Trail Network of Guadarrama Mountains

Route 11: From Moralzarzal to Collado Mediano ascending to Cerro del Telégrafo

Route 11: From Moralzarzal to Collado Mediano ascending to Cerro del Telégrafo

An easy walk through pines and junipers, with spectacular views of iconic mountains and the opportunity to explore the local nature and culture.

The proposed route is linear from the municipality of Moralzarzal to Collado Mediano, although it can be done both ways, starting and returning to either of the two towns once the Cerro del Telégrafo is reached. The route starts at the junction of Calle Erillas and Travesía de Juncarejo. Take the track that runs parallel to Calle de las Erillas. Continue along the path until you reach a barrier on the left, cross it and continue along the main track. The path to follow does not offer any difficulty, as although you will see other paths along the way, you should always follow the main track. It climbs gently through pines and junipers. A little further on we will come across a steep firebreak on our left, but we will continue on our way along the main track. We will come across a pylon on our left and further on the path starts to zigzag steeply, showing us the Cantera del Gurugú quarry. Continue to the Curva del Vivero, so called because it was one of the places where pine trees were planted for reforestation. There we will see a water deposit and the Fuente del Vivero (Nursery Fountain). Further on, following the ascent along the track, on our right we will see the Retén Fountain, built after a fire that took place in 1986. We continue along the track making a first sharp bend to the right and as we gain height the forest gives way to a splendid view of the Sierra de Guadarrama and some of its most emblematic peaks and mountains: El Yelmo, La Maliciosa, Siete Picos... The track takes us to a Canadian pass where the wire fence divides the municipalities of Moralzarzal, Becerril de la Sierra and Collado Mediano, which we enter. We will reach a concrete cylinder that marks the geodesic vertex of Cabeza Mediana, the highest point of the hill, and a few metres from it stands the Torre del Telégrafo (Telegraph Tower). To descend we continue along an obvious path that will lead us to cross a fence whose gate we must leave closed once we pass through in order to keep the cattle grazing on these heights in their place. From here we have beautiful views of the mountain villages of Alpedrete, Collado Mediano, Guadarrama and in the background El Escorial and Monte Abantos. We leave a cattle rest area with a pylon on our left and cross another Canadian pass at the height of a livestock farm. We continue along the track until we reach the end of our route when we reach the M-601 road, next to the roundabout. To get to the village of Collado Mediano from here, take the M-863 road, which will take you to the village in a few minutes.