Challenging hikes and high mountain in southern Granada
From an 892 m climb above Lanjarón to stages of the Sulayr: the demanding end of southern Granada, with official figures.
✓ Facts checked on 8 November 2026
Grades are not one scale
MITECO, the Junta de Andalucía, Motril and Salobreña each grade their own routes. A “medium” in the Sierra Nevada National Park is not necessarily the same effort as a “medium” on the coast. Compare distance, time and the gap between lowest and highest point, not just the label.
Altitude changes everything: the Refugio del Poqueira trail is graded medium, yet it runs above 2,000 m, where the official sheet requires mountain clothing in every season.
High and high-mountain routes
These routes carry the highest official grade of their source, or run above 2,000 m.
Comparison of trails with official data
| Trail | Area | Route type | Distance | Time (official) | Altitude / Elevation | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Sendero Hoya del Portillo – Refugio del Poqueira | Sierra Nevada | Linear (one way) | 8.3 km | 2–3 h | 2,150–2,600 m | Medium |
Medium and medium-high routes
Several hours of walking or a steep climb, but on lower ground. A good step up before the high mountain.
Comparison of trails with official data
| Trail | Area | Route type | Distance | Time (official) | Altitude / Elevation | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cumbre del Cerro Gordo (Motril) | Motril | – | 2.6 km | 1 h | 211–499 m | Medium-high |
| Sendero La Cebadilla | Alpujarra | Loop | 7.5 km | 4 h | 1,290–1,605 m | Medium |
| Fuente de la Bullarenga | Motril | Loop | 7.5 km | 1 h 38 min | 288–459 m | Medium |
| Sendero Sierra del Chaparral | Costa Tropical | – | 7.9 km | 2 h 40 min | 255–558 m | Medium |
| Sendero Pueblos del Poqueira | Alpujarra | Loop | 9.4 km | 3 h 30 min | 1,008–1,388 m | Medium |
| Garnatilla – Alcántara | Motril | – | 10.4 km | 2 h 46 min * | 289–722 m | Medium |
* Official time for the return walk (“ida y vuelta”).
Hard but ungraded: the Sierra de Lújar from Vélez
The town hall of Vélez de Benaudalla calls the Haza del Señor route “a hard stage”, ending on a narrow, steep, winding path of about 4.8 km; the mining path is unsignposted and the Fuente del Algarrobo route continues on a steep path. No distance, time or grade is published, so they are not in the tables. See our guide to hiking in Vélez de Benaudalla.
How to prepare
Equipment
Mountain boots, warm layers and a rain jacket in every season above 2,000 m; map, compass or GPS on the Sulayr.
Experience
The official Sulayr guide requires mountain experience or a guide; parts above 2,000 m may have snow or ice in winter.
Water
Carry your own: official sheets advise against drinking from streams, and springs are not guaranteed to be drinkable.
Timing
The official Sulayr guide recommends the first half of autumn. Start early and allow for slower progress than the official estimates, which exclude stops.
Emergencies
Call 112 and tell someone your route.
A quiet base for big days
Rincón Salvaje is in Vélez de Benaudalla, at the southern end of the A-44, in the Guadalfeo valley below the Alpujarra. Recover by the sea between mountain days.
Frequently asked questions
What is the hardest official hike near Lanjarón?
Lanjarón–Tello, graded “high”: 5.6 km one way, about 4 hours, from 654 m to 1,546 m.
Do I need experience for the Sulayr?
Yes. The official Junta de Andalucía guide asks for mountain experience or a guide, good fitness and navigation tools; snow or ice are possible above 2,000 m in winter.
Is the Refugio del Poqueira hike difficult?
It is graded medium (8.3 km one way, 2–3 h), but runs between 2,150 and 2,600 m, with high-mountain clothing required in every season.
Which is the toughest route around Motril?
In Motril’s list, the Cumbre del Cerro Gordo is graded medium-high: 2.6 km and 1 hour from 211 m to 499 m.
Sources · Facts checked on 8 November 2026
- Motril Turismo · Senderismo
- Turismo de Salobreña · Walking trails
- MITECO · Sierra Nevada National Park, Sendero Pueblos del Poqueira (PDF)
- Junta de Andalucía · Sendero Lanjarón-Tello
- Junta de Andalucía · GR-240 Sulayr guide
- Junta de Andalucía · Sendero Hoya del Portillo-Refugio del Poqueira
- Junta de Andalucía · Sendero Sierra del Chaparral
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