The best walks and hikes around Navalosa

The Serranillos Pass is one of the most iconic mountain passes in the Sierra de Gredos, famous for its beauty and for being a historic stage in the Vuelta a España (Hinault's legendary stage in 1983). Views of the Cinco Villas Valley and the Gredos peaks. Spectacular scenery throughout the climb. Signage with gradient and remaining distance information. Ideal for linking up with Puerto del Pico, Pedro Bernardo, and Mijares for an epic stage.

The Puerto del Arenal in the Tiétar Valley is a very popular hiking route in the Sierra de Gredos. This route, known as PR-AV 45, connects the Tormes Valley with the Tiétar Valley through the town of El Arenal.

The ridge towards Rubia is full of bizarrely eroded large rock formations

The Puerto del Pico with its viewing point is one of the classics of the Sierra de Gredos, used frequently in the routes of the Vuelta a España. The viewing point offers beautiful views of the Valle del Barranco or Valle de las Cinco Villas. You can also see the layout of the old Roman road that also went up this valley to access the upper part of the Iberian plateau. The road that goes up to the Puerto del Pico on its southern slope is in perfect condition as it is the national road N-502. It is a fast road so you have to be very careful with cars, especially on holidays and vacations.

The Serranillos pass is one of the great classics of the Tour of Spain as it passes through the Sierra de Gredos. As the Vuelta has almost always ended in Madrid, the Gredos and Guadarrama mountain ranges offered very interesting alternatives to trace mountain stages in the last stages. The port of Serranillos is very iconic in the Sierra de Gredos for several reasons: type of port (long and long), rough and irregular road (but in good condition) and dryland landscape with little vegetation (very typical of this inland area of the Iberian Peninsula). The Serranillos port presents many climbing alternatives: - On its eastern side, there are 2 alternatives: from Burgohondo (the classic one, along the main highway AV-913) and from Navalosa along the AV P-419 highway, which joins the previous one in Navarrevisca. - on its west side, is where we will find more alternatives. I have come to count up to 5 alternatives. They are the following: (1) climb through Santa Cruz del Valle, starting from the N-502 and taking the AV p-706 highway, to later reach San Esteban del Valle and from there to the top; (2) leaving Mombeltrán on the AV-922 highway towards San Esteban del Valle and from there to the top; (3) starting from Cuevas del Valle and passing through Villarejo del Valle on the AV P-706 highway, reaching San Esteban del Valle and from there to the top; (4) starting from the N-502, in the middle of the climb to the Pico pass, taking a road that takes us to the Mirador de la Carretera del Sidrillo and to Esteban del Valle, and from there to the top; (5) previously crossing the Pedro Bernardo port on the AV-922 highway Although I have only done alternative 4 on the eastern slope by bike, they are all very similar. The slopes are gentle and the views, as there is little vegetation, cover a lot of territory.

With a little luck you can also meet Iberian ibexes on the Pico. We were lucky and since the ibexes are obviously used to hikers, we were able to approach carefully within a few meters.

A freshwater spring surrounded by incredible scenery

You should definitely stop at the Puerto de Pico pass at an altitude of 1,352 m. There are enough parking spaces. There is also a restaurant on site. The views are spectacular and with a little luck you can see Iberian ibex up here.