The floor of the Barranco del Infierno is a dry gravelly river bed. It rarely contains water except after heavy rains. The geology of the area is so porous that the water quickly disappears underground. The path leading up and out of the gorge can be clearly seen on the other side.
Note: About a km downstream, to the right of this spot, there is a dam called Isbert's Folly. It is not capable of holding back water for more than a few days since the water drains away.