Ruta dos Muíños do Folón e do Picón A Hidden Gem Hike in Galicia

The stone mills of Galicia are a treasured cultural icon of the region’s history. Many of these mills in Galicia can be seen along rivers, on hillsides, and the routes of the Camino de Santiago.

Tucked away in the southwest corner of Galicia, not far from the Minho River are the Muíños do Folón e do Picón, the Mills of Folón and Picón. These historical stone mills are connected by a scenic hiking trail on the slopes of the hillside. Along the trail find waterfalls, streams, rivers, and incredible viewpoints.

The Ruta dos Muíños do Folón e do Picón offers a chance to walk by 67 old stone mills. Some of these mills date back to the 17th and 18th centuries, making the Muíños do Folón e do Picón a cherished cultural site.

The Ruta dos Muíños do Folón e do Picón is a fairly easy to moderate hike, but the rewards are grand. This is one of my favorite hikes I’ve done in Galicia.

This guide to Muíños do Folón e do Picón includes how to get to the trailhead, what to expect hiking the trail, and some tips to make the most of the area.

Here’s why you should hike the incredible Ruta dos Muíños do Folón e do Picón.

Table of Contents

Disclosure: This is part of my Hikes & Adventures series, which means these treks can be strenuous and challenging. These are my experiences and I am not an expert. Please have all the proper equipment, verify the weather conditions, use professional resources, do your own research, be mindful of constantly changing trail conditions, and take into consideration your own physical abilities and/or limitations. These guides are for entertainment purposes only. Please see my full disclosure for more information here.

• How to Visit the Incredible Muíños do Folón e do Picón
• Trailhead of Ruta dos Muíños do Folón e do Picón
• Muíños do Folón e do Picón Hike Statistics
• What to Expect on the Ruta dos Muíños do Folón e do Picón
• Is the Ruta dos Muíños do Folón e do Picón Worth Visiting?
• Where to Next in Galicia?
• Conclusion | The Breathtaking Ruta dos Muíños do Folón e do Picón

How to Visit the Incredible Muíños do Folón e do Picón

To reach the Ruta dos Muíños do Folón e do Picón it’s essential to have a car. The trailhead is quite isolated and follows small local roads. I added this stop as part of my southern Galicia road trip. I spent a few days in Santiago de Compostela and then picked up my car near the Santiago de Compostela Airport. From Santiago de Compostela, it took me just under two hours to reach the trailhead.

The Stone Mills of Folón and Picón are found in the O Rosal Municipality of the Pontevedra province. It’s not far from the village of A Guarda. I think A Guarda is the perfect place to spend the night.

Near the trailhead, find a small parking lot. There is no fee to access the Muíños do Folón e do Picón hiking trail.

Nearby Cities / Towns

These are some nearby cities and towns that make a great base to access the Muíños do Folón e do Picón.

• Tui is a hilltop city found on the banks of the Minho River and is a significant stop on the Camino Portuguese central route with its famous cathedral. Tui is around a 35-minute drive to the trailhead.
• Baiona is a historical city found along the Ría de Vigo known for its stunning Castle of Monterreal. Baiona is around a 35-minute drive to the trailhead.
• A Guarda is only a 15-minute drive away from the trailhead and is a fantastic seaside city with the famous Castro de Santa Trega, Celtic ruins that date back to the 1st century.

The Miño River (Minho River) acts as a natural border with Portugal, so the site is also easily accessible from the north of Portugal.

Trailhead of Ruta dos Muíños do Folón e do Picón

The trailhead of Ruta dos Muíños do Folón e do Picón is found right across from the parking lot. The facilities are amazing and include a water fountain, toilets, picnic tables, and garbage and recycling bins. With its fantastic services, some caravan travelers spend the night here.

The trailhead provides a detailed route description and a Visitor’s Center. The hours here are quite limited, so don’t rely on it to be open. The Concello of O Rosal has a fantastic website to help plan a visit.

The Ruta dos Muiños is a loop trail and I started the trail from the Visitor’s Center. This makes a clockwise loop back to the parking lot. This option starts with the Folón mills, moves past the waterfall, and continues to the interesting Carreira da Cereixeira mills. There’s an option to visit the San Martiño hermitage or continue to the Picón mills. After the Picón mills, follow the trail back to the parking lot.

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Muíños do Folón e do Picón Hike Statistics

Here are the official hiking statistics for the Ruta dos Muíños do Folón e do Picón

• Official Trail: PR-G 94 Ruta dos Muiños do Folón e do Picón
• Trail Markers: yellow & white blazes and wooden signboards
• Distance: 3.3 Km (2 miles)
• Duration: +/- 2 Hours
• Official Trail map by the O Rosal Tourism Board

For me, I added the out-and-back trail to the San Martiño chapel. This adds about a half mile each way, so it’s an extra mile. This was my official hiking statistics for this trail.

🥾 Muíños do Folón e do Picón with San Martiño Hermitage | Distance: 5.5 Km (3.4 miles) | Duration: 2 Hours

What to Expect on the Muíños do Folón & Picón Route

The Ruta dos Muiños do Folón e do Picón is a fantastic hiking trail that provides a glimpse into the past. The stone mills in Galicia have always played an important role in grain production. The mills were used for several purposes, including grinding, storage, and stables.

These 67 stone mills are by far the largest concentration of mills in Galicia (as far as I can tell).

If you start from the recommended Tourist information Center, it’s found inside the first official mill.

The trail is fairly well-marked with yellow and white signboards and blazes, but it’s always nice to have an offline map. There are different trail options and not always a single route option near the mills.

