season from summer pastures to winter pastures, or vice versa. These moves are done to avoid desertification of the land due to overgrazing. In December 2023, seasonal transhumance was named as intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO.

Many of the shelters built by shepherds for their livestock are still standing. These shelters are known as tainas or sheepfolds.

They are structures or enclosures designed to keep and protect herds of livestock, generally sheep or cattle, at night or during rests periods. They were built to provide shelter and keep livestock safe, protecting them from predators and adverse climate conditions.

The design of these shelters can vary, but they usually include fences or walls to mark off the space, as well as a roof to provide shade and protection against the rain. Some also have separate sections to sort or separate specific groups of animals.

To the left, there are some panels on the use of plants as medical remedies.

In the past, plants were used as medicine in different ways depending on the culture and tradition. A common practice was to make herbal teas and decoctions, where they extracted the active substances by adding hot or boiling water. These drinks were used to treat different illnesses and afflictions. They also used topical applications, such as salves and poultices, to deal with skin issues and wounds. They also developed powders, dyes and alcohol extracts to concentrate and administer the medicinal properties of the plants in the most efficient way possible.

The display has four cylinders with small spaces in the upper part that contain aromatic plants. Move closer to smell them.

To the left, there is a glass cabinet in the display. It has cuts of tree trunks alongside various branches from the most representative trees in the Nature Park: the Spanish juniper and the black pine.

the Spanish juniper is a perennial tree native to the Mediterranean region. Reaching significant heights, this conical tree has scaly leaves and produces small cones which contain winged seeds. Their aromatic wood and resin have historically been used for diverse means, from construction to the production of varnishes and perfumes. Did you know that juniper is also used as a natural mothproof treatment?

The black pine is an imposing conifer native to Europe. This tree can reach heights of 40 metres and has large, thin pines. Its wood is ashen black or dark grey and is used due to its durability. This pine tree is very long-living, it can live to be 1000 years old.

There are juniper groves and pine groves on both sides of the canyon in the Nature Park.

To the left, you will find the next display which focuses on the next ecosystem: the cliffs. The first section has information on flying mammals.

Flying mammals are an exceptional group which mainly includes bats, the only mammals who can actively fly. These animals have developed membranous wings which allow them to move nimbly in the air. Bats also use echolocation to detect the presence of flying prey, highlighting their unique ability in the animal kingdom.

The display has a glass cabinet with a model of a horseshoe bat. Press the button to light up the model.

Horseshoe bats stand out due to their horseshoe shaped noses and specialised nose-leaves. These bats have an advanced echolocation system, emitting ultrasonic pulses to navigate and hunt in darkness. With global distribution, notable species include the greater horseshoe bat and the lesser horseshoe bat. Their diet is mainly made up of insects and their solitary habits is combined with their choice of shelter in caves or rocky cavities during the day.

Bats play an essential role in the regulation of insect plagues by consuming a significant number of harmful arthropods, such as mosquitoes, moths and beetles. This eco-systemic service has a positive impact on agriculture as it reduces the need for pesticides and promotes more sustainable agricultural practices. The diversity of their habitats and their ability to stabilise insect populations contributes to ecological balance, highlighting the importance of conversing and protecting bat populations for the health of ecosystems and agriculture.

It is important to note that bats do not attack humans in the dramatic way that is often shown in pop culture. The majority of bat species do not feed on blood and are not a risk for humans in this way.

There are only three bat species which feed exclusively on blood, all of which are native to Latin America. These are known as vampire bats. These bats mainly feed on the blood of warm-blooded mammals, such as birds and livestock, but they do not attack humans. However, it is important to avoid direct contact with bats and other wild animals, as all mammals can host potential diseases.

Go around the display to the back of it. Here, there are two cabinets with models of two birds: the Eurasian eagle-owl and the red-billed chough.

The Eurasian eagle-owl stands out as one of the largest owls in the world. With its dark brown plumage and distinctive facial disk, this nocturnal predator has an impressive wingspan which can be over 1.80 metres. Their versatile diet includes mammals, such as birds and mid-sized birds. Eurasian eagle-owls are known for nesting on cliffs and in caves, with both parents incubating and looking after the young.

Owls’ flying technique has evolved to be as silent as possible, allowing them to successfully hunt at night. This is possible due to a series of anatomical and physiological adaptations which minimise the noise of the air movement around their wings. Their primary and secondary feathers have loose borders, and their soft and velvety plumage absorbs the sound, reducing the turbulence.

