Alcazaba

Description

Starting point is the village of Guejar Sierra at the east side of Granada. There is buses running next to river at the south side of the town.

From Guejar Sierra one goes towards south east about one hour, coming down at the river Rio Maitena.

Thereafter one follows the path next to river Rio Genil about five hours.

One can sleep in the long cave Cueva Secreta, which is close to some ruins and a river coming down from west direction.

Going again further towards south and Alcazaba about two hours and turning towards right about 100m.

Going 200 m southwards and going over a bridge towards east.

One ascends on a ridge leading towards the right side of the Mulhacen mountain, forming a mountain top.

Here one should go over the ridge, coming down next to river which flows from Alcazaba direction.

About 500m walk.

It takes about half an hour to reach the Gran Espolon, the biggest ridge on the right side of the Alcazaba.

Going up the ridge takes about four hours. There are no major difficulties to ascend on the ridge. When nearing the top of the ridge one should stay on its right side and avoid the two smaller peaks on the left.

Now one can also decide if to go on the steep north face or continue towards west face.

There is one clear route on the north face, but the writer has not used it.

This route can only be climbed with good rock climbing skills.

Going through the north west corner, there is one bad two meters section, but it is not too difficult, especially when securing oneself.

Following a gully up about 100 m and nearing the path Gran Vasar de Alcazaba.

From here one goes about 50 m further up and starts to climb at the same altitude on the west face.

There are no difficulties on the west face. It is just to find reasonable walk and scramble section towards the top of the west face.

It takes only two hours to reach the top in good weather conditions.

One is now about 150 m from the north face.

Last section is to walk on the highest terrain towards the north face where the highest peak is.

The tiny stone hut is in the middle of western terrain.

One can sleep here, but if started early from Cueva Secreta one can reach Trevelez on the same day.

Finding the path on the steep south face can be difficult and dangerous. The path starts roughly in the middle of two peaks

and the south west corner of Alcazaba terrain.

There are two caves on the south face near the start of the path. Going down to Siete Lagunas takes only one hour.

Going towards south and the last lake next to a long ridge.

When going down from the last lake starts a path towards east following a river.

Now one can see that the river turns towards right and south,

the other river does the same but after some hundred meters.

One should follow the first river.

After about 30-45 minutes one turns towards right and west.

After some hundred meters one can see the hut Refugio Campinuela.

From here it takes about three hours down to Trevelez.

The route is exceptionally long, but provides great views and plenty of challenging climbs if preferred.

Word scramble would describe best the route when reached the ridge Gran Espolon and descended down to Siete Lagunas.

Final length of walking is minimum of 80 km.

Elevation Plot