Mulhacén (3,482 m a.s.l.) is the highest peak of the Sierra Nevada mountains, as well as the entire mainland Spain. The range is located in sunny Andalusia, in the southern part of the Iberian Peninsula. A low-demanding path leads to the summit, making Mulhacén widely accessible to hikers of various experience levels. In this article, I will describe a trip from the beginning of June, when there was still a lot of frozen snow around the peak. It will be a loop starting from the village of Trevélez, and after conquering Mulhacén, we will also climb the neighboring mountain – Alcazaba (3,371 m a.s.l.). You are cordially invited!
Table of Contents
- Table of Contents
- Mulhacén – Key Information
- Starting in Trevélez
- The Long Ascent to Alto del Chorrillo
- The Section from Alto del Chorrillo to Mulhacén
- Mulhacén (3,482 m a.s.l.) – The Summit
- Descent from Mulhacén to Laguna Hondera
- Ascent to Alcazaba (3,369 m a.s.l.) from Laguna Hondera
- The Long Return to Trevélez via the Yellow Trail
- Route Map
Mulhacén – Key Information
- Mulhacén stands at 3,482 m a.s.l., making it the highest peak in mainland Spain (in the overall classification, the peak loses only to Pico del Teide on Tenerife in the Canary Islands).
- Mulhacén is located in the Sierra Nevada range within the Baetic System. These mountains are high but rather gentle: you will find far more green meadows here than sharp ridges. Sierra Nevada is, in fact, the only such massive part of the Baetic System. In the rest of the chain, the elevations are much lower, rarely exceeding 2,000 m a.s.l.
- Our starting point for Mulhacén was the village of Trevélez, located on the southern slopes of the Sierra Nevada (approx. 1,550 m a.s.l.). Thanks to the fact that two hiking trails lead from the village towards the summit, we were able to plan a neat loop. Additionally, after reaching Mulhacén, we also climbed Alcazaba, the third-highest peak in the Sierra Nevada. The entire trip did not involve major technical difficulties, but it was highly demanding in terms of stamina: nearly 30 kilometers of walking and over 2,500 meters of elevation gain (though climbing Mulhacén alone would be much simpler – 22 km and 1,900 m of elevation gain).
- A much easier option to summit Mulhacén is to start the hike in the village of Capileira, also located on the southern slopes of the range. From there, hikers take a shuttle bus that goes up a gravel road to an altitude of… 2,700 m a.s.l. In this configuration, only about 700 meters of elevation gain remain. The bus leaves hikers near the culmination of Alto del Chorrillo, which is the spot where the green trail from Trevélez joins the main route to Mulhacén.
- Finally, the summit of Mulhacén can also be reached from the northern side. In this case, the trip begins in the town of Pradollano. The village is located at an astronomical altitude (2,220 – 2,400 m a.s.l.) and is primarily known for its large ski resort and… the highest road in Europe, which climbs to an altitude of 3,380 m a.s.l. (practically right below the summit of Pico del Veleta – 3,396 m a.s.l., the second-highest peak in the range). The ridge section from Veleta to Mulhacén is just over 6 kilometers long and requires overcoming 480 meters of elevation gain.
- There are no glaciers on Mulhacén. However, when we were on the mountain at the beginning of June, a significant amount of frozen snow remained in some places (especially on the section of the Integral de Sierra Nevada trail, which approaches Mulhacén from the east). There was also a lot of excess water coming from intense snowmelt.
Starting in Trevélez
It is almost 7 AM when we pull our rental car into the public parking lot in Trevélez, located at an altitude of approx. 1,530 m a.s.l. (coordinates: 37.0020556N, 3.2685833W, link to map). With sleepy eyes, I look around the rather empty square. Am I dreaming, or am I really about to start a trek to the highest peak in mainland Spain?
