Cycling around Granada and The Lecrin Valley

Cycling around Granada, Spain offers a fantastic mix of routes for all levels, from leisurely riders to serious climbers. If you’re a hard core hill climber, or just someone who loves to cycle for fun in fabulous countryside in different countries and locations, then you’ll love the Granada province and the area around the Lecrin Valley.

The province of Granada is renowned for its challenging climbs and picturesque landscapes. The Sierra Nevada mountain range provides numerous routes for both road cyclists and mountain bikers. One notable ascent is the Pico de Veleta, which boasts the highest paved road in Europe, reaching an elevation of 3,396 metres. This climb is celebrated for its panoramic views and demanding gradients.

The area is famous for its varied terrain, including:

1. Road Cycling

• Sierra Nevada Climbs: Popular with professional cyclists, the climb to Pico Veleta (3,396m) is one of the highest paved roads in Europe. Expect long ascents and breathtaking views.  
• Alpujarras Region: Rolling hills and white villages offer challenging but scenic rides.  
• Lecrín Valley & Vega de Granada: A mix of flatter routes with gentle inclines, ideal for more relaxed road cycling.  

2. Mountain Biking (MTB)

• Sierra Nevada National Park: A paradise for mountain bikers, with technical descents and forest trails.  
• Cumbres Verdes & Monachil: Great for enduro and downhill riders, offering rugged terrain and steep descents.  
• Guadix & Badlands: Unique desert-like landscapes with gravel and dirt tracks for adventure riders.  

3. Gravel & Touring  

• Vía Verde de Sierra Nevada: An old railway route converted into a scenic, mostly flat gravel path.  
• Routes through olive groves and farmland: Easier-going rides for long-distance touring cyclists.  

While Granada is well-known for its mountains, there are also flatter routes, especially in the Vega de Granada and towards the coast and we are very lucky in the Lecrin Valley to have some great routes, offering a mix of rolling terrain, gentle climbs, and stunning scenery with white villages, olive groves, and there’s a brand new cycle track around the Beznar reservoir which is great for families as well as individuals and cycle groups. 

The “Guájar Alto” route is a popular choice among cyclists, providing a mix of challenging climbs and scenic vistas.

Here are some routes around the Valle de Lecrin you might like to try, depending on your preference/ability/fitness!:  

1. Easy Scenic Ride: Lecrín Valley Loop

Find the route here courtesy of Cycling Sierra Nevada

• Distance: ~35 km  
• Elevation Gain: ~400 m  
• Route: Nigüelas – Dúrcal – Cozvíjar – Restábal – Melegís – Talará – Nigüelas
• Highlights:  
  • A relaxed ride through the valley, passing small villages with cafés.  
  • Views of the Béznar Reservoir.  
  • Mix of quiet roads and gentle climbs.  

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2. Moderate Ride: Reservoir & Villages Tour

• Distance: ~55 km  
• Elevation Gain: ~800 m  
• Route: Dúrcal – Nigüelas – Murchas – Restábal – Pinos del Valle – Béznar – Lanjarón – Return
• Highlights:  
  •   Stunning views of the Lecrín Valley and Sierra Nevada.  
  •   A climb up to Lanjarón, the “gateway to the Alpujarras.”  
  •   Quiet roads with occasional rolling hills.  

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3. Advanced Ride: Lecrín & Alpujarras Challenge

• Distance: ~85 km  
• Elevation Gain: ~1,600 m  
• Route: Dúrcal – Béznar – Lanjarón – Órgiva – Pampaneira – Bubión – Capileira – Return  
• Highlights:  
  • A climb into the Alpujarras, reaching Capileira (~1,400m).  
  • Incredible views over the Poqueira Gorge.  
  • Great cafés for a mid-ride break.  
  • Tough but rewarding with stunning scenery.  

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4. Gravel Route: Vía Verde de Sierra Nevada & Béznar Loop

• Distance: ~50 km  
• Elevation Gain: ~600 m  
• Route: Dúrcal – Vía Verde towards Talará – Restábal – Pinos del Valle – Gravel sections around Béznar – Return  
• Highlights:  
  • A mix of tarmac and gravel paths.  
  • Views of Sierra Nevada and the reservoir.  
  • Ideal for a gravel or touring bike.  

Sierra Nevada Cycling Club

For curated cycling routes around the Lecrín Valley, Cycle Sierra Nevada has pretty much everything you’ll need, with a list of great routes in the area HERE: https://www.sierranevada.cc/sierra-nevada-cycling-routes

They also offer cycling tours and holidays. Click here for latest tours and holidays for 2025: https://www.sierranevada.cc/spain/cycling-tour-calendar-2025

Other Resources

You can also try platforms like Komoot for detailed maps and user reviews to help plan your ride.  Here is a link to Komoot’s top cycling routes around the Lecrin Valley:

https://www.komoot.com/guide/1775554/cycling-around-valle-de-lecrin/

Whether you’re seeking challenging mountain climbs or leisurely rides through picturesque villages, the areas around Granada and the Lecrín Valley offer a wealth of opportunities for cyclists. 

Granada province offers a variety of cycling tour companies catering to different preferences and skill levels.

Cycling Country (http://www.cyclingcountry.com) 

Bike Spain Tours (http://www.bikespain.info)

Cyclomundo (http://www.cyclomundo.com)

These companies offer a range of cycling experiences, from leisurely e-bike city tours to challenging road bike adventures through Andalusia’s diverse landscapes. 

Feature image credit: https://www.sierranevada.cc