Walking route
Laguna Grande and Circo de Gredos.
Laguna Grande and Circo de Gredos.
The Sierra de Gredos is one of Spain's most impressive mountain ranges, and the hike to Laguna Grande and the Circo de Gredos is undoubtedly the crown jewel of this area. The absolute highlight of this granite mountain range is the Circo de Gredos, a gigantic natural cirque formed by glaciers, with the glistening Laguna Grande at its center.
Distance: 14 km.
Time: 5h00.
Grade: Moderate/Heavy.
Type: Back and forth.
Gps Track: Yes.
Route description: Yes.
Wheelchair: Not suitable.
Dog: Allowed on leach.
Height gain: 650 meters.
Trail: Cobblestone path and unpaved.
Marking: White-Yellow PR-AV17 - signs.
Hiking shoes recommended.
The Magic of the Sierra de Gredos.
The hike starts at La Plataforma de Gredos (1,750m). From here, you follow a well-maintained path of large boulders that winds gently upward. Soon after, you'll reach Prado de las Pozas, a large plain. A babbling brook and a stone bridge provide the perfect backdrop for your first photos. Keep your eyes peeled! The Sierra de Gredos is the best place in Spain to spot the Iberian ibex. They are surprisingly tame and often clamber effortlessly over the rocks just beside the path. The route climbs steadily until you reach Los Barrerones, the highest point of the route (2,170m). As soon as you cross the ridge, you'll be rewarded with the most spectacular view of the day: the entire Circo de Gredos unfolds before your feet, with the iconic Almanzor (the highest peak at 2,592m) towering above it all. From Los Barrerones, you descend in a series of hairpin bends to Laguna Grande. The contrast between the deep blue water and the gray, vertical granite walls is breathtaking. Once at the bottom, you'll find yourself on the shore of Laguna Grande. On the opposite side of the lake, you'll find the Refugio Elola mountain refuge. You return to the starting point via the same route.
Download PDF for route description and map.
No shade – bring plenty of drinking water.
Leave early as it can get very busy here, avoid weekends if possible.
POI - Calzada empedrada.
The characteristic cobblestone path (calzada empedrada) that today leads hikers to the Circo de Gredos and Laguna Grande is not a modern hiking trail but has historical origins closely linked to the traditional use of the Sierra de Gredos. For centuries, the Sierra de Gredos was intensively used by shepherds who moved their livestock seasonally between lower and higher pastures. This form of livestock farming, known as transhumance, required reliable mountain paths that remained passable even in bad weather and under heavy loads. The path is constructed of local granite stones, typical of the Gredos massif. Construction was largely manual, likely over several generations, and without a strict design like Roman roads. Therefore, it is not a Roman road, as is sometimes thought, but a medieval and post-medieval shepherd's path that has been gradually improved and consolidated.
No additional information.