Trevélez can be described as a typical “pueblo blanco“, a traditional Andalusian village filled with small, white houses. It is no surprise then that we spend the first few hundred meters of the trek wandering through charming, narrow streets. Since the entirety of Trevélez is situated on a steep slope, we start a strenuous ascent right after getting out of the car. After a few minutes, we leave the last residential buildings behind and begin trekking along the green trail. We now hike up a narrow but clear path winding through farmland and cattle pens. What is particularly captivating is that there are plenty of vibrant green plants around, providing a lovely contrast to the prickly, semi-desert flora found in other parts of Andalusia.
The Long Ascent to Alto del Chorrillo
After just a few dozen minutes of walking, the tall vegetation disappears, and vast, grassy meadows become the dominant feature of the landscape. The agricultural use of these lands is evident from the cows encountered here and there and the irrigation ditches. The path is narrow along its entire length but very well visible. In terms of scenic value, beautiful panoramas of the massive bodies of the surrounding ridges unfold both ahead of us and behind us. I must admit that I really like it here. It seems like a simple green slope, but it has something peaceful, magnetizing, and very charming about it.
The green trail from Trevélez to Alto del Chorrillo is 6 kilometers long and requires gaining over 1,100 meters of elevation. It sounds like a lot, but fortunately, we quickly find a good rhythm, and the ascent goes really smoothly. Near the upper part of the slope, the path occasionally splits into several variants, but this is not an issue either, as all lines eventually merge. Moreover, the higher we go, the more we feel the recently passed winter. At times, fresh meltwater flows along the trail, and in one spot, we even cross a large patch of snow.
In less than two and a half hours after leaving Trevélez, we finish the ascent up the green slope and reach an exceptionally wide ridge. We cross the gravel road coming from Capileira and then walk up to the nearby culmination of Alto del Chorrillo (2,721 m a.s.l.). We take a fifteen-minute break at the summit, during which we hydrate, eat sandwiches, and admire the gorgeous panorama of the snow-capped peaks of the Sierra Nevada’s main ridge. The most impressive is Veleta (3,394 m a.s.l.), with its silhouette looking somewhat flat from this perspective, the second-highest peak in the range. The main goal of today – Mulhacén – is not yet visible…
The Section from Alto del Chorrillo to Mulhacén
While on Alto del Chorrillo, we also spot shuttle buses driving up here from time to time from the direction of Capileira. The stop is located just below the summit, at an altitude of approx. 2,705 m a.s.l. Groups of hikers periodically pour out of the buses, which is why there are far more people on this section of the trail than on the first part of the climb. That being said, it is still a far cry from a crowded trail.
The section from Alto del Chorrillo to Mulhacén – Subida al Mulhacén – is 5 kilometers long and requires overcoming 800 meters of elevation gain. The ascent follows a wide path up a moderately sloped ridge. As we gain altitude, the grass disappears, and the landscape becomes dominated by a sea of rocks and occasional snowfields. On the left, we are constantly accompanied by a pleasant view of the other peaks of the Sierra Nevada, and on the right – a panorama of the lower parts of the Baetic System, with the characteristic silhouette of Sierra de Lújar (1,878 m a.s.l.) leading the view.
I won’t deny that the climb to Mulhacén is neither technically demanding nor particularly fascinating. At times, the trek is downright monotonous, and successive rocky hills drag on endlessly. Basically, it feels like walking along the back of a giant, bulky whale ;D. Our pace remains good because the walking is comfortable here. The quick progress up the contour lines is aided by a convenient path, pleasant temperatures, and the total absence of altitude issues (we were a bit worried about this before the trip since we were climbing Mulhacén without any prior acclimatization, having slept the previous night at an altitude of about 200 m a.s.l.).
Four kilometers after leaving Alto del Chorrillo, we reach the minor summit of Mulhacén II (3,362 m a.s.l.). From this point, only a gentle ridge section remains to the main culmination, consisting of a one-kilometer walk and about 120 meters of elevation gain.
