Hiking in the Alpujarra and Sierra Nevada
White villages on old mule paths, chestnut groves above Lanjarón, and the high Sierra Nevada beyond 2,000 m.
✓ Facts checked on 8 November 2026
Official trails at a glance
All figures below come from the Sierra Nevada National Park (MITECO) or the Junta de Andalucía. Times are official estimates without stops; linear trails are one way.
Comparison of trails with official data
| Trail | Area | Route type | Distance | Time (official) | Altitude / Elevation | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sendero Pueblos del Poqueira | Alpujarra | Loop | 9.4 km | 3 h 30 min | 1,008–1,388 m | Medium |
| Sendero La Cebadilla | Alpujarra | Loop | 7.5 km | 4 h | 1,290–1,605 m | Medium |
| Sendero Hoya del Portillo – Refugio del Poqueira | Sierra Nevada | Linear (one way) | 8.3 km | 2–3 h | 2,150–2,600 m | Medium |
| Sendero Lanjarón – Tello | Sierra Nevada | Linear (one way) | 5.6 km | 4 h | 654–1,546 m | High |
| GR-240 Sulayr · Tramo 3: Rinconada de Nigüelas – Tello | Sierra Nevada | Linear (one way) | 14.5 km | 4 h 30 min (5 h 30 min in reverse) | +10 m ascent · −624 m descent | High mountain |
| GR-240 Sulayr · Tramo 4: Tello – Puente Palo | Sierra Nevada | Linear (one way) | 8.7 km | 3 h | +330 m ascent · −116 m descent | High mountain |
Official trailheads
Only start points whose coordinates are published by the official source are shown. The Vélez de Benaudalla routes all start from the Plaza de la Constitución.
© OpenStreetMap · MITECO, Junta de Andalucía · Open data (JSON)
Lanjarón: the western gateway
Lanjarón is where the GR-142 Alpujarra Trail starts or ends, and the starting point of the official Lanjarón–Tello trail, graded “high”: nearly 900 m between its lowest and highest point, one way, on footpaths and rocky tracks with little shade. Tello is also the end of stage 3 of the Sulayr and the start of stage 4 towards Puente Palo, which can be reached from Lanjarón, Cáñar and Soportújar.
Sierra Nevada · Official data
Sendero Lanjarón – Tello
Official linear trail climbing from Lanjarón into Sierra Nevada, with chestnut groves, scrub, riverside vegetation and wide views.
- Route type
- Linear (one way)
- Distance
- 5.6 km · One way.
- Time (official)
- 4 h
- Elevation
- 892 m between lowest and highest point
- Altitude
- 654–1,546 m
- Difficulty
- Official grade: high.
- Start
- Lanjarón
- Finish
- Tello
- Terrain
- Footpath and rocky tracks.
- Water
- Carry drinking water; check that fountain water is safe to drink.
- Shade
- Limited
- Permit
- Not required
- Official grade “high”: nearly 900 m between lowest and highest point, one way.
Source: Junta de Andalucía · Sendero Lanjarón-Tello · Checked 2026-11-08
Órgiva and the GR-142
From Lanjarón, the GR-142 continues through Órgiva along the Guadalfeo valley and on across the Alpujarra. Ask at the local tourist office for current signposted routes.
Alpujarra · Route description
GR-142 Sendero de la Alpujarra
Long-distance trail across the south face of Sierra Nevada, through the provinces of Granada and Almería, starting or ending in Lanjarón and continuing through Órgiva along the Guadalfeo.
- Route type
- Linear (one way)
- Start
- Lanjarón (or end, depending on direction)
- Waymarking
- GR white-and-red waymarks.
Source: Andalucía.org · Alpujarra Trail GR-142 · Checked 2026-11-08
Pampaneira, Bubión and Capileira
The Poqueira gorge has the most accessible official walking in the Alpujarra: two medium loops on old paths between the villages and terraces. Both official sheets note limited shade and recommend checking that fountain water is safe to drink.
Alpujarra · Official data
Sendero Pueblos del Poqueira
Official loop through the three villages of the Poqueira gorge (Pampaneira, Bubión and Capileira) in the Sierra Nevada National Park area.
- Route type
- Loop
- Distance
- 9.4 km
- Time (official)
- 3 h 30 min
- Elevation
- 380 m between lowest and highest point
- Altitude
- 1,008–1,388 m
- Difficulty
- Official grade: medium (level 2).
- Start
- Upper Pampaneira, at the start of the old path to Bubión
- Terrain
- Old paths, uneven or stepped in places.
- Water
- Carry drinking water; check that fountain water is safe to drink.
- Shade
- Limited
- Permit
- Not required
Source: MITECO · Parque Nacional de Sierra Nevada, Sendero Pueblos del Poqueira · Checked 2026-11-08
Alpujarra · Official data
Sendero La Cebadilla
Official loop from upper Capileira along the Poqueira valley towards La Cebadilla, in the Sierra Nevada National Park area.
- Route type
- Loop
- Distance
- 7.5 km
- Time (official)
- 4 h
- Elevation
- 315 m between lowest and highest point
- Altitude
- 1,290–1,605 m
- Difficulty
- Official grade: medium (level 2).
- Start
- Capileira, upper Barrio del Castillo, on the road to La Cebadilla
- Terrain
- Path or track.
- Water
- Carry drinking water; check that fountain water is safe to drink.
- Shade
- Limited
- Permit
- Not required
Source: MITECO · Parque Nacional de Sierra Nevada, Sendero La Cebadilla · Checked 2026-11-08
High Sierra Nevada: Refugio del Poqueira and the Sulayr
Above Capileira, the official trail from the Hoya del Portillo to the Refugio del Poqueira mountain hut runs between 2,150 and 2,600 m. It is graded medium, but the official sheet asks for mountain boots, warm clothing and a rain jacket in every season.
