Sierra de Guadarrama

The Guadarrama runs northeast to southwest between Madrid and Segovia, rising to 2,428 metres at Penalara, and it became Spain's fifteenth national park in 2013 after decades of campaigning; the range has been used for recreation since the late nineteenth century, when the Institucion Libre de Ensenanza promoted mountain walking as education and the first Madrid hiking clubs formed. The landscape is granite and Scots pine, with glacial cirques and lagoons near Penalara, high moorland above the treeline, and Roman and medieval routes crossing the passes. Cercedilla is reachable by commuter train and is the standard car-free base; the mountain railway on to the Navacerrada pass has been closed for works since May 2024, with a bus in its place.

What you'll find

• Penalara - the highest peak at 2,428 metres with glacial lagoons below.
• The pine forests - extensive Scots pine on the slopes.
• The old passes - Roman and medieval routes over the range.
• The Cercedilla railway - a mountain line to the Navacerrada pass, closed for works since May 2024.

When to go

May to June for flowers and long days, September to November for autumn colour and clear air; winter brings snow and skiing at Navacerrada and Valdesqui. Summer weekends bring very heavy traffic from Madrid.

Before you go

Popular trailheads including Penalara operate parking quotas that fill early at weekends. Weather changes quickly at altitude and winter conditions in the range are serious. Trains and buses from Madrid are crowded on weekend mornings.

Nearby

La Pedriza lies east; Segovia and La Granja are on the far side of the range.

Key facts