Sierra de Hontanares. Loop

Estimated time: 4.5 h.

Altitude difference: 640 m.

Distance: 18 Km.

GETTING THERE: From Madrid, A-1 motorway direction Burgos. Exit 69 towards Valle del Lozoya (M-604) until Alameda del Valle village. There is parking place going straight downwards near the river. It takes approximately one hour 15 minutes.

DESCRIPTION: From the parking place, a Street and then a track takes us eastwards, paralleled to the river. It’s a wide track signalled as “Camino verde del valle”, and frequented by walkers and cyclist, as well as local farmers. Arriving to the next village, Pinilla del Valle, cross the river and follow the main track. Following it, it takes you through various zig-zags to the top of Sierra de Hontanares by an oak forest (Quercus pyrenaica). At a certain point, signalled by cairns, it comes the moment to find a way to the pass “El Portachuelo”. Once on the top, turning westwards follow the ridge until a geodesic point that marks the top of the Sierra. There starts a big deforested band used to stop forestry fires. Follow it downwards until a pass where a forest track descends. At the refuge “Majada del Cojo”, take the track to the right (the one that descends) and from here, be watchful for a fork in a curve to the left. Through a much natural path you will arrive to Alameda del Valle, and the parking place.

View of the valley towards Peñalara, april 2013.

The route can be done in a reverse way. Only, after crossing the river in Alameda, at the first junction take the track to the left. The other one also takes you to the refuge, but through a paved track.

Source: La sierra norte de Madrid. El Senderista Editions.

Spring fowls.