Cercedilla - El Escorial 20090808

Route in Sierra Guadarrama, from Cercedilla to El Escorial through El Espinar valley.

0,0km (at 1165m) – Cercedilla. The starting point of the route is the train station in Cercedilla. It is accessible from Madrid with local trains “Cercanias” from all main train stations: Chamartin, Nuevos Ministerios and Atocha. The ride starts to the north by asphalt road towards Las Dehesas with a climb, until parking area in Fuenfria valley.

3,6km (at 1390m) – Parking area. The route passes through the parking and turns left, up with the asphalt road, and after 100m right to the dirt road. Later continues with the dirt road up until puerta de Fuenfria.

12,7km (at 1785m) – Puerta de Fuenfria. Route turns left and continues fairly flat until next pass. Then crosses a small gate between Madrid and Castilla y Leon provinces to enter El Espinar park, and goes steep down with hiking path, a technical and difficult descent until reaching wide dirt road in the forest. Turns right to the dirt road with a little uphills and later continues around the whole valley through the forest – after short ascent, a nice and fast section starts – until another gate, to exit the park of El Espinar.

34,2km (at 1300m) – Gate of El Espinar. Route reaches asphalt and passes the gate (strangely, the gate was closed and the guard stopped me asking many questions regarding how I entered the park :-/ after some discussion with my terrible Spanish, he finally let me go, uff). Route continues with asphalt to the rest area by the river and there turns left to start a steep climb until N-VI express road.

42,1km (at 1420m) – N-VI express road. Route turns left to the express road and continues climbing for another 1,5km to reach the pass with restaurant and view point on top. A little rest here and route turns right with a dirt road along the ridge, between Madrid and Castilla y Leon provinces. This section offers very nice views to both provinces, including city of Madrid and Cuatro Torres to the south-east. The route climbs up with some hiking paths and in many places is not possible to ride, so I had to carry the bike! The most difficult part of the route, without any water available.

50,2km (at 1760m) – Highest point of this section. The end of most difficult climb, finally :-P The bad path still continues though, and some part still have to be done by foot. To the south and south-east: Valle de los Caidos with huge cross and basilica in the cave! After little descent and ascent part, only downhill is left until Puerta Malagon with wide dirt road.

61,3km (at 1520m) – Puerta Malagon. Route reaches asphalt road again and continues down to El Escorial. After about 2,3km, route leaves asphalt and turns right to the dirt road inside the forest. After another 500m a fun descent starts with a narrow hiking path with many turns. Later with a wider dirt road, route reaches El Escorial and continues, next to the palace and the park, down to the train station.

71,7 (at 930m) – El Escorial train station. Back to Madrid with local train “cercanias” to Chamartin station.

Level is difficult for the distance, overall altitude difference and some “walking” sections. Water is not available for most of the route, so it’s better to carry some more and refill whenever possible: close to Puerta Fuenfria and restaurant on the way. Very beautiful views to all Sierra Guadarrama, Madrid, Madrid city, Castilla y Leon and of course Valle de los Caidos.