THE Sierra Nevada mountain range, south of Granada, boasts the Iberian Peninsula’s highest peaks. Standing at 3,479m, Mulhacen is the top peak. It is surrounded by Veleta, at 3,398m, Alcazaba at 3,666, and several other 3,000m peaks.
Translating as ‘jagged, snowy mountains’, Sierra Nevada lies between the Vega de Granada, Lecrin Valley and La Alpujarra. The famous Pradollano ski resort, located on the north face of Veleta, is world-famous for its winter sports.
At lower altitudes, the Sierra Nevada proves popular for its ancient network of interconnected trails. These cater for hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders, as well as goat herds.
Mulhacen – the legend
The famous Mulhacen peak takes its name from Abu-I Hasan Ali, known as ‘Muley Hacen’ in Spanish. He was the penultimate Muslim king of Granada in the 15th century. Legend says that he was buried at the summit.
Ranked as the world’s 64th highest peak, Mulhacen is neither dramatic nor steep, and attracts people of all abilities. The south flank is gentle and easy to climb, while the north face is more challenging, and requires a moderately steep ascent. You’ll need the right equipment and possibly a mountain guide. Bear in mind that the air temperature, without wind chill, can dip below -10C in winter. When there’s snow, hikers require crampons, snowshoes, and ice axes.
Reaching the peaks
In summer and autumn, Mulhacén can be climbed in just one day from either Capileira or Trevelez, thanks to transportation close to the peaks (note that the ascent from Trevelez is steeper and more difficult).
During high season, you can catch a bus from the high Alpujarran town of Capileira. This departs the ‘Servicio de Interpretacion de Altas Cumbres’ and runs to the Alto del Chorillo, at 2,700m. The journey takes an hour, traversing forestry roads with panoramic views towards the Costa del Sol, Sierra de Contraveisa, Loma de Canar, Rio Chico, Rio de Trevelez, and – finally – Mulhacen.
The passenger drop-off point lies a 2hr hike below the Mulhacen peak and 1hr above Refugio Poqueira, which offers basic accommodation in shared rooms. You must book everything in advance.
If you want to explore Veleta, the Pradallano ski resort operates a chair lift service in July and August, dropping passengers a 15min walk under Los Pocisiones de Valeta, at 3,100m.
There’s also a bus to Los Pocisiones de Veleta from Hoya de la Mora in Monachil, at 2,700m, generally operating from late June until mid-September. The drop-off point is a mere 45min hike to the Veleta peak. From there, you can hike for 3hrs (each way) to Mulhacen via an “old road”.
Where to stay overnight
- The popular Refugio Poquiera offers basic accommodation with shared rooms and hot meals. Book well in advance.
- People ascending from Trevélez can sleep at the ‘lagunas’ (lakes) to the northeast of the peak in summer.
- The ‘refugios’ providing bivouac shelter near Veleta are called Carihuela, Villavientos and Vivac de las Calderas.
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