Lozoya River Gorge Walk

The Lozoya River Gorge Walk follows the upper course of the Lozoya River through one of the most picturesque and least-crowded valleys in the Sierra de Guadarrama, located between the villages of Rascafria and Pinilla del Valle in the northern section of the Community of Madrid, approximately 75 kilometres north of the capital. The 7-kilometre linear route follows the river at a gently descending pace, losing around 150 metres in elevation from Pinilla del Valle downstream to Rascafria. The trail begins at Pinilla del Valle and follows the right bank of the Lozoya River through a landscape of riverside willow and alder woodland, open mountain meadows, and small abandoned mills (molinos) along the riverbanks. The path surface is a mix of well-maintained earth track, grassy riverside meadow, and short sections of stone path through the outskirts of Rascafria. River crossings exist in several places and may require boulder-hopping after heavy rainfall; the river is generally very shallow and manageable in summer. Rascafria at the route end is home to the Monasterio de Santa Maria del Paular, a Carthusian monastery founded in 1390 and still in active religious use, which can be visited with prior arrangement. The village has several restaurants and the El Paular Hotel, a Sheraton property occupying part of the historic monastery complex. The Lozoya Valley holds clean, cold mountain water suitable for swimming in summer, with established swimming holes near Rascafria that attract Madrilenos escaping the city heat in July and August. The trail passes several of these pools. Access by car is via the M-604 national road from Madrid, approximately 75 kilometres and one hour driving; alternatively, bus 194 departs from Moncloa interchange and reaches Rascafria in approximately 90 minutes. The bus does not serve Pinilla del Valle directly; walkers starting in Pinilla should take the bus to Rascafria and walk the trail in the reverse upriver direction.