Font Roja Natural Park protects a mountain holm-oak forest in the Menejador range, between Alcoy and Ibi. Hiking trails start at the Font Roja sanctuary and lead, among other places, to the summit of Menejador (1356 m), a completely different side of the region from the beaches.
Font Roja Natural Park is a protected mountain area in the Menejador range, inland in the province of Alicante, between Alcoy and Ibi. It was declared a natural park on 13 April 1987 and covers about 2298 ha, most of it within the municipality of Ibi. The name “carrascal” refers to the holm-oak (carrasca) forest that covers the slopes. Higher up, above about 1250 m, there are also deciduous trees such as Portuguese oak (quejigo), ash, maple and yew. The highest point of the park is the summit of Menejador, at 1356 m. Wildlife includes wild boar, genets, badgers and wildcats, and among the birds Bonelli's eagle, peregrine falcon, eagle owl and griffon vulture. Stone snow wells (cavas), once used to store snow, survive on the slopes, and the snow trade was especially important here in the 18th century. The heart of the park is the area around the Font Roja sanctuary, dedicated to the Virgen de los Lirios (Our Lady of the Lilies), patron saint of Alcoy. According to tradition, white lilies bearing images of the Virgin were found here in 1653, and the present sanctuary was inaugurated in 1891. Next to it is the Font Roja Natura environmental education centre, and the recreation area has parking, picnic tables, drinking-water fountains, a wheelchair-accessible toilet and a bar. A paved road leads to the sanctuary, which can be reached by car, bike or bus. Trails start from here, including an easy route to the Font del Rossinyol and Font dels Xops springs (about 4 km), a route through the Barranc de l'Infern gorge (about 5 km, medium difficulty) and the route to the summit of Menejador (about 8 km, medium to hard). The summit looks out over the interior of the province and, on clear days, the sea. It is a completely different side of the region from the beaches: inland forest and mountains. In autumn the leaves of the deciduous trees change colour, which makes it a particularly good season for walking and photography. Visitors praise the views and the routes.
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