Ermita Vieja – Picacho Alto Route

This route that we classify as difficult, is only because in its 10.5 km of route, we climb 400 meters of slope and there are a couple of places where if you slip, the fall is a little long.
Otherwise, it is not complicated and has great views in its 360º as you can see from the peaks Veleta and El Caballo, the Sierra de Tejeda and Almijara, the Lecrin Valley and the Vega de Granada.

To get to the Ermita Vieja, we go up the forest track that starts in Marchena, goes up the Blas de Haro’s wash and crosses the Sierra del Manar, Los Alayos, goes down to La Magara, to reach the Sierra de Dúrcal, from where it forks, one to continue to the Rinconada de Nigüelas and Lanjarón, and another one that goes down to Nigüelas.

We leave the cars at the entrance to the track of La Ermita Vieja and start the route, passing over the pond of the water source, we go around the hill of Montellano, to climb to Picacho Alto 1776 meters altitude.

From Picacho Alto, the 360º panoramic view is impressive.
The views towards the Sierrra, from the Veleta al Caballo when there is snow and Los Alayos below, the Trevenque to the left and La Buitrera to the right, are spectacular.

It looks very nice rope that leads to the Corazón de Sandía and Los Castillejos, which has the curiosity of being dividing line of watersheds, as the rainwater that falls on the left, will go through the river Dílar, Genil and Guadalquivir to the Atlantic and the water from the right, by Barranco Seco, the Durcal river, Guadalfeo and flows into the Mediterranean in Salobreña.

From here, we go down the Prado Seco ravine and we go down again to the forest track, on our way back to the starting point.