Gorafe Desert

About Gorafe Desert

The Gorafe Desert is the popular name for the badlands along the Río Gor in the north of the Guadix basin, part of the Granada Geopark, a UNESCO Global Geopark since 2020. The basin once held a large lake that filled with sediment; after rivers drained it towards the Guadalquivir, the Gor and its tributaries cut into the soft layers, leaving gullies and ridges banded red, ochre and white.

The best-known sector is Los Coloraos, where a viewpoint overlooks the centre of the desert. The geopark's Ruta Desierto Gorafe is a difficult 23.8 km loop with 753 m of ascent. In the valley below, the Gorafe Megalithic Park holds more than 240 dolmens in 10 necropolises.

Unpaved tracks start at the megalithic park car park on the GR-6100. In dry weather a normal car can reach Los Coloraos with care, but the rougher return loop needs a high-clearance 4×4, and the tracks should be avoided after rain. There are no services, no shade and weak mobile coverage. The viewpoints suit all ages; the full loop on foot or by bike is for fit adults.

Spring and autumn are best, as summer afternoons are very hot. Early and late light brings out the colours. Start at Gorafe's megalithism interpretation centre, or join a 4×4 tour from the village.

Gorafe Desert in pictures

What you’ll find

• Car parkParkingFree
• Hiking trailHikingFree
• ViewpointSightseeingFree

Nearby places to visit

Two freshwater beaches on the Negratín reservoir are close by: Playa de Freila (11 km) and Playas del Negratín (17 km) at Cuevas del Campo, both good for a summer swim after a dusty morning in the badlands. Towards Guadix, the La Inmaculada Cave Museum (30 km) in Purullena is devoted to the area's traditional cave houses. Further north, the Cerrada del Río Castril (35 km) is a walkway through a river gorge below Castril, and the Cueva de las Ventanas (37 km) at Píñar is a show cave with Palaeolithic finds. Gorafe village itself has cave dwellings and the dolmen park on its doorstep.