The Transnevada biking trail

Spring mountainbiketour

After heavy snow on Thursday we went out to the 2000 m pista for a ride.  The sun was there, but still some snow on the track.  Traces of wildlife everywhere.

Mountain biking in the Alpujarras Sierra Nevada

Michel and Geertje from the Netherlands stayed at our B&B Casa Rural El Paraje early September 2010.
They hired our mountain bikes for one day to explore the valley of the Río de Bérchules. They sent us a few photographs and we though it to would be nice to use this occasion to dedicate an article to the mountain biking possibilities of the Alpujarras and Sierra Nevada.
This photograph was taken close to the origin of the Río Chico which joins with the Río Grande at the Junta de los Ríos from where it is called Río de Bérchules.
There are lots of dirt tracks to use, but as the photo indicates the views need to be earned! Michel and Geertje were fit enough to go all the way to Mecina Bombarón using a small country road to get back to Bérchules and El Paraje.
There are also quite a number of single track possibilities. None of these are waymarked as biking routes.
As we are mountain-bikers and road-bikers, we can show you the nicest trails in the area.



Related articles:
- Alpujarras outdoors activities links list

Related links:

- online brochure of the transnevada trail

The Cork Oak forest of Haza del Lino

When a guest asks for a suggestion for a nice drive to the coast, we always mention the route that passes Cádiar and then follows the GR 5204 to Haza del Lino, from where you go down to the coast passing the tranquil villages of Polopos or Sorvilán. The vineyards and almond and fig groves of the Sierra de la Contraviesa are incredibly beautiful and the views are breathtaking in all directions. Haza del Lino is a small hamlet that breathes both the air of the coast and of the mountains. The popular Restaurante Haza del Lino is a nice place to have a drink or lunch (closed on Tuesdays). For cyclists it is a pretty tour as well (See road map and route profiles) 
We now also have a suggestion for a walk that starts at this crossroads and that goes up the Cerro Salchicha, with an altitude of 1,542 metres the highest peak of the Sierra de la Contraviesa. This walk of 8 kilometres is different from any of the other walks that we offer for various reasons. Firstly because on a clear day you have impressive views of the Mediterranean Sea and secondly because it passes for a large part through a unique Cork Oak forest. The Quercus suber is a type of tree that you can be found in other parts of the Alpujarra, but it is the only Cork Oak forest that is preserved in the eastern part of Andalusia. The trunks of the harvested trees have an attractive rust red colour. When the sun shines on them and you see many of these stripped cork oaks you get the feeling of walking through a fairytail wood. The ´alcornocal´ of  Haza del Lino is the highest Cork Oak forest of Spain and possible of the world.
When you do not feel like climbing the 320 metres to get to the top of the Monte Salchicha you can wander around through this Cork Oak forest following the tracks that you see on our map. They are all broad, easy to find and follow tracks. We turned right at waypoint 03, altough the ´classical routes´ go left at this point. We went down the fire breaks between waypoints 07 and 09, which was the least attractive part of the walk. (here our GPS track) If you do not want to descend on the broad, steep fire lanes you can go back to waypoint 06 and continue straight on from there.
Haza del Lino also has a singular chestnut tree (perimeter of more than 9 metres at the base) which can be found along the road to Órgiva, on our map halfway between waypoints 01 and 02 (see detailed description of the Castaño de Haza del Lino).





Related articles:
- Centro Temático del Vino Alpujárride in Torvizcón

Related links:
- Alpujarras road map
- Road cycling with Vamos Cycling in Cádiar

Related key words: alcornoque, kurkeik, kurkeikenbos, Alpujarras, Sierra Nevada, wandelen, wandelingen, trektocht, standplaats vakantie, hiking, trekking, Berchules, B&B, hotel, wanderungen, wandelvakanties

