Senda Do Rio Negro Short & Stunning Hiking Trail from Os Muiños
The Senda do Rio Negro is a fabulous short walking trail that connects the tiny village of Os Muiños and the white sand beaches of Praia de Area Maior. The hiking trail is close to the charming fishing village of Muxia, which is found on Spain’s epic Death Coast in the Autonomous Community of Galicia.
The Senda do Rio Negro follows alongside the small river and boasts all of Galicia’s best features: old stone mills, moss-covered rocks, and flowing streams covered in bridges. A majority of the pathways follow a lovely wooden walkway. Those who wish to continue to the sandy beach cove can continue along a grassy path. The best views of Praia de Area Maior Beach are on the way down.
This quick hiking guide explains how to reach the Senda do Rio Negro trailhead, photo inspiration, and the best ways to include this hike when visiting Praia de Area Maior Beach.
Here’s all you need to know about the Senda do Rio Negro hike.
Table of Contents
- Where is the Rio Negro Hiking Trail?
- How to Visit the Senda do Rio Negro Route?
- Senda do Rio Negro Map & Overview
- Official Trailhead for Rio Negro Route
- What to See Along the Rio Negro Mill Route
- How to Reach Praia de Area Maior Beach
- Enjoy Praia de Area Maior
- What to Do from Os Muiños Beach
- Conclusion | Overview of the Beautiful Senda Do Rio Negra Route
Where is the Rio Negro Trail?
The Rio Negro trail connects the village of Os Muiños and the sandy beach of Area Maior Beach near Muxia Spain. Muxia is one of two ending places for those pilgrims walking the Camino Finisterre Muxia.
The short and fairly easy trail follows along the Negro River. Although you could walk from the beach along the trail, the trail is easier to access and find from Os Muinos village.
How to Visit the Senda Do Rio Negro Route?
The trail is a short detour for pilgrims walking the Camino Finisterre Muxia who walk towards Muxia first. Pilgrims can opt to stay on the original Camino route or take the river trail to spend time at the beach. Be mindful that the Camino Muxia does not pass by Os Muiños Beach.
Alternatively, if visiting Muxia as part of a Galicia road trip, it’s easy to find a parking spot in the tiny village of Os Muiños.
Senda do Rio Negro Map & Overview
This is a basic overview of the Senda do Rio Negro hike route.
- Point to Point Trail
- This map follows the route from Os Muiños to Praia de Area Maior Beach
- Official Trail Markers: The route has an official trailhead signboard and then follows along the designated pathways. To reach the beach you’ll need to check in with an offline map
- Difficulty: Easy- Moderate, the section to the beach is not marked and has a fairly steep descent along a grassy hillside
- The trail combines stairs, wooden ways, roadways, and grassy paths. Take care of your ankles, knees, and footing. It could be challenging during rainy bad weather
- One-Way Distance: .8 miles (1.3 KM)
- Excursion Duration: +/ – 30 minutes, but on a sunny day plan in time to relax at the beach!
🥾 Add on Hike At the End: Praia de Area Maior Beach – Muxia | 2.5 miles (4 KM) | +/- 1 Hour
Official Trailhead for Senda do Rio Negro Route
The official Trailhead for the Rio Negro Hike Route is found near the village of Os Muiños. There is a small wooden signboard that steers hikers to the path.
What to See Along the Rio Negro Mill Route
There is plenty to see along the Mill Route near Os Muiños.
Follow the road until you arrive at the staircase. Here, head down the stairs and find a small picnic area and a water fountain. Load up on water and take in the first view of the typical stone mills. There is not fountain at the beach.
After that, the trail is a mixture of dirt paths and wooden walkways that twist through the moss-covered forest. There are a few stone mills that have been restored, and it’s possible to cross the river along the wooden bridge.
As you continue along the river, the trail inches closer to the cove of the beach. Cross the stone bridge to see the final mill.
The beach moves with the tide, and I’ve never visited where you can exit the Ruta Rio Negro from the path to the beach. In winter and after high rains, the river will be too high and dangerous to wade. The route is also extremely overgrown, and there is no direct trail. I found it best to follow the forest path uphill that runs above the beach.
How to Reach Praia de Area Maior Beach
Take the uphill path on the left side of the river. As you continue up, notice the stonewall on your right-hand side.
After the uphill jaunt, follow alongside the road for a short walk and take the first right. On a clear day, you’ll see glimpses of the beach.
After that, take the downhill grassy path to reach the outskirts of Praia de Area Maior Beach. I think this route is best too because of the amazing views of the beach on a clear day.
Enjoy Praia de Area Maior
The white sandy beach of Os Muiños is known as Praia de Area Maior. The beach sits in a cove, so the waters here are usually calmer than on more exposed beaches. Praia de Area Maior is surrounded by scenic dunes, making the waterfront incredibly scenic.
Praia de Areaa is worth a visit. It is one of the best-unspoiled beaches to relax, explore, and swim on the Costa da Morte. Remember the beach is highly affected by the tides.
This is a rustic beach with no bathroom facilities. There is a simple shower to rinse feet and a garbage near the parking lot.
What to Do After Os Muiños Beach
There are four main options on what to do next.
1 | Out & Back Trail
Leave the beach the same way you came out and make the route an out-and-back trail. Once you’ve followed the trail to the beach, it’s much easier to find the route up the hillside.
2 | Rejoin the Camino Muxia
If you are walking the Camino Muxia, it’s easy to rejoin the Camino route. Simply depart the beach and follow the main road that cars would take to the beach. The first Camino markers are found here right before the route takes pilgrims to the lovely San Xiao de Moraime Monastery.
If the monastery is shut, there is a great place to grab a drink or meal across the street at La Taberna de Moraime.
The blue and yellow arrows lead pilgrims into Muxia, where the 0.0 KM can be found in front of the A Ferida sculpture. This moving sculpture honors the solidarity of the communities who cleaned up one of the worst oil spills in history.
🥾 Praia de Area Maior Beach – Muxia | Distance: 2.5 miles (4 KM) | Duration: +/- 1 Hour | Add half a mile to reach the 0.0 KM
I love sleeping in Muxia and have had amazing stays in Albergue Bela Muxia and have others rave about their time in Hotel de Encanto A de Loló.
3 | Camino dos Faros
Alternatively, you could follow the Camino dos Faros from Os Muiños Beach to Muxia. Simply follow the green arrows which hug closer along the coastline and can be seen near the wooden boardwalk.
4 | Return on the Main Road
Another option is to head to the main road and walk back alongside the road to where you parked your car. It’s a short walk on the road to reach Os Muiños.
Conclusion | Overview of the Beautiful Senda Do Rio Negro Route
In conclusion, this is a quick overview of the scenic Senda do Rio Negro hike. This short hiking trail is close to the village of Muxia, a popular ending point of the Camino de Santiago.
Although less than a mile long, this trail connects the village of Os Muiños to one of the best sandy beaches of the Costa da Morte, Praia de Area Maior. The trail includes a walk along a lovely river, old stone mills, forests, and stone bridges, and ends at the beach.
For those walking the Camino Muxia, it can be a quick add-on to the daily stage. Alternatively, it’s easy to walk from Muxia or drive to the trailhead in Os Muiños.
Either way, the Senda do Rio Negro hike is a fabulous easy hike to see some of the best highlights of Galicia Spain.
Have you hiked the Senda do Rio Negro hike as a standalone hike or as an add-on to the Camino Muxia? Are there any updates I need to know about? Let me know in the comments below!
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