SIERRA NEVADA and ALPUJARRAS

We pick for you the best routes of Sierra Nevada and Alpujarras, including the challenging Pico de Veleta well known for cyclists as the highest paved road in all Europe.

Text and images by Escapada Cycling.

Maybe you are tired of heat in Malaga? Maybe you dreamt about Pico Veleta? Actually you don’t need any special reason to go cycling in Sierra Nevada, a natural park with great mountains above 3000 meters just above sea level.

Just one and a half hour drive from Malaga waits area where you can in the same day go skiing and lay on the beach enjoying the sun on Costa Tropical. Just between sea and Sierra Nevada lays lesser known mountain range, Alpujarras. It might be even more interesting for cyclists. Still not a very popular area makes it very quiet, many roads and high mountains makes it real alpine standards.

There are no trains in the area, so the government, in recompense, put more money on the roads, all the time changing tarmac everywhere, even on small roads to almost abandoned white villages. 
All together make it a cycling paradise.

Here’s what you can do when you make a little roadtrip from Malaga:

1: Carretera de la Cabra

Cycling carretera de la Cabra  is just one hour away from Malaga. One of the best loops cyclists can imagine. Carretera de Cabra means the road goats, or goat’s path. It is an old road to Granada, used by fishermans who used to drive to Granda while there was a full moon lighting the dark. Nowadays, there is a big highway in the next valley so almost nobody takes this road, which makes it completely empty. 
The best way is to begin in one of the coastal towns, in Almuñecar or Salobreña, so it’s nice to finish with a long descent just next to the sea after a long day in the mountains. Very long uphill begins with rolling hills through avocado fields, and if you look closely you can see switchbackson slopes of the mountains far away.


It is highly recommended to stop for a coffeebreak and get some tostada in Otivar, even if it can feel it’s too early for it. Otivar is the last town before we enter the national park and get into high mountains and pretty remote areas where we're gonna spend most of the time this day. 
The longest part of the climb finishes next to an old abandoned gas station, probably it was the one with the best view on Costa Tropical. Here we have a chance to catch a breath before the main course of the Carretera de la Cabra loop, the road leads next to spectacular rock formations, where lots of ibexes live and you might see some if you’re lucky.


At the top of the climb waits a big plateau, the very top is at crossroads, and if you like some gravel, there is an option to cut the loop and turn there right, direction Albuñelas, and go all the way down there on very well maintained gravel road with stunning Sierra Nevada view. Classic way goes straight, leading you to super fast descent almost to Granada. Anyhow, if you take gravel or road around, finally you finish in Lecrin Valley. Here you can easily find many bars where you can fuel up again, and then enjoy slightly rolling downhill all the way back to the coast. 
This loop, if you ride it backwards, feels like a completely other ride. It's a less popular way to do it, cause uphill takes forever, but the reward of descending Carretera de Cabra is definitely worth it. Endless switchbacks, perfect tarmac and almost zero traffic makes it one of the best descends on earth. 

see the route in strava

2. Sierra Nevada and Pico Veleta

Sierra Nevada is of course well known from the Pico Veleta, the highest paved road in Europe, leading to the very top of the highest peak of Sierra Nevada, at 3398 m.a.s.l. Theoretically, it's even possible to ride it all the way from the coast, the best option actually is to begin in Granada, from where there is still a lot of elevation to climb. 


Reaching the top is only possible during summertime, when the snow melts. But the fact is, the most beautiful time to ride your bike in Sierra Nevada is one of those clear blue skies days in winter, when there is still a lot of snow around, and if you are lucky you will ride between white walls of snow, and that's a really unforgettable thing to do. Especially when you can turn around, and quickly come back to hot summer. 


In wintertime the road is cleaned only up to 2500 m.a.s.l., to ski resort Pradollano, and last military base. Just after that you there will be a barrier, but no worries, you can jump over it and ride as high as the snow lets you. 


Big road to Pradollano can be busy, especially when the ski season is on, so its better to take it only for a descent, and as an uphill turn to Guejar Sierra and then pick one of the small roads, which finally will make a very nice loop to ride. Keep in mind that it can get very cold at the top, even when it’s pretty hot in Granada, you should take enough warm clothes for the descent!

see the route in strava

3. Alpujarras and Trevelez

There are numerous possibilities to ride in Alpujarras, loop to Trevelez is one of the classic ones.
The road goes on the south slopes of Sierra Nevada, you can easily find fountains with fresh water, and meet very little cars on the way. Uphill through old mines has some steep parts and great views, changing all the time. 


Trevelez, one of the highest white villages in Spain, is well known from the famous Jamon, serrano ham made by many butchers in this little town. It of course makes it the perfect spot for a lunch break on the loop, with many bars offering great food, not only with meat. Descend to Orgiva seems endless, its very fast end even more enjoyable. On weekends you just need to be careful with buses full of tourists heading Jamon Town.


For those who still got enough energy in their legs, it is highly recommended to take a little extra road up to Cañar. One way road to the small shepherd/hippie town is like a small Andalusian Stelvio. It can be sometimes steep, but many tight switchbacks, great panorama and cozy bar at the top makes it totally worth it everytime. 

see the route in strava

4. Haza del Lino

That is probably the most iconic place for cyclists in Alpujarras. When you get there you will totally understand why. Haza del Lino is the top of Contraviesa, the ridge of Alpujarras mountains. Just next to the very top there is a famous bar, of course called Haza del Lino, which makes this climb perfect for cyclists, who can meet there, rest and fuel up. There are many ways to go to the top, a few from the coast, a few from the Guadalfeo Valley. 


Probably the best, both for riding and for the views, is the road through Polopos town. Endless switchbacks, great views and new tarmac makes it a dream road for every road cyclist. If you are lucky with weather it's even possible to see Morocco from the higher part of the Haza del Lino loop. 


Descend to Orgiva leads through vineyards, the steep one to Torvizcon goes through almond trees, making it whole mountain pink while they bloom in early spring. There is even a gravel option if you take a road to Alcazar. For the most brave ones, waits Sierra Lujar, mountain above Haza del Lino, with antennas at the top and small, bit broken, semi gravel road up to 1700 m.a.s.l. with a spectacular 360 degree panorama from the top.

see the route in strava