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Sierra Nevada

The Sierra Nevada mountain range is the snowy backdrop to Granada city and the Alhambra Palace. The range pushes into Almeria province with the higher peaks all over 3000m in Granada province. Most of these Sierras fall under Natural Park or National Park protection.

Sierra Nevada is the largest National Park in Spain covering 86.208 ha. its highest peak is Mulhacén which reaches 3478m and Pico del Veleta at 3396m.

Snow covered Sierra Nevada copyright Rachel Webb

Experienced walkers can make these summits in a day, a slower option is to take an overnight stop at the Refugio Poqueira which is open all year round.

Almeria airport is about 2 hours by car, Granada airport is 40 minutes and Malaga airport with about a hour drive, all provide easy access to this area and its ski areas. Busses also connect Granada airport with the city and the Sierra.

Sierra Nevada is in a unique position offering you the possibility of ski-ing or snow-boarding in the morning and swimming in the sea of the Costa Tropical in the afternoon – you can have it all.

On its northern side is the Valle de Gaudix and to the South the Alpujarras, an large open valley area described by the Daily Mail(11/01/2003) as the best area in Spain for mountain scenery.

Pradollano - Sierra Nevada copyright Patronato Provincial de Granada

This area is great walking country and an ideal base for exploring the more areas of inland Andalucia. The countryside is made up of almond, olive and orange groves and the higher lands provide spectacular hill walking and trekking with a variety of routes and different aspects, you can choose the flatter valleys or head uphill mountains.

The Sierras are usually capped with snow from late October until May and from many of the higher walks you can see across the deep blues sky to Africa and the Rif mountains of Morocco.

Where to stay

The picturesque town of Lanjarón on the GR7 route is a good base to explore. Stay in Casa del Viento above the town with views to the Mediterranean Sea and go horse riding just a few minutes away by car to explore the slopes.

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