Rascafria - Miraflores de la Sierra

Hike from Rascafria in Valle Lozoya, through Puerta la Morcuera, to Miraflores de la Sierra.
There is local bus from Madrid to Rascafria, but only once per day at 8:00am from Plaza Castilla bus terminal. Trip takes about 1h40min.

0,0km at 1150m - Rascafria. Start from bus stop, next to small bridge over mountain spring. By the road in direction to El Paular monastery. Trail passes through recreation/picknick area nex to the river and continues up with dirt road.

6,0km at 1250m - Small crossroads. At this point, there is a sign post to the left in direction to waterfalls, but trail continues straight by the river.

6,9km at 1275m - Sharp left. Trail continues with dirt road and soon eneter forest and offers some shadow.

12,1km at 1510m - Small pass.

13,8km at 1550m - Crossroads. Trails continues straight.

17,1km at 1730m - Refuge and local road M-611. Trail passes next to the refuge and for a moment follows local asphalt road. There is a rest area with spring available on the right - good chance to refill water supplies.

18,6km at 1750m - Puerta la Morcuera, highest point of route. Very nice views to the south. Trail continues with small path and enters forest again.

24,6km at 1275m - Back on dirt roads. Trail gets out of the forest where small path ends and bigger dirt road starts. Following dirt roads all the way to the town.

29,4km at 1100m - Miraflores de la Sierra. Finito and back to Madrid with local bus. I was a bit lucky as it started to rain very heavily the moment I got into the bus! :-P

Level moderate just for the distance. There is no technical difficulties and climb is very easy. It is very much suitable trail for mtb.