Folón Mills

The first section of the trail follows past a few stone mills. There are small wooden bridges and trickling streams. There is also a nice forest section.

The first major cluster of stone mills is found along the Folón River. It’s great because you walk alongside them and see how the system works. Find a signboard here with information about the route.

Afterward, you’ll cross the Folón River and the Folón Waterfall. I visited during the winter months, so I was able to see the waterfall during its prime season.

Carreira da Cereixeira Mills

After the waterfall comes some of the most scenic mills. These mills are referred to as Muíños da Carreira da Cereixeira and they almost appear to look like a waterfall flowing down the hillside.

Approaching the top of these mills provides some incredible views of Monte de Santa Trega and the Minho River. It’s also a nice view of the Folón Waterfall with the rolling hillsides.

Once at the top, there are numerous viewpoints and the chance to add on the San Martiño Hermitage.

Ermita de San Martiño Add-On

There is a deviant route to take the out-and-back trail to the Ermita de San Martiño. The path is marked, but not as well as the main route. Take a left to follow the signs to Ermita de Martiño. If you don’t wish to take the detour, follow the trail to the right.

The trail is a moderate ascent to the small hilltop chapel. While the chapel isn’t so spectacular, the views and trail to the destination are nice. This section of the trail also sees fewer hikers, so it offers a quiet place to reflect and appreciate the views.

This is the highest point of the hiking route at an elevation of almost 1,050 ft (320 m).

🥾 Ermita de San Martiño Out & Back Trail Main Route | Round-Trip Distance: 1.6 Km (1 mile) | Duration: +/- 30 minutes

On the way back down, I missed my turn so be careful as there are tons of unmarked biking trails. I was able to rejoin the main route but had to utilize my offline map. Just be mindful when returning to the trail.

Picón Mills

Rejoin the trail near the top of the Carreira da Cereixeira mills. Head to the right to follow the trail markers to the Picón mills. There are a few random mills en route to the main cluster of Picón mills.

From the top of the Picón Mills is one of the best views of the entire area. The views of Monte de Santa Trega and where the Minho River flows into the sea are unmatched. Maybe I am biased as I arrived at this spot as the sun was starting to go down and the afternoon light was breathtaking.

Follow the mills and stream along the descent. There are lots of rocky pathways and what appear to be ruts carved into the rocks from the old carriages. It’s easy to see the importance this site had on the area hundreds of years ago.

There are few picnic tables near the bottom of these mills, making an ideal space to picnic.

Continue on the route past a mural of the famous mills. Across from the mills is also a restaurant, Restaurante Casa da Pintora. If it’s open stop in for a bite, or follow the route back to the parking lot.

Is the Ruta dos Muíños do Folón e do Picón Worth Visiting?

The Ruta dos Muíños do Folón e do Picón is a super interesting and beautiful hiking route in Galicia. As it is harder to reach and a little off the beaten path, it remains a hidden gem.

The Ruta dos Muíños do Folón e do Picón is worth visiting whether or not you find the stone mills fascinating. The natural landscapes and views of the mountains and rivers are stunning.

With its waterfalls, history, and cultural importance, the Folón e do Picón Mills hike is worth doing! The best part is this relatively moderate hike can be appreciated in around 2 hours.

Where to Next in Galicia?

Again, the Ruta dos Muíños do Folón e do Picón is a little off the beaten path. It is not directly on a Camino de Santiago route, so it’s best to rent a car and incorporate it as a day trip. The closest city is A Guarda, which is found on the Camino Portugués Coastal Route.

➤ I think A Guarda is a fantastic place to base for hiking the Folón and Picón Mills. It’s a short 15-minute drive and is home to the Castro hilltop ruins of Santa Trega. A Guarda offers a charming village, a lovely seaside stroll, and numerous places to stay for every type of budget.

➤ Alternatively, follow the coast and head north to Baiona. This medieval city has the Castle of Monterreal which is now a Parador Hotel. Even if you don’t stay in the hotel, the walk around the fortress is incredible. During the summer months, Baiona offers ferries to the Cíes Islands, one of the most incredible places to see in Galicia.

➤ Another incredible hiking route to see the stone mills in Galicia is the Ruta da Pedra e da Auga. This literally translates to the Route of Stone and Water and boasts 33 stone mills. The hiking path follows along the Rego da Armenteira and is blessed with small waterfalls and water mills that twist through an incredible forest. The trail connects Armenteira village and Barrantes (Ribadumia) and is easily accessible from Cambados. This route is also included as part of the deviant route of the Camino Variante Espiritual of the Camino Portuguese.

Conclusion | The Breathtaking Ruta dos Muíños do Folón e do Picón

In short, this is a quick hiking guide to the incredible Ruta dos Muíños do Folón e do Picón. This stunning trail is found in the Concello O Rosal of the province of Pontevedra. The route is not far from the village of A Guarda and the Minho River.

This spectacular hiking trail offers a chance to walk by 67 stone mills that were important in old grain production. Today, these mills are considered a significant cultural interest.

The mills are found scattered along slopes of the hillside next to rivers, streams, and waterfalls. This creates a spectacular hiking trail that is not only filled with history but also beauty. The viewpoints on the path boast views of Monte de Santa Trega and the mighty Miño River.

Although a little out of the way, the Muíños do Folón e do Picón are worth visiting. The hiking trail is memorable and can be completed in around 2 hours.

Have you visited the stone mills of Folón and Picón? Did you hike the loop? Did you enjoy this area as much as me? Is there anything that needs updating in this hiking guide? Let me know in the comments below!

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