Best trails in La Cumbre, Circo and Lagunas Natural Park, Community of Madrid, Spain

The route begins in the parking lot of the port of Cotos towards the north, in the direction of the Alpino Club. Behind this hostel there is a path marked with yellow dots in the pines. Following this path, about 300 m. of unevenness, you reach the hill that forms between Peña Cítores and Dos Hermanas. It is worth going to Peña Cítores to take advantage of this natural balcony from where you can see an amazing perspective of the head of the Eresma river valley, where you can see peaks such as Seven Peaks, Montón de Trigo, La Mujer Muerta and more. to the north the Watchtower. Return to the hill to continue ascending the Dos Hermanas hill, in a terrain without trees and with a gentler slope. From the highest summit of Dos Hermanas, the one to the north, you can see if you look to the south the Long Rope from the Ball of the World to the Iron Heads and if you look north you can distinguish the path that leads Peñalara is marked with large stone milestones that are very useful on foggy days since it is a very wide and poorly defined hill. Descend slightly to the hill and from here face the last ramps until reaching Peñalara, the highest peak in the Sierra de Guadarrama with its 2,428 m above sea level. From this summit you can enjoy excellent panoramic views highlighting the Castilian plateau that extends to the north and if you are lucky and the day is clear you can see the distant Sierra de Gredos to the SW. Continue the route along the line of peaks towards the NNE, in principle without difficulty, until little by little the rope narrows, turning into a ridge that gives access to Los Claveles, where maximum caution must be exercised, especially in winter. This ridge can be avoided by descending a few meters to the left until reaching a more comfortable terrain. Continue along the rope, up to a wide hill. On the right you can see the Black Wall of the Laguna de los Pájaros. Overcome the last cliff to descend to the Laguna de los Pájaros, supplied by a small spring. Follow the route in a southerly direction, following large stone milestones. This part of the itinerary runs through a landscape shaped by the Quaternary ice. Proof of this are the glacial lagoons and moraines. Walk through Cinco Lagunas, from where the path becomes more evident. Ascend to the great moraine from where you can see the Laguna Grande de Peñalara. You can descend directly to the lagoon or follow the moraine to the drainage stream, which you have to cross to continue along the path that descends to the middle of the slope to Puerto de los Cotos or del Paular. This description of the route has been extracted from ProdesTur Segovia Turismo. For more information about all the routes in the southern area of the province of Segovia, the starting points, etc. Check the Segovia Sur tourism page here: https://www.segoviaturismo.es/Show more

Beautiful route that leads through the natural enclaves of the Peñalara glacier circle, to the Laguna Grande de Peñalara, a lagoon of glacial origin and one of the most popular in the Sierra de Guadarrama in the community of MadridShow more

Note: every winter it tends to snow in the area so it is recommended to check the weather forecast beforehand.Show more

Pico Peñalara is the highest mountain near Madrid and Segovia. Due to its proximity to Madrid, it is also a very popular trail and takes place on weekends. If it can be done from Monday to Friday leaving the port of preserves, the experience will be much more pleasant and peaceful. Peñalara is an alpine mountain that is covered with snow every winter. From its top you can see the Laguna Grande de Peñalara as well as several other smaller lakes around it. Just 30 years ago, this area was named a Natural Park for its scenic beauty, flora and fauna.Show more

Beautiful route through the Lozoya Valley, in the Sierra de Guadarrama. It is quite well signposted although it is recommended to pay attention to the AllTrails map and the milestones that are on the way since the path is very rocky it is easy to get distracted. There is no water on the way and it is advisable to use poles on occasion. Minimal shadow during the ascent. The Route begins at the Puerto de Cotos and goes up to the Mirador de la Gitana, from where you can take magnificent photos. This viewpoint owes its name to the gypsy ballads of Lorca and there is a curious sundial there. The path continues through two glacial lagoons that impress with their cold and crystalline waters. The first is the Laguna de los Claveles and the second at a height of 2,170 meters is the Laguna de los Pajaros. Of all the lagoons in the Peñalara Natural Park, it is the one that is at the highest altitude. The best time of year to do the route is in spring. The route is usually under the snow in winter and the frozen lake.Show more

Hiking with a twist! This is a trail for adventurers, if you don't mind getting off the trail sometimes, crossing narrow streams, and getting your boots wet! This is just the hiking trail for you. This trail through the port of Cotos is best enjoyed if accompanied, and you can also start the adventure by taking the Cercanias Train from Madrid to Cercedilla and then an adjoining mountain train from Cerdedilla to Cotos. Give a preview of what you will see on your hiking trail.Show more

Circular Laguna Grande Peñalara-Valle de la Angostura-Sillada de Garcisancho-Refugio Zabala from Cotos. Leave the parking lot and go down to the left along a small path crossing a wide field in which you can contemplate the beauty of the Iron Heads, continue going down and cross the Arroyo de las Guarramillas and Arroyo de las Cerradillas through wooden bridges. In the Angostura Valley, a little downhill slope and then you will arrive on the right bank of the Lozoya River and will continue for a while along this wide path where later you cross the river again and take the Camino de Las Vueltas. Only for a short time and then you will immediately turn left to go up the path that runs parallel to the Peñalara Lagoon Stream (we cross a little further on), go up gradually and cross the M-604 road to just pass the Bridge continue up the path to a wide road junction where you turn right to go to Sillada de Garcisancho to take a snack, here in this beautiful little field. Continue your path by wandering down a bit, then go through the crossroads where you have climbed and continue defrently, a little later cross the Peñalara Lagoon Stream again. Here a trail starts supposedly but it is almost erased and you will have to improvise and intuit where you are going. After passing Arroyo, about 1.5 km of constant climb and then you will arrive at the little field called Las Mesillas and connect with the classic road to go to the Lagoons (PR-15), a little while because you immediately deviate on the left and go up to the Laguna Grande de Peñalara, after a few photos we retrace a piece and turn right to go up the marked path to the Zabala Refuge. Then you will take the classic road (PR-3) down through the Mirador de la Gitana to the Sale of Marcellin to collect our prize and from there to the cars. A beautiful and good alternative to climb the Laguna Grande, the part from the crossing of the Peñalara Lagoon Stream to the link with the PR-15 (the classic climb to the Laguna), I recommend looking for the best and cleanest way that the path that is supposedly there is quite lost.Show more