Hike through El Sabinar and the Highlands – The Wind-Bent Soul of El Hierro

Geography and Setting
Located in the wild western highlands of El Hierro, El Sabinar is one of the island’s most iconic landscapes — a plateau of volcanic pastureland dotted with ancient juniper trees (sabinas) twisted and shaped by relentless Atlantic winds. This unique forest lies within the municipality of La Dehesa, a remote and largely uninhabited area bordering the La Dehesa Biosphere Reserve, with views stretching across cliffs and sea toward La Palma and the vast ocean horizon.

Surrounding this grove are highland meadows, windswept ridges, lava fields, and the Malpaso summit (1,501 meters), making the area ideal for hiking and solitude seekers. With fresh air, ever-changing skies, and panoramic silence, the highlands of El Hierro are the island’s most meditative realm.

History and Culture
The sabina trees, once widespread throughout the Canary Islands, have nearly disappeared from many of the other islands due to logging and grazing. On El Hierro, however, these resilient, slow-growing trees have survived for centuries, becoming a symbol of the island’s endurance and isolation.

Traditionally, this area was used for transhumant grazing — shepherds moved livestock seasonally between the highlands and the coast. El Sabinar was a sacred place to the indigenous Bimbache people, and its mystique persists today. One of the most famous sabinas, bent nearly horizontal by wind and photographed by thousands, is seen as the natural emblem of the island.

The highlands also host La Ermita de los Reyes, the sanctuary from which the Bajada de la Virgen de los Reyespilgrimage begins every four years, further tying the region to spiritual and cultural heritage.

Population and Local Life
This area is uninhabited, with only scattered shelters, livestock enclosures, and forest roads. However, it is regularly visited by hikers, shepherds, and conservation workers. Local guides from Sabinosa and Frontera often lead tours through the area, offering insight into the flora, geology, and folklore.

Though you may walk for hours without seeing another person, the paths are well-marked, and the sense of connection to nature — and to the past — is profound. On weekends and in summer, the area sees more foot traffic, but even then, it maintains its stillness and grandeur.

Tourism and Attractions
El Sabinar and the surrounding highlands offer some of El Hierro’s most scenic and symbolic hiking routes. Whether you’re interested in flora, geology, or simply walking in silence, the experience is unforgettable.

Key attractions and trails include:

The Sabina Trail (Sendero de la Sabina): A loop walk of 4–6 km through the juniper groves and across open highland terrain, ideal for photography and nature observation.
Malpaso Summit Trail: For those wanting altitude, a marked route ascends to the island’s highest peak, offering 360-degree views of all of El Hierro.
Route to Ermita de los Reyes: A cultural hike through La Dehesa’s pastures to the island’s most revered sanctuary, with interpretive signs along the way.
El Mirador de Bascos: A dramatic cliffside viewpoint near Sabinosa overlooking El Golfo Valley and the Atlantic, perfect as a trail start or end point.

Wildflowers in spring, mystical fogs in winter, and blazing skies in summer make the landscape change character with every visit.

Transport and Accessibility
The trailheads are best accessed by car, as no public transportation serves the highlands directly. Roads from Frontera, Sabinosa, or El Pinar lead up to parking areas near La Dehesa and Mirador de Bascos. From there, most routes are walkable via marked trails or forest roads.

Although the terrain is not technically difficult, weather conditions can change quickly, especially in winter and at higher elevations. Hikers should carry sun protection, layers for wind and chill, and plenty of water, as services are nonexistent in the area.

Worth to do!
Hiking through El Sabinar and the highlands offers something rare: space, silence, and symbolic beauty. Here are the top experiences:

Walk Among the Wind-Sculpted Junipers
The haunting shapes of the sabinas, bent low by centuries of wind, offer a spiritual encounter with nature and the passage of time.
Reach the Summit of Malpaso
Climb to the island’s highest point for sweeping views over mountains, valleys, and the endless sea — a place to breathe and reflect.
Visit the Sanctuary of La Virgen de los Reyes
A peaceful stop to understand the religious and cultural significance of the landscape, especially if visiting outside Bajada years.
Photograph the Iconic Sabina Tree
Capture one of El Hierro’s most famous natural symbols — a twisted tree silhouetted against the sky, embodying resilience and solitude.
Enjoy Complete Silence and Stargazing
With no artificial light or human noise, this is a perfect location to witness stars or simply sit in quiet communion with the land.

Conclusion
Hiking through El Sabinar and the Highlands is a journey into the essence of El Hierro — untamed, poetic, and profound. It is a place where wind sculpts wood, silence deepens thought, and every step feels ancient. Whether you walk here for nature, solitude, or symbolism, you leave with more than views. You leave with stillness.

Hike through El Sabinar and the Highlands - The Wind-Bent Soul of El Hierro

See also

Roque Nublo and the Mountainous Heart of Gran Canaria - The Island Above the Clouds

La Bajada de la Virgen de las Nieves - La Palma's Sacred Celebration of Faith and Identity

La Palma - The Green Island of Stars and Volcanoes