The red-billed chough is a bird species characterised by their shiny black plumage and distinctive red beak. Their diet includes insects, worms, small mammals and plants. They nest on cliffs and in rocky crevices, and have adapted to life at high altitudes.

Keep going along the display until you come to the other end. Go around it to end up back at the other side.

This part of the display has information and pictures of some rock plants that grow in the area.

Lithophyte are those that have evolved to be able to grow in rocky environments, facing challenging conditions such as scarce grounds and exposure to strong winds. These plants show morphological adaptations, such as thick roots and stalks, and compact shapes to allow them to anchor to the crevices and extract nutrients from the rocks.

Many lithophytes have developed mechanisms to resist in drought, such as thick leaves or the ability to accumulate water in their tissue. Their diversity includes mosses, lichens and different species of flowering plants. They play a crucial ecological role by colonising rocky habitats, preventing erosion and contributing to biodiversity in these unique environments.

The canyon has species such as, wych elm and common henbit.

The common henbit is a yearly herbaceous plant which grows on walls and limestone rocks. Characterised by their creeping stems and pink and purple flowers, this species has invasive tendencies, replacing native species. Although it is considered a weed in some places, it has traditionally been used for medicinal purposes, to heal wounds, due to its astringent properties.

To the right of the last section, there is a space dedicated to Antonio Segura, a botanist who was part of the Lobos River Canyon Nature Park governing board.

Antonio was a forest technician and dedicated his professional career to studying the flora in the Soria province. In 1998, he published the first edition of the Flora Catalogue for the Soria Province. This catalogue is complete work on vascular, native or wild plants in the Soria region.

Due to the success of the first edition, the Soria provincial council reprinted the catalogue in 2000, publishing an edition with a better format and large print run.

The display has a cabinet with reproductions of his works and notes.

Go to the right. The last section of this display focuses on the birds that live in the canyon, such as the griffin vulture, common swift, red-billed chough and Egyptian vulture.

Egyptian vultures are a species of birds of prey that are easily identifiable due to their black and white plumage, naked yellow head and neck, and their large downward-curved beak. Currently they are on the list of endangered species due to the significant threats they are facing, such as eating poisoned bait, and the loss of their natural habitat. An interesting fact about these birds is that they are able to use tools. They can be found using rocks to open hard ostrich eggshells, one of the main foods in their diet.

There are two viewfinders where you can see images of the griffin vulture.

To the right of the viewfinder, above the display, there are various holes. Put your hand in to see what’s hidden inside.

Go to the last display which focuses on the river and riverbank ecosystem. It is to the left of the one you have just gone past. The first section focuses on the aquatic environment in the area, specifically the invertebrates that live there.

Here, there is a reconstruction of a section of the river. Elements taken from the river itself have been used to create it, such as gravel, rocks and branches. They also contain reproductions of some of the animals that live in this environment, such as trout, dragonflies and frogs.

In the small ponds and pools along the Lobos River, there are numerous aquatic invertebrates, such as common pond skaters, water fleas and aquatic scorpions.

Aquatic scorpions are insects that have adapted to life in fresh water, such as ponds and streams. Characterised by their long, slim bodies, swimming hind legs and variable colours, these scorpions are fierce predators that feed on aquatic insects and larvae. Although their common name suggests a relation to scorpions, this insect is not venomous and does not pose a threat to humans.

To the left, there are some panels with information about the San Bernabé church.

This interesting church was built inside the canyon. It was built during the start of the 13th century, marking the change in style from Roman to Gothic, a transition which is reflected in the architectural style.

Some notable characteristics of the church include its entrance, which is decorated with archivolts and columns, as well as a bell gable. The inside of the church has a main alter and various altarpieces which have been restored throughout the years. There are also original decorative elements, such as frescos from different periods.

The San Bernabé church has an impressive location, as it is inside a natural cave, integrated into the rock and surrounded by the natural beauty of the Lobos River Canyon.

Its main rosette has a five-point star, and this has become the symbol of the Nature Park.

The display has a model of the church. The model is protected by a methacrylate display case which can be lifted to leave it in the open. You can touch the model and even remove the walls and roof to look inside.

There is certain mysticism around whether this church is related to the Knights Templar.

The Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon, also known as the Knights Templar, was founded in the 12th century and stood out due to their participation in the crusades and for their role protecting the pilgrims in the Holy Land. However, in the 14th century, the order was abolished by Pope Clemente V, and many of their assets were seized.