Murtas, viewpoint of the Contraviesa

Not all our guests can or like to make long walks. We therefor want to give a suggestion of a tour by car through the Contraviesa. This is a mountain range we look at from ´El Paraje´ and where most of our wines are made. From Bérchules you drive down to Cádiar from where you climb up the Contraviesa. On the top you turn left towards Murtas. While you drive on this quiet country road you have an excellent panorama of many Alpujarran villages and the summits of the Sierra Nevada to the left and the Mediterranean Sea to the right. After having passed bar-restaurant and winery Cuatro Vientos you arrive at a crossroads Venta del Chaleco with a sign of the Cerrajón the Murtas, the second highest top of the Contraviesa. Passing a cheese factory it is possible to drive up almost to the very top at 1,507 metres; you need to walk about fifteen minutes (see our map).
People that would like to stretch their legs for a little bit longer, could consider the short local walk ´La Solana´ (see our post Sendero Local La Solana in Murtas). To get to the starting point of this circular waymarked walk of four kilometres, you pass through Murtas and continue until you see a sign ´centro the población´. To your left you see a wooden bench (if it is still there) and a marker post of the Sendero Local. The changing scenery during this short stroll, of the Sierra Nevada, the Sierra de Gador, the Mediterranean Sea and the Cerrajón de Murtas is really unique. On the way back you pass through Murtas which has a bar at the back of the church that serves good food.
Continuing the tour, we pass Mecina Tedel and Cojáyar. These two villages are connected by a waymarked Sendero Local, a local walk with a considerable height difference. (see details of this linear walk on the web of the Mancomunidad de los municipios de la Alpujarra Granadina)  The next village that we pass is Jorairátar. This a picturesque village with a pleasant bar, La Maruja, right at the entrance. It has a very interesting museum, but this can only be visited on appointment. To get back to ´El Paraje´ from Jorairátar, we follow the A-4348 back to Cádiar. This Contraviesa tour of 66 kilometres is highly recommended in February and March when the almond trees are blossoming (see our post Almond blossom in February).
This tour is also a suggestion for people who like road biking.



P.S.The small white dot at the far right of the photo is our casa rural El Paraje.

Related links: map of the Alpujarras.

Alpujarras outdoors activities link list

This is a list of Alpujarras based organisations dedicated to outdoor activities. We will update this list when we find out more. This article has a permanent link in the side column.




GUIDED WALKING
- WalkAlpujarra - Trevélez
- Spanishhighs - Lanjarón
- Nevadensis - Pampaneira
- Ibex Trex - Narila
- Rafatours - Motril (oriented mostly on the Alpujarras)

HORSEBACK RIDING
- Virgen de las Nieves - Trevélez
- Dallas Love , Sierra Trails - Bubión
- Cabalgar Rutas Alternativas - Bubión
- Caballo Park - Soportújar
- Caballo Blanco - Lanjarón
- Camino Verde - Busquístar
- Aventura Polar - Puerto de la Ragua, Bayarcal
- Maria Barbero López - Mecina Bombarón (Alpujarra de la Sierra)

MOUNTAIN BIKING and ROAD CYCLING
- South Side Cycling - Bérchules
- ADR Berja cycling club - Berja

CLIMBING
- Spanishhighs - Lanjarón

CROSS COUNTRY SKIING
- Aventura Polar - Puerto de la Ragua, Bayarcal

BIRD WATCHING
- BirdwatchAlpujarras - Lanjarón

A BIT OF EVERYTHING
- Nevadensis - Pampaneira (guided walks, 4x4, mtb btt, gorge descent, skiing, courses)
- Aventura Rural - Lanjarón (gorge descent, archery, bridge diving, 4x4, mtb btt)
- Multiaventura - Órgiva (quads, paintball, archery, mtb bike hire)
- Saltarios - Órgiva (Cano, rafting and more)
- Al Mihras - Laujar de Andarax (youth groups oriented)

CHILD CAMPS / AULAS DE NATURELEZA
- Vivetuaventura - Bérchules
- Iniza - Lucainea de Alcolea (Almería)

SIERRA NEVADA SPORTS EVENTS 
- Click to jump to a special article about sports events

RELATED ARTICLES:
- Alpujarras and Sierra Nevada Sports events
- Professional sports and thai yoga massages at El Paraje
- El Paraje now has crampons available
- Mountain biking in the Alpujarras Sierra Nevada

RELATED LINKS:
- Casa Rural El Paraje is dedicated to walkers and organise guided mountain-bike trips.
- Rafa-tours. Excursions throughout the Alpujarras guided by Rafael Gan ´el connaisseur´.
- Nómadas. Outdoors activity materials shop in Durcal.
- Solo Aventura. Outdoors activity materials shop and online shopping in Granada city.

