Sierra Nevada
Sierra Nevada is the highest mountain range in mainland Spain, a national park of glacial lakes, high pastures and bare summits that rise to 3,479 metres at Mulhacén, less than an hour's drive from Granada.
About Sierra Nevada
Sierra Nevada stretches for some 80 kilometres across the provinces of Granada and Almería. Its highest summits, Mulhacén at 3,479 metres and Veleta at 3,398 metres, are the tallest points in mainland Spain, and several other peaks top 3,000 metres. Ice shaped the high ground into cirques and dozens of small glacial lakes, and the range's isolation has produced an exceptional number of plants found nowhere else on earth.
The mountains were declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1986, a natural park in 1989 and a national park in 1999, making them one of the most protected landscapes in Spain. Spanish ibex are a common sight on the rocky slopes, and golden eagles hunt over the high valleys.
How you experience Sierra Nevada depends on the season. In winter and spring the ski resort above Pradollano, in the municipality of Monachil, is the southernmost major ski area in Europe. In summer the snow retreats and walkers head for the summits, the lakes and the long routes that cross the range. On the southern side, the Alpujarra villages of Pampaneira, Bubión and Capileira sit on terraced slopes and make good bases for gentler walks.
Even with only a few hours, the drive up from Granada brings a sudden change of climate and wide views over the Vega de Granada and, on very clear days, towards the Mediterranean.
Sierra Nevada in pictures
Nearby places to visit
Granada lies below the ski area, so the city and the mountain pair easily in a day. Monachil, at the foot of the climb, has the Los Cahorros gorge walk with its hanging footbridges. To the south, the Alpujarra villages of Pampaneira, Bubión and Capileira, and the spa town of Lanjarón, are reached from the Granada to Motril motorway.
Sierra Nevada at a glance
Category
Nature Natural wonders
Location
Vega de Granada, Granada
Town
Monachil
Address
Parque Nacional de Sierra Nevada, Granada, Spain
More places nearby
Other places within 25 km of Sierra Nevada, nearest first.
