As well as miles of coastline, Malaga is a very mountainous region. It boast various national parks which offer numerous walking routes through protected forests. One of these parks is Sierra de las Nieves, literally meaning ‘The Snowy Mountains.’
Sierra de las Nieves is just under an hours drive from Malaga capital and stands well over 1000 metres above sea level.
The park offers endless hiking trails ranging in length and difficulty. If you fancy an easier, shorter walk, I recommend the circular route starting at the Puerto de Saucillo viewpoint. Puerto de Saucillo is close to the village of Yunquera, a charming little town nestled in to the bottom of the mountains.
From here, it is a steep climb in the car as you drive up narrow dirt tracks until you reach the mirador (viewpoint). We found that it is not always open for cars and you might have to park near the gates below and walk the last (very steep!) part of the road.
From the mirador, you can enjoy spectacular views of the province. Visibility can vary as there is often a haze over the valley but on a clear day you can supposedly see all the way to Mijas and even to Malaga.
Up here, the air is crisper and purer than at sea level and you can soak up the pure, fresh smells of nature.
The trail is mostly under the shade of the pine trees as you walk around a natural curve in the mountain. Sierra de las Nieves is unique because it has an endangered species of pine tree called the ‘pinsapo’ which you can distinguish by its thick, light green needles. These trees only grow in the Mediterranean and are a rare find.
As you walk, you will find other Mediterranean plants such as wild rosemary which has a distinct, strong smell. The national park is also home to the mountain goat but it is unlikely you will catch a glimpse of this wild animal.
At the end of the route, there is an old ‘pozo’ (well). Before the days of refrigerators, farmers used wells to store ice blocks to keep produce cool. This was a fairly profitable business while it lasted.
The route eventually leads to back to the Puerto de Saucillo viewpoint. All in all, this circular track takes about 1 hour 30 minutes and is not too steep, making the walk easy and enjoyable. It is long enough to enjoy the peaceful, untouched nature of this mountain range that stands high above Malaga and its surroundings.
La Buena Vida 