In some regions in Spain, there are churches and chapels which have been historically associated with the Knights Templar. Many historians identify this church with the missing San Juan de Otero church, a Templar monk.

A popular pilgrimage is celebrated in this church on 24th of August for Saint Bartholomew's day.

To the left of the last section, there are some panels with images of the Ucero river and the Lobos River, as well as numerous springs and wells that can be found along the course of these rivers.

Below the panels, there are 6 squares with a cover on each one. Below each cover, there are different points of geological interest in the park.

Groundwater is natural water which emerges from underground due to subterranean pressure. This phenomenon significantly contributes to the fresh water supply and plays a crucial role in ecology, providing diverse aquatic habitats and favourable conditions para forest wildlife.

On the other hand, the water-table level refers to the superior level of subterranean water in the ground, known as the water-table surface. It is the depth to which the ground and rocks are saturated with water. This level fluctuates in response to factors like rain, subterranean water re-filling, evaporation and the extraction of water.

The Lobos River canyon is constantly changing and evolving due to the action of this subterranean water. As it is mainly made of limestone, a water-soluble stone, caves and grottos form underground and change the landscape.

The last panels in this display focus on the vegetation which grows by the Lobos River.

The riverbank forests are along the banks of rivers and other bodies of water. They act as ecological corridors, providing rich, diverse habitats for a wide range of species. These forests play a key role in the filtering of sediments and pollution. They help prevent erosion and contribute to the nutrients cycle. The plants in these forests are distributed in rows, according to their moisture needs, with the vegetation that needs the most water being closest to the bank.

The display has four boxes. Spin them to see different plants that grow in the riverbank forests.

Bulrush are perennial aquatic plants which grow in moist habitats. They have historically been used in different cultures to make baskets and other artisan products, such as chairs. Despite its benefits, in some regions it can become an invasive species, meaning it needs to be managed in order to maintain ecological balance.

White willow is a willow species which is commonly found in moist areas and along rivers. This shrub or small tree has narrow leaves which are light green on top and silvery on the bottom. It is a dioecious species, with male and female flowers on separate plants. This willow has been traditionally used for medicinal means, standing out due to its anti-inflammatory and painkilling properties.

Go around the left side of the display, to the back of it. Here, you will find a display with stuffed otters.

Otters are semi-aquatic mammals with a dense water-repellent coat. They are skilled swimmers and carnivorous hunters that mainly eat fish, crustaceans and other aquatic animals.

This species are bio-indicators of environmental quality, due to their sensibility to factors like air and water pollution. The abundance of otters in an area provides valuable information about the general health of an ecosystem.

If you follow the back of the display to the left, you will come to two other displays with models of two birds that live in this area: the European bee-eater and the booted eagle.

Go back to the other end of the display. The audiovisual room entrance is opposite it.

Inside, a 3D documentary called "The Kings of the Night" is shown. It lasts 5 minutes and is about a nocturnal animal that can be found in the Nature Park: Chiroptera, commonly known as bats.

Exit the audiovisual room. To the right, at the back of the room, there is an area where other Park Visitors’ Centres in the Network of Protected Nature Areas. These posters hanging here are changed periodically.

There is a traditional beehive, like the ones beekeepers used in the past. You can get close and touch it. It is a short, hollow trunk with logs and branches inside for the bees to build their honeycomb.

To the left of the beehive, there is a small door on the lower part of the wall. Open it to see a real hive built in the wall of the centre. On the other side of the hive, an opening allows the bees to come in and out.

Go back to the stairs and go down to the second floor. Continue to the end of the corridor.

Both sides of the corridor have doors which lead to rooms with travelling exhibitions. The door at the end of the corridor leads to the library. It is dedicated to the botanist, Antonio Segura, and it has a lot of his documents on his herbarium.

In the middle of the room, there are two large, wooden, rectangular tables. On the table there are a number of stuffed animals, mainly birds.

To the right of the library, there is a door which leads to the mycology library. This room has one of the largest collections of forest fungi samples in Spain.

Go back to the stairs and down to reception.

This audio track ends your visit to the "Lobos River Canyon" Nature Park Visitors’ Centre, where you have learned a little more about the landscapes, flora and fauna in the region.

If you wish to receive more information, go to the reception desk or consult any of the visitors’ centres employees.

Thanks for your visit.