The excursion starts at the Canto Cochino car park, located next to the workshop school. Crossing the river over a bridge, turn left and continue along the path known as "La Autopista" in the direction of the Giner Refuge. When you reach the meadow at the foot of the refuge, a path between rockroses leads you to the Tolmo ridge and its continuation to the Dehesilla pass.

At this pass, the route follows the yellow and white PR 1 markings to the right. After a long climb through thick bearberry bushes you can see the Santillana reservoir and the La Cara cliff on the left, further on after crossing a stone fence there is a fork. The excursion takes the path to the right, leaving the PR 1. This section runs through an area of scrubland until it reaches the meadow of El Yelmo and the crag of the same name.

The most feasible way to reach the summit is to go around the Yelmo to the east until you reach the pass known as "la Chimenea", the return can be made by the same route. The excursion continues, descending from the southern base of the Yelmo along a path that connects with the Gran Cañada meadow.

When you reach this area, leave the path and turn right onto a new path that descends along the Barranco de los Huertos ravine, passing near the Cancho de los Brezos until you reach Canto Cochino again.

The summit of El Yelmo is one of the most valuable vantage points in the Community of Madrid from where you can see the Sierra Pobre, the moors of the Alcarria, the city of Madrid and El Escorial.