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Venta Luisa Pass – Velefique climb loop from Sierro

Routes

Venta Luisa Pass – Velefique climb loop from Sierro

Hard

riders

Venta Luisa Pass – Velefique climb loop from Sierro

09:40

107km

2,170m

Gravel riding

Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: August 1, 2026

Waypoints

Start point

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41.0 km

Collado del Conde

Mountain Pass

64.1 km

Sierras de Baza and Los Filabres

Highlight • Mountain Pass

Sierra de Baza and Sierra de Los Filabres are part of a remote mountain range over 2.000m height in the province of Granada and Almería, and the most isolated area of Badlands.

This mountain range was a historic crossroads of cultures, and its legacy includes remains of Roman aqueducts or Arab castles.

At the highest point of the range lies the iconic Calar Alto Observatory (2.168m), easy recognizable from far away.

The range also includes one of the most iconic and spectacular mountain pass in the Iberian Peninsula, el Puerto de Velefique (1.820m), popular by the high number of hairpin in the South side.

The South limit of Sierra de los Filabres reaches the village of Gérgal, considered the North gate of the Tabernas Desert.

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64.1 km

Calar Alto (2,168 m)

Highlight • Summit

The Cuatro Caminos pass is a strategic pass, it ends the important slopes and is key to keeping the route at the average altitude until the Caniles highway. The departure from the protected natural area of the mountain range is notable for the change in environment, there are traces of deforestation and the peaks of the mountain range look like plateaus reminiscent of other latitudes. In the background, the white spheres of the astronomical radars of Calar Alto finally appear, the ceiling of the cycle tour and the main challenge of the day. The route immediately leaves the road that goes down towards Escúllar and continues along the mountain range. The road surface is acceptable until the Loma de las Piedras de Ayala, the ground gets much worse and the slope is considerable, it is two uncomfortable kilometers to the natural viewpoint of the Piedras del Deseo, an inspiring name where there are some corrals and fantastic views of the Gulf of Almería, an arc bluish by the waves of the Mediterranean between Punta Entinas and Cabo de Gata. The track improves significantly, passing through the Pingarra hill and connecting with the road that goes up to Calar Alto. On the ditch there are signs for cyclists with the distance and percentage of the slope. The day we spent there was a blizzard, it was cloudy and we couldn't enjoy the views at all, a shame after the four long hours of climbing. Some souvenir photos, all the clothes on and at full speed to Bacares, a town that seems exiled in a wild and lonely corner of the Sierra de los Filabres, surrounded by ravines and mountains. Passing through the town is not obligatory, the main road passes through the detour, you can see the hamlet that is on the opposite slope and continue the descent towards Tíjola.

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64.3 km

Calar Alto Astronomical Observatory

Highlight • Structure

The Calar Alto plateau is located at an altitude of 2,168 metres, in the heart of the Sierra de los Filabres. Its clear sky allows us to see the stars at night, which is why this peak houses the largest observatory in Europe.

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67.3 km

Venta Luisa Pass

Highlight • Mountain Pass

The Venta Luisa pass rises 1,970 meters above sea level and offers spectacular scenery. It can be climbed from Bacares, Serón or Gérgal.

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78.4 km

Calar Alto Summit and Observatory

Highlight • Summit

highest place in the area

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79.1 km

Velefique climb

Highlight • Climb

A picture-perfect climb that winds around 21 bends for 14km at an average of 6.4%, the Velifique is a mountain you can enjoy climbing without having to suffer too much.

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