Mulhacén (3,482 m a.s.l.) – The Summit
We conquer Mulhacén (3,482 m a.s.l.) a quarter past 11 AM, which means after four hours of walking. I must admit that we are very pleased with ourselves – it has been a long time since we covered 1,900 meters of elevation gain at such a great pace (if ever). With a sense of satisfaction and a mountain job well done, we sit down on the rocks, pulling out snacks and soaking up the impressive, sweeping panoramas. Looking at the massive peaks of the Sierra Nevada, I am glad we came to Andalusia at the beginning of June, when there is still plenty of frozen snow on the summits. The white peaks look far more beautiful and grand than the harsh, rocky desert that surely forms here by August or September.
The views from the top of Mulhacén captivate with their immense scale and virtually unlimited space. Meanwhile, a touch of exposure is provided by the view from the northern and north-western slopes, which are noticeably steeper and sharper than the other sides of the peak. Besides wild nature, there is also an anthropogenic element on the summit – a small shrine dedicated to the Virgin of the Pillar (Virgen del Pilar).
The satisfaction of standing on the peak is amplified by the fact that Mulhacén becomes the second-highest summit on my personal mountain list. I have only been higher once before – in August last year on Schrankogel (3,497 m a.s.l.) in the Stubai Alps.
Descent from Mulhacén to Laguna Hondera
After spending several minutes on the summit and having a pleasant chat with a group of fellow hikers from Poland (who are intensely working on their European Peaks collection), we begin our descent. For our return, we choose a section of the Integral de Sierra Nevada trail, which runs down the eastern slope of Mulhacén.
Well… and I won’t hide that things get tricky here. The slope is covered with a significant amount of slippery, treacherous snow. For a few minutes, we carefully descend along the compact white mass, and as soon as it becomes possible, we hop back onto the rocks. Because snow covers the entire “proper” path, we are forced to navigate a loose, deceptive boulder field for a long time. Martyna and Jaromir handle this environment quite well; I do a bit worse. Nevertheless, we all press forward, essentially off-trail, searching for the most optimal routes on the go. Near the end of the descent, we are forced to cross several large snowfields. Personally, I opt for controlled sliding, which seems like a much better idea than desperately (and somewhat recklessly) searching for stability. When I finally arrive by the lake Laguna Hondera (approx. 2,900 m a.s.l.) after an hour of descending like this, I breathe a sigh of relief, sit down tiredly on a rock, and open a well-deserved energy drink with a sigh.
Evaluating this section in hindsight, it seems to me that the descent was not so much technically difficult (though hands were used on the rock in some places) as it was exceptionally cautious and uncomfortable. Everything was wet, slippery, and shifting underfoot. Besides, reading this, you are probably thinking: “how foolish! they should have brought crampons!”. And you are probably right – spikes would have been quite useful here. The problem is that one usually flies to the south of Spain by plane, and winter gear not only weighs its share but also takes up a lot of volume in strictly regulated luggage. I don’t feel that we did anything highly dangerous either – just something harder than the optimal option. And what is that optimal option? Well, according to what I managed to read, once the spring melt process is complete, this section of the Integral de Sierra Nevada is just as easy and pleasant as the path we used to climb Mulhacén.
Ascent to Alcazaba (3,369 m a.s.l.) from Laguna Hondera
As the saying goes, sometimes the appetite comes with eating. In my experience, it is much the same with mountains. For this reason, after a brief rest and a saving dose of caffeine, we decide to make an attempt at the “side goal” of today’s trip, namely climbing nearby Alcazaba. Here, too, we have to improvise a little. The Integral de Sierra Nevada trail leading to the summit turns near Laguna Hondera and then runs through a completely snow-covered cirque. Wanting to spare ourselves further sliding, we choose an alternative option – ascending the slope of Peñón del Globo (3,288 m a.s.l.), which closes the valley from the north.
Over the next three kilometers, we traverse the marshy bottom of the valley, climb the aforementioned slope, and tackle over 300 meters of elevation gain. The terrain poses no technical difficulties and is quite obvious navigationally: you simply walk straight up the rocks. Thus, after about an hour of tramping up the slope, we find ourselves below the peak of Peñón del Globo (3,288 m a.s.l.).
