Sierra Nevada National Park

The Sierra Nevada was designated a national park in 1998. © Michelle Chaplow
The Sierra Nevada was designated a national park in 1998.

Sierra Nevada National Park

The Sierra Nevada is a dramatic, rugged and extensive mountain range, the highest in Europe after the Alps and the most significant section of the Cordillera Penibética. The protected central area of National Park encompasses 85,883 ha of snowy summits, torrential rivers, sheer-sided gorges, stony scree slopes, glacial lakes. An outer protection ring denominated Natural Park of 86,335 ha between the National park and the the foothills such as Alpujarras in the south featuring cultivated terraces of almond trees and vegetables. Popular activities in the parks include skiing, hiking, mountain biking and summer camps. One can simply travel and discover its fauna and flora, see its lagoons and have an adventure in this vast area of land. 

The Sierra Nevada is a dramatic, rugged and extensive mountain range, the highest in Europe after the Alps and the most significant section of the Cordillera Penibética. The protected area… More →

Standing at an impressive 3,482m above sea level, situated in the Sierra Nevada National Park, Mt. Mulhacen is the highest mountain in mainland Spain. The mountain is named after the 15th-century… More →

As you might expect in a place of such beauty there are many excellent signposted and waymarked senderos (walks). Make sure you have a good map. Details of senderos, maps and walking guides are… More →

There are few villages on the higher ground in Sierra Nevada because of the severe weather, with strong icy winds and snow for some of the year. There are 25 villages in the park and about 10… More →

Things to see around Sierra Nevada National Park include Jardín Botánico de La Cortijuela, Tibetan Monastery O Sel Ling, Balneario de Lanjarón and Villages of the Alpujarras.

In the western part of the park is El Dornajo, at Km 23 on the A395 road, 958 340 625. It has loads of information on the park, including an exhibition on the area's flora and fauna, hiking, where… More →

Hotel and Hostel accomodation is found in villages located around the edge of the park. The most popular are those on the southern boundary, in the popular Alpujarras (Granada Province) such as… More →

The park's plants are outstanding, with the highest number of endemic plant species in Europe. An impressive 2,100 different species of vascular plant, a quarter of those recorded in the whole of… More →

The park's main draw for fauna is its rich birdlife, with over 60 species inhabiting the Sierra. Nesting birds of prey include golden eagles, Bonelli's eagles, peregrine falcons, griffon vultures… More →

An increasingly popular option for tourists visiting the Sierra Nevada national park is to rent out a cottage, apartment or villa in one of the surrounding towns or villages.

There is one area of free camping (zona de acampada organizada) in the park's eastern flank, which is Monterrey, north of Láujar de Andarax. Take everything you need.… More →

Designated a National Park in 1998, it is one of only two in Andalucia, the other being the Doñana National Park. Sierra Nevada retains its status of natural park, which it has been since 1989, and this covers an outer area, of 85,777ha. sierra nevada was declared a Unesco Biosphere Reserve in 1986, in recognition of its exceptionally diverse plant, bird and animal species.

There are over 20 peaks more than 3,000m, which makes it the second highest mountain range in Europe after the Alps. The two highest peaks in the Iberian Peninsula are in the park, the Mulhacén at 3,482m, closely followed by the Pico del Veleta, at 3,396m. On a clear day these mountains can be seen from as far away as Africa.

The park has a rich history, with the Tartessians, Visigoths, Romans and Moors all leaving their legacy in the area, which can be still be seen today; for example, the sophisticated irrigation systems inherited from the Moors and the distinctive architecture of the Alpujarras, with their flat-roofed houses, a design brought from north Africa with the Berbers. The Alpujarras have a long tradition of independence; the last Moorish king, Boabdil, famously sheltered here after the fall of Granada. It became the Moors' last refuge in Spain before their 1568 revolt failed and they were forced to leave Spain.

In the north west of the park is Solynieve, Europe's southernmost ski resort, (the resort and access road is outside the National Park but within the Natural park) where the ski season generally runs from November to April. Apart from skiers and snowboarders at the winter resort, the Sierra Nevada parks are popular with hikers, climbers and birdwatchers all year round.

Apart from tourism, the economic mainstay of the Sierra Nevada is agricultural produce, with cereal crops, olives, grapes, almonds, walnuts, apples and cherries cultivated here, mainly in the southern foothills of the Alpujarras. Europe's most important iron mine is at Alquife, continuing a mining tradition in the Sierra that once included the extraction of copper and silver as well. Trevélez is renowned for its cured jamón serrano (mountain ham).

It's essential to bring high-factor sun protection and a hat, to prevent burning at this high altitude.

Guided Tours of Sierra Nevada

Book Guided Tours of Sierra Nevada

Sierra Nevada Tour (Granada)

46
EUR

These are places that provide us with unforgettable views of different points of Andalusia.If we are lucky we can find some animals of the local fauna, as for example the Mountain Goats, foxes, eagles and wild horses.The light reflected in the mountains and the color of the sky are spectacular.Guaranteed good photos and good meditation to clear

Walking and Trekking in the Sierra Nevada" by Richard Hartley

BuyWalking and Trekking in the Sierra Nevada" by Richard Hartley

Walking in the Sierra NevadaThis guidebook presents 33 graded walks and 5 high mountain scrambles in the striking Sierra Nevada, the highest mountain range in mainland Spain and in western Europe outside the Alps. Easily accessible from Granada and Málaga, it is a world of soaring, snow-clad peaks and deep valleys, far removed from the crowded beaches of the Costa del Sol just two hours away. The routes are spread across the national park, with attractive towns and villages such as Trevélez, Lanjarón, Hoya de la Mora and Cumbres Verdes serving as potential bases for a walking holiday

The guide also includes advice on transport, bases and safety, a tick-list of the 3000m peaks and a Spanish-English glossary. There is the option to buy a printed book, an eBook, or both as one deal.

Buy a copy online of Walking in the Sierra Nevada

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