The GR-240 Sulayr circles the whole massif: 19 stages and over 300 km, at an average altitude of 1,800 to 2,000 m according to the Junta de Andalucía. Stages 3 and 4 run above Lanjarón.
Sierra Nevada · Official data
Sendero Hoya del Portillo – Refugio del Poqueira
Official high-mountain trail from the Hoya del Portillo above Capileira to the Refugio del Poqueira mountain hut, in the Sierra Nevada National and Natural Park.
- Route type
- Linear (one way)
- Distance
- 8.3 km · One way.
- Time (official)
- 2–3 h
- Elevation
- 452 m between lowest and highest point
- Altitude
- 2,150–2,600 m
- Difficulty
- Official grade: medium, but at 2,150–2,600 m, high-mountain conditions apply.
- Start
- Hoya del Portillo (Capileira)
- Finish
- Refugio del Poqueira
- Terrain
- Path and tracks, stony and sandy.
- Water
- Carry water; do not drink from streams or ravines (livestock and ibex).
- Shade
- Limited
- Permit
- Not required
- Mountain boots, warm clothing and a rain jacket in every season; take care on snowfields, especially when the snow is hard. The final climb to the hut is the most exposed to blizzards.
Source: Junta de Andalucía · Sendero Hoya del Portillo-Refugio del Poqueira · Checked 2026-11-08
Sierra Nevada · Official data
GR-240 Sulayr · Tramo 3: Rinconada de Nigüelas – Tello
Stage of the Sulayr, the long-distance trail that circles Sierra Nevada (19 stages, over 300 km), mostly on forest track down the Barranco del Río Lanjarón.
- Route type
- Linear (one way)
- Distance
- 14.5 km
- Time (official)
- 4 h 30 min (5 h 30 min in reverse)
- Elevation
- +10 m ascent · −624 m descent
- Difficulty
- High-mountain stage; the official guide requires mountain experience or a guide.
- Start
- Rinconada de Nigüelas (about 2,150 m)
- Finish
- Tello (about 1,550 m)
- Terrain
- Mostly forest track.
- Waymarking
- GR white-and-red waymarks.
- Water
- Springs exist but potability is not guaranteed.
- Season
- First half of autumn is ideal for the Sulayr; snow or ice possible above 2,000 m in winter.
- High-mountain terrain far from villages: mountain experience (or a guide), good fitness, map/compass/GPS and weather check required. Snow or ice possible above 2,000 m in winter.
Source: Junta de Andalucía · GR-240 Sulayr guide · Checked 2026-11-08
Sierra Nevada · Official data
GR-240 Sulayr · Tramo 4: Tello – Puente Palo
Stage of the Sulayr above the Alpujarra villages of Lanjarón, Cáñar and Soportújar.
- Route type
- Linear (one way)
- Distance
- 8.7 km
- Time (official)
- 3 h
- Elevation
- +330 m ascent · −116 m descent
- Difficulty
- High-mountain long-distance trail; the official guide requires mountain experience or a guide.
- Start
- Tello
- Finish
- Puente Palo
- Terrain
- Forest tracks and mountain paths.
- Waymarking
- GR white-and-red waymarks.
- Water
- Springs exist but potability is not guaranteed.
- Season
- First half of autumn is ideal for the Sulayr.
- High-mountain terrain far from villages: mountain experience (or a guide), good fitness, map/compass/GPS and weather check required. Snow or ice possible above 2,000 m in winter.
Source: Junta de Andalucía · GR-240 Sulayr guide · Checked 2026-11-08
Mountain safety
Every season
Weather changes fast at altitude: carry warm layers and a rain jacket even in summer.
Water
Bring your own. The official sheets advise against drinking from streams and ravines because of livestock and ibex.
Snow and ice
Possible above 2,000 m in winter; snowfields can stay hard into spring. Without equipment and experience, stay lower.
Emergencies
Call 112. Tell someone your route and expected return time.
Staying below the Alpujarra
Rincón Salvaje is in Vélez de Benaudalla, at the southern end of the A-44, in the Guadalfeo valley that leads up to Órgiva and the Alpujarra. You can combine mountain days with the coast and with the village routes that start on foot from the main square.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best official hike between the Alpujarra villages?
The Sendero Pueblos del Poqueira, an official 9.4 km loop of 3 h 30 min, graded medium, links Pampaneira, Bubión and Capileira between 1,008 and 1,388 m.
How hard is the Lanjarón to Tello trail?
It is graded “high”: 5.6 km one way in about 4 hours, with 892 m between its lowest (654 m) and highest (1,546 m) point.
Can I walk to the Refugio del Poqueira?
Yes, on the official trail from the Hoya del Portillo: 8.3 km one way, 2–3 hours, between 2,150 and 2,600 m. Graded medium, but high-mountain equipment is required.
How long is the Sulayr?
Over 300 km in 19 stages around Sierra Nevada, at an average altitude of 1,800 to 2,000 m.
Are there official hikes from Órgiva?
The GR-142 passes through Órgiva. Ask the local tourist office.
Sources · Facts checked on 8 November 2026
- MITECO · Sierra Nevada National Park, Sendero Pueblos del Poqueira (PDF)
- MITECO · Sierra Nevada National Park, Sendero La Cebadilla (PDF)
- Junta de Andalucía · Sendero Hoya del Portillo-Refugio del Poqueira
- Junta de Andalucía · Sendero Lanjarón-Tello
- Junta de Andalucía · GR-240 Sulayr guide
- Junta de Andalucía · Sulayr and Transnevada
- Andalucía.org · Alpujarra Trail GR-142
