Sierra Nevada (Pradollano) - La Zubia

This trip is one of the many choices when taking the bus up to the sierra nevada ski station (pradollano) from granada to walk back the same day. The ski resort is not the most beautiful sight during summer but it remains a perfect starting point for many trips. Dont be surprised to see a bunch of hikers up there in summer - its quite common for people around to tackle the peaks of Veleta and Mulhacen from there. i remember once counting almost 50 people going up. even more surprising, or as you wish, there is also a mini bus going up from the public bus stop at 2.400m all the way to the base of the Pico de Veleta at 3200m.

From Pradollano - La Zubia

This walk is basically one of the fastest ways to get back top Granada. The walk should take about 7-9 hours. There are many options if you feel like going into the Valle del Rio Monachil or the Trevenque. This one goes right through the middle of both. Another option is when you enter the Valle de Rio Dilar at its very beginning. In spring and summer you will see one of the biggest waterfalls in the whole Sierra Nevada. Even crossing over to the other side (Alpujarras) and going to Capileira or Orgiva is a good choice and doable in one Day. (The last bus leaves around 17 pm).

From Pradollano - La Zubia

In Summer there is only one bus from Granada and it leaves at 9 am every morning from the central bus station. The same bus stays up there until 17 pm (yes no joke) and goes back again. In summer and on weekends nowadays the main telecabina is open! So you can go up first from pradollano with the gondola and then change to chairlift or however you call these things. funnily the guy working there had no clue what it costs to go up - spain i tell you. india for beginners :)

Photos:
https://picasaweb.google.com/105726765340731413642/PradollanoLaZubia?authuser=0&feat=directlink

Sierra Nevada (Pradollano) - La Zubia

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Rio Verde (one-way)

If you ever go during summer to the south of spain you think that hiking out in the campo is impossible due to the extensive heat. For the majority of places this could be said as true. The Valle of Rio Verde is an exception from the rule. Not only is the valley descending directly into the Mediterranean Sea but also carries all year around plenty of water. As the name Rio Verde suggests the water is really green! .. really really green due to the geological structures/rocks chalk, launa.

Back in the medieval days the river was used for transporting wood down to the settlements on the coast and they kept doing this until mid of last century leaving not many trees standing. You can still see the marks on the rocks from the centuries of transport. The pathis going all the way from the coast up over the Sierra de Guajar/Cazulas/Almijara to Granada and was used to bring sea fruits on mules to Granada in a daytrip.

Nowadays the Valle del Rio Verde is known to some people for canoying which is quite fun but also a little sad, because of damages to the delicate structure of the riverbed. There are really enough deep and big pools to jump in and the the largest one is about 5 meters deep and has at least an radius of 8 meters. The base for jumping another 10 meters up. What could you want more in summer.

If you are thinking that you can walk the valley down without getting wet - its almost impossible! You have to cross the river at least 2-3 times and there may be no bridge or whatever. The river can really swell up in spring and take everything with it.

This trip is the perfect crowded beach or city summer getaway. There a two options:

1) One-way
On this option you start from the top and walk all the way down and in the end up to the road to either hitchhike or have somebody pick you up (or with 2 cars). walking the road up again would take at least 3-4 hours. There is also a Bus coming up from Almunecar which goes twice a day. Check out the time at http://www.alsa.es. It should be doable as the Bus back to Granada leaves at around 5/6.

2) Round-way
There is actually only one round trip option which i tried before (without gps) and for that you will stay in the upper part of the rio verde and take a diversion in direction of the small embalse (see google map/earth). This option will carry you only half kilometer along the Rio itself though.

Photos:
https://picasaweb.google.com/105726765340731413642/RioVerde?feat=directlink

Rio Verde (one-way)