From our current perspective, the target is perfectly visible. Staying to the right of the ridge, we descend to a small col and begin bypassing another snowfield. At times, the terrain requires using our hands, but for the most part, we walk on what we’ve already grown accustomed to: alternating between unstable rocks and frozen snow. In this manner, a few minutes before 3 PM, we stand on the third-highest peak of the Sierra Nevada range – Alcazaba (3,369 m a.s.l.).
Impressions? What is there to write – the summit turns out to be as magnificent as its name implies ;) (Alcazabas are Arabic fortifications built in Andalusia during Moorish rule). Reaching the peak brings me tons of fulfillment, satisfaction, and plain human joy. What’s more, Alcazaba offers an absolutely fantastic view of nearby Mulhacén. Seriously… the highest peak of the range looks downright insane from this angle, you could just stare and stare at it… endlessly. Despite the fatigue, we rejoice like children, take photos, and soak up the moments. These are the kinds of moments you live, train, and earn money for ;D.
Before moving on to the description of the descent, a few words on why we went exactly this way and not another. Map analysis shows that between Mulhacén and Alcazaba, there are at least two other variants (one marked trail, one not) that allow reaching both peaks without descending all the way down to an altitude of 2,950 m a.s.l. The answer is simple – we weren’t sure about the conditions on the ridge section (meaning both permanent difficulties and current conditions). Descending to the lake seemed safer, especially since from Mulhacén it was already clear that things got quite steep in places.
The Long Return to Trevélez via the Yellow Trail
On Alcazaba, we slightly alter our concept regarding the descent. Instead of the ridge, we decide to head straight down across the snowfield. The idea proves quite good, as just a few dozen minutes later we stand on the rocky slope again, at an altitude of approx. 3,210 m a.s.l., nearly 100 meters below the summit of Peñón del Globo. From this point on, we descend the exact same way we came up.
An hour after leaving Alcazaba, we find ourselves back near Laguna Hondera (approx. 2,900 m a.s.l.), where we begin our descent via the yellow trail. The slope is steep here, so losing altitude goes very smoothly at first. For a long time, we walk alongside a lovely stream, turned by meltwater into a rushing, roaring river with numerous waterfalls.
I stop romanticizing the beautiful, melting streams only when we are forced to leap across one of them time and again. We face the first such situation at an altitude of approx. 2,800 m a.s.l., but in this case, the task is fortunately quite simple. Just one big leap. The problem arises a bit further down, about 250 meters lower, where by natural progression the stream is significantly wider and more torrential. We spend a long time looking for a suitable spot, but every single one seems absolutely unfit for jumping. In the end, we grit our teeth and… step into the cold, rushing water. I won’t lie – it was not a pleasant experience, and our boots remain soaked for the next few kilometers.
As we lose altitude, the yellow trail gradually transitions from a rocky desert into a vast, grassy meadow. So we descend along a massive slope, very similar to the one we started our journey on. It is very peaceful and lovely here, but at some point, it gets a bit monotonous. At an altitude of approx. 2,400 m a.s.l., the uniform line of the landscape is interrupted by a small mountain shelter – Refugio vivac La Campiñuela, intended – I presume – for emergency overnight stays or sudden weather breakdowns.
For the next hour, we walk down a comfortable path amid increasingly tall vegetation. At this stage of the descent, we are accompanied practically the entire time by two things: a view of the opposite Loma de Piedra Ventana ridge, with peaks reaching altitudes above 2,500 m a.s.l., and a chronic ache in our legs and entire bodies. Oh, this was a heavy trek, definitely… No wonder we greet the first buildings of Trevélez with great enthusiasm. We finally clock in at the parking lot at 6:40 PM. This means the entire trip took us nearly 12 hours of continuous walking… Well, it was a solid endurance test.
Fortunately, our accommodation for tonight is booked right in Trevélez. So all that’s left is to check in, hop into the shower, and treat ourselves to a well-deserved tinto de verano at a nearby tavern. There is plenty to celebrate ;D.
Date of the trip: June 6, 2026
Trip statistics: 28 km; 2,540 meters of elevation gain
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