La Pedriza and Cueva del Ave María in the Sierra de Guadarrama

This is a circular route starting and finishing in El Tranco (Manzanares el Real). There isn’t a lot of parking space at the start of the route, so it’s best to arrive early if you want to secure a spot nearby. If the main parking area is full, you can usually find additional spaces a little further up the road towards the village.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.40 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 2,123 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 2,100 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 4,688 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 3,169 ft

Description of the walk

Start: El Tranco (Manzanares el Real)

(S/E) The start of the walk is easy enough, going east along a stream, past the Alcornoque del Bandolero (1) (the Bandit's Cork Oak) as far as the Collado del Alcornocal.

(2) From here, the trail goes north to the Collado de la Cueva.

(3) Here, the route takes a detour to visit the Cueva del Ave María before returning to the Senda Maeso, to the north.

(4) Crossing the Gran Cañada, the route continues north along the Cordel del Ortigal (5) to squeeze through the Abrigo.

(6) From there, the route turns west to reach El Elefantito (7) and past the Cinco Cestas.

(7) Once back to the Gran Cañada, the route continues westward but turns slowly south, then southwest to take us back to El Tranco. (S/E)

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 3,169 ft - El Tranco (Manzanares el Real)
  2. 1 : mi 0.6 - alt. 3,448 ft - Alcornoque del Bandolero
  3. 2 : mi 1.14 - alt. 3,694 ft - Collado del Alcornocal
  4. 3 : mi 1.34 - alt. 3,927 ft - Cueva del Ave María detour
  5. 4 : mi 1.74 - alt. 3,947 ft - Senda Maeso
  6. 5 : mi 2.08 - alt. 4,180 ft - Cordel del Ortigal
  7. 6 : mi 2.51 - alt. 4,560 ft - Turn left (west)
  8. 7 : mi 2.82 - alt. 4,688 ft - El Elefantito
  9. 8 : mi 3.24 - alt. 4,281 ft - Gran Cañada
  10. S/E : mi 4.4 - alt. 3,169 ft - El Tranco (Manzanares el Real)

Notes

Part of the route does not align with a designated path on the map, but it remains navigable as recorded.

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The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.