Top Ten Hikes



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Here are our ten favourite walks, listed in alphabetical order. Many of these hikes are easily accessible from Granada, either by car or public transport.

Note that although these are our favourites, we recommend all of the walks on the website, so use the “Search for hikes” on the right of the page to find more options.

Instituto Geográfico de EspañaPlease note that the information sheets provided for download may not be altered or sold. Topographic base maps © Instituto Geográfico Nacional de España, original scale 1:25,000.

List of Hikes: Top Ten Hikes

Beas de Granada – Granada

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16 km   4-5 h   385m   Medium   Medium   Medium    

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Following the crest of the ridge between Beas and Granada, this walk has some of the best views of the full length of the Sierra Nevada mountains to be had anywhere. It is particularly spectacular in winter, when you can see all of the snow-capped peaks, from El Caballo in the west to Picon de Jerez in the east. As it takes you right back into the heart of Granada, it’s the perfect walk if you’re staying in the city. The shepherds who established this old right of way certainly knew how to pick a good route!

Cahorros

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8 km   2 h 30 mins   400 m   Medium   Easy   Medium    

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With its wild flowers, fruit trees heavy with apricots, almonds, cherries, apples and pomegranates, a cascading river and lavender, thyme and rosemary, the lush Monachil valley is a beautiful area for walking. Kids will love the hanging bridges and the dramatic gorge, and this walk is particularly recommended when the flowers are out in spring and when the leaves turn gold in autumn.

Cañada Sereno

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12 km   3 hours   358m   Easy   Easy   Easy    

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Great family walk with a lovely meadow where you can stop for a picnic half way round. Stone benches with fantastic views mean that there are plenty of places where you can stop for breather. Refill your water bottles at the source of the River Darro, one of the two rivers that run through Granada.

Cruz de Víznar

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5.8 km   2 hours   345m   Medium   Easy   Easy    

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The Cruz de Viznar (“Viznar Cross”) is planted on a small but prominent hill, just far enough away from the Sierra Nevada to give you amazing views of the whole mountain range. The climb up is steady rather than steep, and the effort it takes to get to the top is richly rewarded. Makes a lovely evening walk, when the soft light brings out the subtle colours of the surrounding mountains.

Puente Palo Loop

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13.5 km   4 hours   544m   Medium   Easy   Medium    

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A varied circuit that takes you through the dense forest, orchards and idyllic pastureland of the western Alpujarras. There is welcome shade as you climb up at the start of the walk, but after you reach the highest point of the walk there are lovely views over the Órgiva valley, the Rules reservoir and the hills beyond. If you’re staying in one of the villages in the Poquiera gorge, this is just a very short drive away in the next valley.

Río Verde

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14 km   5h 30min   1025m   Hard   Hard   Medium    

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This walk takes you down into a dramatic gorge where you can take a refreshing dip in the lovely green waters of the Rio Verde. In the gorge, peaceful pools alternate with waterfalls and fast-flowing rapids. Before you reach the gorge, the walk descends through a landscape of pine trees and wild herbs, past a fascinating waterfall with calcified tree trunks.

Silleta de Padul

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15 km   5 hours   733m   Hard   Easy   Medium    

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In Spanish the word silleta can refer to a saddle, and when you get near the top of this striking mountain it’s easy to see how it got its name. The walk up through the pine forest is steep, but you are rewarded with spectacular 360° views of the Sierra Nevada, the Sierras de Alhama, Tejeda y Almijara, Granada and the nearby towns of Dílar and Dúrcal. The return route skirts around the mountain before descending more gently back to Dílar.

Trevélez – Siete Lagunas

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17.5km   7h 30min   1500m   Hard   Medium   Easy    

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Nestled high up in the Sierra Nevada, the green meadows around the Siete Lagunas, or seven lakes, provide a vivid contrast to their barren and desolate surroundings. The long climb up from Trevélez in the Alpujarras makes a great day walk, but the strategic location of the lakes means that they are also a favourite camping area for hikers heading for Mulhacén and Alcazaba, which tower over them.

Trevenque

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16 km   5h 30min   928 m   Hard   Hard   Medium    

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Although by no means one of the highest mountains in the Sierra Nevada, the striking peak of Trevenque is recognised as a tough climb due to the rugged and steep final ascent. At the summit you will be rewarded with 360° views of Veleta, the Sierra Nevada ski station, and surrounding mountain ranges including the Sierras de Alhama, Tejeda y Almijara, Sierra de Huétor and Sierra Elvira. It’s no wonder that Trevenque is known locally as the “King”. The walk returns through the beautiful river Dilar valley.

Vereda de la Estrella Loop

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22.5 km   7 hours   1008m   Hard   Medium   Medium    

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This route incorporates one of the classic hikes of the Sierra Nevada, the Vereda de la Estrella, but rather than going out and back the same way, it forms a circuit using a higher path on the other side of the valley, giving you a more open view of the rugged north faces of the three highest peaks in the mountain range – Mulhacén, Veleta and Alcazaba. A long walk, but well worth the effort. The scenery in this deep valley is stunning, and the Vereda de la Estrella path, originally built to access the Estrella copper mine, is a feat of engineering. If the full walk seems too much, it’s still worth considering going part way along the main path.