La Barranca is a Scots pine valley above the town of Navacerrada, in the Sierra de Guadarrama, about 60 minutes from Madrid by bus. Its trails start at 1,385 metres and climb toward the granite ridge of La Maliciosa. It suits a half-day walk or a full day of hiking, but how you arrive shapes everything: the bus stops in town, and the car park has a cap.
How do you get to La Barranca from Madrid? By car, take the M-607 to Navacerrada and follow the paved track to the valley car park, which admits 200 cars at a time. By bus, take the 691 from Moncloa to Navacerrada town and walk 3.2 km to the trailheads. The shortest walk, to the Campanilla spring, is 4 km return.
- Bus stop: Calle de las Eras, Navacerrada town.
- Not the same as: Puerto de Navacerrada.
- Bring: food and water.
The valley is part of the Sierra de Guadarrama National Park, and its official loop climbs to the Mirador de las Canchas at 1,754 metres, looking down on the Navacerrada reservoir. On weekdays, the first buses leave Moncloa at 7:00, 7:30 and 7:50.
Where do you get off, Navacerrada town or the pass?
No, and mixing them up is the most common planning mistake. Navacerrada is the town at the foot of the sierra, La Barranca is the valley directly above it, and the Puerto de Navacerrada is the mountain pass much higher up, with its own road, ski slopes and bus stop. Some 691 buses continue to the pass, Cotos or Valdesquí; for La Barranca, you get off in town.
There is also a train route to the Puerto, covered in hiking near Madrid by train, but it leaves you on the wrong side of the mountain for this valley.
How do you get to La Barranca without a car?
Get to the Moncloa interchange, on Metro lines 3 and 6, and board the 691, run by Avanza. For weekends, the CRTM lists first departures at 8:00, 8:15, 8:30 and 8:45; on weekdays at 7:00, 7:30 and 7:50. The ride to the Calle de las Eras stop takes about 60 minutes.
From there it is 3.2 km on foot to the valley car park, roughly 43 minutes at a steady pace, and the same back at the end of the day. Weekend return buses leave Calle de las Eras several times an hour in the afternoon, with the last one at 22:30, so there is no need to rush the hike. On the short Campanilla walk, leaving Moncloa at 8:30 puts you back at the car park around 11:55 and in town by 12:40, in time for a Spanish lunch.
Where can you park at La Barranca?
Not guaranteed. Because of weekend crowds, the national park limits access with a barrier that lets cars in until 200 are parked at the same time, and parking is only allowed in marked bays. No arrival time is published that guarantees a space, and the park lists no fee or booking system for this car park.
The park posts live occupancy on its Telegram, WhatsApp and Instagram channels, so check before leaving Madrid. If the barrier is closed, park in Navacerrada town and walk the 3.2 km up. Other capped car parks in the range, such as La Pedriza, are explained in La Pedriza car access.
Which La Barranca trail suits you?
| Trail | Start | Length | Climb | Published time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuente de la Campanilla | Valley car park | 4 km return | 200 m | 50 min each way |
| Viewpoints loop and Senda Ortiz | Valley car park | 10.3 km loop | 429 m | 3 h 30 min |
| La Maliciosa via Collado del Piornal | Valley car park | 10 km return | 830 m | 4 h |
The Campanilla walk is the one the Ayuntamiento lists as easy and suitable from age 8. The loop is the national park’s official route, graded for experienced walkers. La Maliciosa, at 2,227 metres, is recommended from age 14 and is not advised in fog or thunderstorms.
By bus, the short walk becomes 10.4 km, La Maliciosa 16.4 km and the loop 16.7 km. With children who tire after a few kilometres, a shorter outing from easy walks near Madrid with kids fits better.
What will you see from the Canchas viewpoint?
On the official loop, the Mirador de las Canchas comes 3.8 km from the car park and is the highest point, at 1,754 metres. It looks over the whole valley, La Maliciosa, the Alto de las Guarramillas and the Cuerda de las Cabrillas, and down to the town and the large Navacerrada reservoir.
That reservoir is not the water you pass at the start, which is two small dams in the valley. Further on, the loop crosses the open ground of the former Sanatorio de Guadarrama, now returned to nature, and descends along the Senda Ortiz.
Where can you eat, and can you swim or bring a dog?
The picnic area has tables and benches, so pack lunch. Fires are banned all year in Madrid’s picnic areas and the national park does not allow gas stoves either; the rules are in Madrid picnic areas and barbecue rules. The valley’s hotel-restaurant does not confirm opening hours or a menu, and spring water is not certified as drinkable, so carry enough.
Madrid tap water is safe to drink, and filling bottles before the 8:00 bus saves a problem at 1,754 metres.
Dogs must stay on a lead. The reservoirs are not authorised swimming spots; legal options are listed in swimming spots near Madrid.
When is La Barranca too icy to hike?
The pine tracks to the spring and the viewpoints are forest paths, but La Maliciosa becomes a hard route with snow or ice. For winter high mountain terrain the national park says you need crampons, an ice axe and the skills to use them. In any emergency on the trail, call 112, Spain’s single emergency number.
For easy snow play, see snow near Madrid; for the park’s other gateways, Sierra de Guadarrama access.
La Barranca, questions answered
Does bus 691 go to La Barranca?
No. Bus 691 runs from the Moncloa interchange to Navacerrada town, stop Calle de las Eras, in about 60 minutes. Some journeys continue to the Puerto de Navacerrada, Cotos or Valdesquí, which are different places. From the town it is a 3.2 km walk to the La Barranca car park where the trails begin.
Is La Barranca the same as Puerto de Navacerrada?
No. Navacerrada town sits at the foot of the mountains, La Barranca is the pine valley just above it, and the Puerto de Navacerrada is the mountain pass higher up, reached on a different road. Hikers heading for La Barranca get off the bus in the town.
How many cars can park at La Barranca?
The Sierra de Guadarrama National Park runs a barrier that admits cars until 200 are parked at the same time, and parking is only allowed in marked areas. The park posts occupancy on its Telegram, WhatsApp and Instagram channels; it publishes no fee and no booking system.
What is the easiest walk at La Barranca?
The walk to the Fuente de la Campanilla spring: 2 km each way from the car park, about 50 minutes and 200 metres of climb on the way up. Navacerrada town hall rates it easy and suitable from age 8.
Can you hike La Barranca in winter?
The pine tracks stay walkable in most conditions, but the climb to La Maliciosa becomes a hard winter route with snow or ice. For winter high mountain terrain, the national park says you need crampons, an ice axe and the skills to use them.
For waterfalls in the same hills, see waterfalls near Madrid.
Get off in the town, not at the pass, and La Barranca is an easy bus day.