Peñalara from Puerto de Cotos

From the car park at the Puerto de Cotos a broad track climbs through Scots pine past the Mirador de la Gitana. Above the trees the path zigzags up the open slope to Dos Hermanas, two rounded tops, and follows the wide ridge north to the summit of Peñalara, 2,428 m, above the glacial cirque and its small lakes. Return the same way.

It is 10.5 km there and back with 603 m of climbing; allow about 4½ hours. The grade is Moderate: a forest track, then a stony path on open ground with no shelter from wind or sun.

The massif has a daily limit of 945 visitors and the Cotos car park one of 250 cars. When it is full no more are let in, so arrive early, above all at weekends. Keep to the marked paths, keep dogs on a lead and stay out of the lakes.

In winter this is a high-mountain route that needs ice axe, crampons and the skill to use them: the national park advises the inexperienced against it. The railway from Cercedilla to Cotos has been closed for works since 2024, so do not count on the train.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.