Mulhacén is the highest mountain in continental Spain (second after Pico de Teide / Tenerife). It stands at 3482m in the Sierra Nevada. The National Park of Sierra Nevada and reserve of the Biosphere by UNESCO has 171,643 hectares and its Maximum height, the Mulhacén, is the ceiling of the Iberian Peninsula. Mulhacén takes its name from Muley Hassan, father of Boabdil, who was buried at the foot of this impressive mountain.

From the top, you can see on a clear day Africa to the south with the shimmering Mediterranean in the fore, and in every other direction, the land dips away to reveal the marvels of the Sierra Nevada mountain range and the whole of the Province of Andalucía.

Routes

From the South:
The ascent from the South started in Capileira, a tiny, white washed town that seems to flow down the slopes on the southern side of the Alpujarra mountains, less than two hours by car from Granada. Follow the brownish valley of the Rio Poqueira which is actually just a small stream. Up for hours past tiny farms clinging to the steep slopes, fields of corn and grain, round stone platforms where farmers used to crush and separate their wheat, summer corrals for sheep, irrigation ditches perhaps centuries old.
Follow the track to Refugio Poqueira and stay the night over. Start early in the morning for your final ascent with a steep walk heading summit.

From the South-East:
Take the route from Tevelez. See route discription!!

When To Climb

The Mulhacen can be done the whole year. There may be a lot of snow during the winterseason (Novenber to May), so bring your crampons and iceaxe with you.
Dangerous at the end of April and May due to snow avalanches and rock "chutes" because of the heat.
During the summermonths it can be a hot climp so bring yourself lots of water. Remind yourself that there is a chill wind up there so prepare yourself bringing your fleece with you!

Natural Park Sierra Nevada

Take care of the wildlife. In 1986 the Natural Park of Sierra Nevada was given the Reserve of the Biosphere award due to the diversity and uniqueness of its plants and wildlife. It was also known as “the botanic jewel of Europe”.
Also note that Spain does not have a sophisticated mountain rescue service, such as you find in Alpine countries and if you get into trouble you will need to rely on your own resources and those of your companions.
Note: Visit first a town called Pampaneira, just a couple of kilometers to the south, where you can visit the Sierra Nevada informationcentre (Plaza de Libertad, Pampaneira, phone: 958763127).
For more information see next links:

Parque Nacional Sierra Nevada

Official website Granada (Spanisch, Englisch)

There are two guarded mountain huts in the Park, and some other non-guarded huts. For those ones who prefer camping (wild camping), also known as bivouac, they should know that 'wild camping' is allowed under some rules:
The camp should be over the 2000 meters in a place free of trees (to avoid fires). There is a maximum of 15 persons, and after three days the camp should be moved to another area of the Park.
These permits can be requested calling to the telephone nr. of one of the offices (the one of 'Medio Ambiente') of the National Park: +34 958 026 300 or 958 026 303.
They will ask you for a written request that can be faxed to: +34 958 026 310 or even e-mailed to: snevada@oapn.mma.es
This permit is needed when climbing Mulhacén (or Alcazaba) from "Siete Lagunas" (see routes).

3000ers of Sierra Nevada, Spain

Mulhacén 3.482 m
Veleta 3.394 m
Alcazaba 3.371 m
Cerro de los Machos 3.324 m
Puntal de Siete Lagunas 3.255 m*
Tajos de la Virgen 3.237 m
Tajos del Nevero 3.196 m
Punta de Loma Pelada 3.188 m
Cerro Pelado 3.179 m
Tozal del Cartujo 3.152 m
Pico del Cuervo 3.151 m
La Atalaya 3.148 m
Puntal de Vacares 3.146 m
Cerro de las Tres Lindes 3.141 m*
Crestones de Río Seco 3.128 m*
Cerro del Mojón Alto 3.118 m*
Los Cervatillos 3.112 m*
Pico de la Laguna de Bolaños 3.109 m*
Picón de Jerez 3.090 m
Pico del Tajo de los Machos 3.086 m
Puntal del Goterón 3.072 m*
Loma del Cañar 3.056 m*
Juego de Bolos 3.034 m
Cerro del Caballo 3.009 m
Tajos de Loma Alta 3.004 m

*Subsidiary summits

Where to stay

There are a few Refugios (see links Natural Park Sierra Nevada section):
Poqueira Capileira. 2500 m. de altura. 87 beds, phone: 908.55.42.24 / 958.34.33.49
Refugio del Caballo
Refugio-Vivac deLa Caldera
Postero Alto Jerez del Marquesado. 1800 m. de altura. 60 beds, phone: 958.34.51.54 / 958.67.23.84
There is also a little non-guarded hut called Refugio-Vivac de la Carigüela del Veleta a little lower than that shelter, between Veleta and Tajos de la Virgen. If you like it natural: Refugio Natural de Siete Lagunas
Pradollano offers you a lot of beds to choose from.
Camping is not officially allowed in the Sierra Nevada national park, but you can get a permit to camp at the "refugio natural de siete lagunas" which is a splendid camping place at 2890 metres between Trevelez and Mulhacen/Alcazaba.

For those ones who want to access Sierra Nevada from the south (Alpujarras), specially for attempting the ´Capileira´ route, there is a nice tip to pass a night in the valley before starting the mountain ascend: ´REFUGIO DE BUBIÓN - LA ERMITA´ is a cheap, relatively comfortabel accomodation in the village of Bubión, just the village before Capileira.
María Angeles and Javier are the owners of this accomodation at the entrance of the village. They ask around 12 euro (other places ask around 24 euro P/P per night for a bed, without food. Their place has a fully equipped kitchen where one can cook his/her own meals. There are two toilets with shower (warm water) and a kind of common cozy table. There is place for about 12 people.
The owners live in the village of Panpaneira, so you will have to phone them and wait till they ride up to bring the keys. Tel. nrs.: +34 625564978 or +34 958763264.
To trek in this area I advise to bring your own sleeping bag. Any case, there are plenty of blankets under the seats (hidden?) of the dinner table.

Maps and drawings

Also see the Pico Veleta page for other maps!

Getting there

The Sierra Nevada is situated in the South of Spain in the Adalucia region just a few kilometers North of Costa del Sol and the African continet. With major cities as Sevilla, Cordoba, Malaga and Granada, it is easy to reach by plane.
The city of Malaga, Sevilla and Granada has flights from major European cities such as London, Paris, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Dusseldorf and Rome as well as domestic destinations like Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and Alicante.
Trains run from Barcelona, Valencia City and Madrid to to this part of Spain.
From Granada the A-395 leads you directly into the Sierra Nevada. Depends on the place your journy begins, drive to the North or South side of the Sierra Nevada.

If you're backpacking through Spain, you can catch a bus from Granada (you might want to visit the Alhambra if you're here) that goes into Las Alpujarras. Get off at the stop for Capileira (a pretty town of all whitewashed houses with flowered balconies). Everyone is friendly up here. If you ask around, it's not hard to find the trailhead and walk directly out of this town without any other transportation and make your way to the highest peak of the Iberic peninsula.

External Links

Tour to the Laguna de la Caldera, 3.020m, below Mulhacen
The page describes the hike from Capileira to the foot of Mulhacen and the hut at the laguna respectively. Additional information for the region can be accesses from that page.
Sierra Nevada refugios
Some information on the Poqueira and other refuges near Mulhacen (in Spanish).
Adventure and wintermountaineering Sierra Nevada
Trekking organisation Sierra Nevada
Refugio Postero

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