Peñalara

Peñalara is the highest peak of the Sierra de Guadarrama mountain range in central Spain and a landmark in the Castile and León region. The summit reaches 2,428 metres and forms the central feature of a protected natural area.

The massif offers a range of outdoor activities: marked hiking trails to the summit, scrambling on rocky ridges, and visits to the glacial Laguna Grande that sits in the mountain’s cirque. Routes from nearby trailheads like Puerto de Cotos lead to the summit in a few hours; the cirque and lake provide photographic viewpoints and natural interest across approximately a 1-2 kilometre basin.

Peñalara’s present landscape was shaped by Pleistocene glaciation which carved the cirque and left moraine deposits around the lakes. Conservation measures established in the late 20th century protect the alpine flora and geological features and regulate visitor use.

The peak lies within the Guadarrama massif north of Madrid, on the Castile and León side of the range near the border with the Madrid region. It is accessible by road to nearby mountain passes that serve as common starting points for hikes.

• Access points: Puerto de Cotos and Miraflores are the main trailheads for established routes; expect marked paths and mountain refuge options in the area.
• Elevation: Elevation reaches 2,428 metres at the summit, with alpine terrain above the treeline and winter snow that can persist into spring.

What to See #

• Laguna Grande de Peñalara: A glacial lake lying in the mountain's cirque, popular as a scenic goal for day hikes and as a viewpoint for the Peñalara massif.
• Peñalara summit: The summit of the Peñalara massif, the highest point of the Sierra de Guadarrama, used as the focal point for most ascent routes and scrambling routes.
• Peñalara cirque: A pronounced glacial cirque on the mountain's northern slopes that contains moraines, rock walls and the Laguna Grande, illustrating past glaciation.