- online brochure about the transnevada biking trail
- Bikemap.net alpujarras routes
- Some road cycling suggestions around Haza del Lino
- Mountain gear rental service of Spanish Highs
- Granada activa. The Association of Active Tourism Companies of Granada
- Viasur S.L. Travel agency for the Alpujarras and Valle lecrin, with extended outdoor activity packages

related keywords: turismo activo, activiteiten, paardrijden, reiten, rutas a caballo, wandelen, senderismo, wandern, radfahren, cyclisme, fietsen

Alpujarras and Sierra Nevada Sports Events

RUNNING 

GRANADA ULTRA TRAIL
Extreme Sierra Nevada trail running event. First edition in 2010 over 55K with thousands of alt.meters. 2011 edition not sure yet, but planned in july and over 120K
- video-nosomos locos,somos diferentes
- video de rubiloline

MOUNTAIN FESTIVAL
Trail running. First edition in 2010 organised by Grupo Alpino Benalmádena with two races:
"kilometro vertical" 4,5 K with 1000 alt. metres uphill run
"carrera por montaña"14K with 2400 alt. metres,
related links:
-  details on corredordemontana.com

SUBIDA VELETA
Uphill trail run over 50K with 2600 alt. metres.

MOUNTAIN BIKING MTB 

SUBIDA ALPOSTERO ALTO
Mountain bike race of 75 K with  950 alt.metres up and down. Organized by club Verea Xtrem


RUTA "LOS BÁRBAROS": SUBIDA CICLOTURISTA PITRES - LAGUNA DE LA CALDERA
30K uphill MTB race with aprox. 1800 alt. metres


ROAD CYCLING 

SIERRA NEVADA LIMITE
Road cycling race with three possible inscriptions:
- 157K with 5500 alt.meters including climbing the Veleta
- 145K with 4410 alt.meters
- 40K subida cicoturista al Velata with 2710 alt.meters
related  links::
- biker101bikervivencias

- SUBIDA AL PUERTO DE LA RAGUA
117 K road race organized by Club Ciclista Acci in Guadix

- SUBIDA La MAMOLA - HAZA DEL LINO
16K with 1230 alt.meters as part of the Fiesta de Vino of Polopos-La Mamola

OTHER 

SIERRA NEVADA TRIATLON
Half and quarter triatlon in the midst of the Sierra Nevada.
First edition 24th of Jukly  2011


Related articles.
- Alpujarras outdoors activities link list

Related links:
- Nómadas. Outdoors activity materials shop in Durcal.

Bike route Andalucia - Sierra Nevada

The ´Bike route planner for Europe´ or Fietsroute planner voor Europa´ is a Dutch initiative, helping long distance cyclists planning their bike holidays in Europe. When planning a trip through Andalusia, circling the Sierra Nevada is an obvious challenge. Raul Gonzalez suggests a route leading from Granada along the north side of the Sierra Nevada, passing Guadix and climbing up the Puerto de la Ragua (2000m) to arrive at the southern slopes of the Sierra Nevada. The scenic route goes then westwards, calling in on the whitewashed villages of the Alpujarras.
About two kilometres passed Bérchules, on the A-4130 at 23 km, the route passes the entrance of ´El Paraje´. From here it is fifteen kilometres to reach Trevélez, probably through one of the most beautiful parts of the Alpujarras.

Related links:
- mountain bike road cycling holidays with South Side Cycling in Bérchules


related keywords: ciclismo, bici de montaña, BTT, fietsen, wielrennen cycling, cyclisme, radfahren