On this route we will visit the Corazón de la Sandía 1.885 m., an area of steep slopes and large ravines, where the landscape can change from a lush forest, to a riverside, like a wasteland, especially in the Alayos, where the sandy soil prevents much tree vegetation. The views are magnificent of Granada and surroundings, such as Sierra Nevada, El Trevenque or even the Sierra de la Almijara, Tejeda and Alhama.
We start the route in the parking lots of Cortijo Sevilla, where we take the path that leads us to the Espartera canal.
By this path we can see some good panoramic views of the Alayos de Dílar and the objective of the day, the Heart of the Watermelon.
This path descends little by little until you pass through the Búho ravine, where it begins to climb little by little until you reach the Espartera channel intake.
At our feet we can see the river Dílar, where from the path we can hear it roar downstream.
We can even see a small waterfall where there is a pool that in summer you can cool off.
In the espartera channel, to cross the river Dílar there is a path or a bridge made with a fallen log, which is used when the river carries enough water and we do not want to take off our shoes.
Once crossed the river, to the right of the road, opens a path that leads to the slope of the pine.
After walking a little more than 1 km, we have a signpost, which tells us, on the right, that we must continue to the Alayos and Picacho Alto trail.
We continue then to our right and we take a path that goes up little by little below the Alayos de Dílar and that leads us towards the cñada de la Selva, where we cross with another path that comes from Cerro Hueco.
At this point there is another signpost like the one we saw on the slope of the pine tree.
We take the path to our left, that is, the one that goes to Picacho Alto, continuing it for a few kilometers until we reach the beginning of Rambla Seca, where on our left a path opens up through a steep ravine that leaves us at the foot of the Corazón de la Sandía.
Therefore we must leave the well-marked path that we came and that led to the Picacho Alto.
This part is the hardest part of the route, as the slope is very steep.
With patience, it can be climbed without problems.
At the top, we reach a pass where we have the first views of Castillejos, Los Gallos, tozal del Cartujo and El Caballo.
The ascent to the Corazón de la Sandía is a climb, which is not recommended for those with vertigo.
From the top there are magnificent views of Granada and surroundings, El Trevenque, Veleta, and the 3000 southwest of Sierra Nevada.
We continue the route along the Alayos rope towards the Pino pass, where the path runs laterally and around the Castillejos.
Once we arrive at the Pino pass, we follow the path of the Pino slope up to the Espartera Canal and return to Cortijo Sevilla.
The scenery of the route is spectacular.
Of course, it is hard because of the continuous ascents and descents and the accumulated difference in altitude, a little more than 1000 meters in 21 km.
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Video
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