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Circo y cima de Peñalara

Treks / Spain

Peñalara

Spain · Nearest city: Madrid

TypeDay hike
Days1
Distance≈ 10 km
Climbing≈ 600 m
Highest point2,428 m

The highest peak of the Sierra de Guadarrama, an easy escape from Madrid with glacial lakes and wide views.

Fitness Moderate
Best seasonMay to November
High pointPeñalara

Watch out: Snow lingers into spring and winter conditions need proper gear.

Why people choose it

It's Madrid's closest real mountain, with glacial lakes and wide views over the Castilian plain.

What makes it different

  • Highest peak in the Sierra de Guadarrama
  • Glacial lakes on the way
  • Easy trailhead at Puerto de Cotos

Route options

There is rarely just one way to walk Peñalara. These are the main choices people make.

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Before you go

Some of these are affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. We only list services that fit this trek.

Phone and data

Phone plans from the EU and EEA roam here at home prices. Coming from the US, UK or elsewhere? A Europe data eSIM is usually far cheaper than roaming.

Europe eSIM on Airalo

Expect long stretches with no signal on the trail. Download offline maps and our GPX before you start.

Insurance that covers this trek

This trek reaches 2,428 m, and many policies stop covering hiking at 2,000 to 3,000 m unless you add an activity upgrade. World Nomads needs its Level 3 activities above 2,000 m, Heymondo its Adventure add-on above 3,000 m, and SafetyWing's Nomad Insurance covers trekking up to 4,500 m.

Rescue is not the same as evacuation. Travel insurance usually pays to fly you to hospital, but not always for the search and rescue itself. Read the policy's "search and rescue" section.

World NomadsSafetyWingHeymondoTrue Traveller

True Traveller sells only to UK and EEA residents. Always check the altitude limit and your country of residence in the policy wording. Our trekking insurance guide explains what to look for.

Camping and where to sleep

Wild camping is regulated by each region and generally banned in natural parks. Mountain refuges and campsites are the norm.

Rules change and differ between parks. Check with the local park or tourist office before you pitch a tent.

Route map

Download GPX

Map layers load on the live site. Use the overview below meanwhile.

Trail from OpenStreetMap (5.0 km) Start / finish Stop on the way Nearest city

Switch between Topo, Satellite and Street layers with the layer button, and turn on the marked hiking trails overlay. The trail line is the OpenStreetMap hiking route and may differ from the variant you choose. Always carry a proper hiking map on the trail.

Stops: Puerto de Cotos → Peñalara

Simple overview map
Puerto de CotosPeñalaraMadrid25 kmN

Step by step

  1. Months before

    Plan and book

    • No bookings are needed for most people. Choose a day with a good forecast.
    • Best time to go: May to November.
  2. 6–12 weeks before

    Train and test your gear

    • Take the readiness quiz to see how many weeks of training you need.
    • Break in your boots and train with the pack you'll carry.
    • Tick off the packing list to see what you still need.

    Readiness quiz · Packing list

  3. Getting there

    Travel to the start

    • Most people start from Madrid.
  4. On the trail

    Walk it

    • Start early and set a turnaround time. Be back down before the weather turns or daylight fades.
    • Carry water, food, a warm layer and a rain jacket even on a sunny day.
  5. The finish

    Get home

    • It's a one-way route, so plan your transport back from the finish in advance.

How the season changes things

Best time: May to November

April to May

Spring

Fresh green forests and cool, comfortable temperatures. Paths can be muddy.

Bring

  • Waterproof boots
  • Light rain jacket
  • Warm layer

June to August

Summer

Warm and sometimes hot, with thunderstorms and busy weekends at popular viewpoints.

Bring

  • Water and sun hat
  • Rain jacket
  • Go on weekdays if you can

September to October

Autumn

Beautiful autumn colours and quieter trails, with cooler mornings.

Bring

  • Warm layer
  • Headlamp
  • Waterproofs

Be ready for

Snow patches

Early in the season, snow can cover the path on high ground. Microspikes or crampons and some experience make these sections safer.

Hiking boots →

What you'll see

5 photos taken on and around the route by Wikimedia Commons photographers. Tap one to see it bigger.

Circo y cima de Peñalara
Cotos
Near PeñalaraPeñalara (Madrid) - panoramio
Near PeñalaraPeñalara (Madrid) - panoramio
Near Puerto de CotosCamino viejo del Paular - panoramio

Gear for the Peñalara

Hiking boots Top pick: La Sportiva Ultra Raptor 3 Mid GTX Trekking poles Top pick: Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork Rain jackets Top pick: Patagonia Torrentshell 3L

Photo credits: Circo y cima de Peñalara by Miguel303xm, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons; Cotos by No machine-readable author provided. Miguel303xm~commonswiki assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons; Peñalara (Madrid) - panoramio by Carlos Ramón Bonilla…, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Peñalara (Madrid) - panoramio by Carlos Ramón Bonilla…, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Camino viejo del Paular - panoramio by Axel Schlaefer, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Photos resized for the web. Figures are approximate and vary with the variant you choose.