Vereda de la Estrella

About Vereda de la Estrella

The path takes its name from the Minas de la Estrella, one of several mines worked in the upper Genil valley until the 1950s. It starts at Barranco de San Juan (1,175 m), where the San Juan stream meets the Genil at the edge of the Sierra Nevada National Park. Chestnut, oak and maple shade the first hours.

A wooden bridge crosses the Genil, and a short climb leads to an almost level path. After 30 minutes it passes El Abuelo, a huge twisted chestnut, and after an hour the meeting of the Vadillo and Genil. Soon after, the bend called El Viso gives the first view of the north faces of Alcazaba and Mulhacén. The path continues past the Probadora and Estrella mines, crosses the Guarnón on a rustic bridge and reaches El Real. The park's loop climbs to the Refugio del Calvario and returns down the Cuesta de los Presidiarios: about 19 km and six and a half hours.

Many walkers go only as far as the Estrella mines and return the same way, about 14 km with some 400 m of ascent. Access is free. The small car park at Barranco de San Juan fills at weekends, and the narrow road from Güéjar Sierra takes 20 minutes. Some sections run above steep drops, and side streams can rise after rain or snowmelt. The first stretch to El Abuelo suits families.

Autumn, when the chestnuts turn gold, is the classic season; May and June bring waterfalls. Avoid snowy or stormy days and carry 2 litres of water.

Vereda de la Estrella in pictures

What you’ll find

• Car parkParkingFree
• Circular routeLoop trailFree
• Family friendlyEasy for childrenFree
• Free accessFree visitFree
• HikingWalking routeFree
• ViewpointScenic viewpointFree

Nearby places to visit

The Genil valley road leads back to Güéjar Sierra, home to La Araña, one of the longest via ferratas in Andalucía, and on to the edge of Granada: the gorge walk of Los Cahorros de Monachil is 13 km south-west and the mountain restaurant Ruta del Veleta in Cenes de la Vega 13 km west. Road cyclists can tackle the Pico Veleta Road Climb, which starts 10 km away in Pinos Genil, while the Alhambra and Generalife and the Sacromonte Abbey are 17–18 km west for an afternoon in the city after the walk.