What to do · Sierra de Gredos
From the Plataforma to the Laguna Grande de Gredos
Information
- Duration
- 5 h
- Distance
- 13.6 km
- Season
- May to October; in winter, only with equipment and experience
- Who it's for
- Walkers in reasonable shape; children used to walking
The path from the Plataforma to the Laguna Grande is the most popular route in the Sierra de Gredos and the most direct way to see the glacial cirque: the lake, at 1,947 metres, at the foot of Almanzor and the peaks surrounding it. It can be done in a day, there and back by the same path, with no technical difficulty in summer, but with steep ramps and loose stone.
By the road to Los Barrerones
It leaves from the Plataforma car park, at the end of the road that climbs from Hoyos del Espino. The first stretch follows a cobbled road to the Cavadores spring, at 3 km and an hour and a half. It keeps climbing to Los Barrerones, at 4.4 km, and the pass, at 2,178 metres: the highest point of the day. From there you see the Laguna Grande all at once with Almanzor behind it.
The descent to the lake
From the pass you go down to the shore: in all, 6.8 km and about two and a half hours from the car. Beside the lake is the Elola refuge. It is the place to eat and rest before retracing your steps. On the way back you must climb to the Los Barrerones pass again before descending to the Plataforma.
Distance, ascent and what to take
It is 13.6 km there and back, about five hours of walking and 741 metres of cumulative ascent, of moderate difficulty. Take water, food, a waterproof and warm clothing even if it is hot below: in fog, the path is lost. In winter you may need crampons and an ice axe, and experience. With a dog it is demanding because of the distance and the stone, and on the path there is livestock and the mules that go up to the refuge. Spanish ibex are often found beside the path: do not feed them.
The Plataforma road, regulated
In July, August, the first week of September and at weekends all year round, car access to the Plataforma is regulated with a barrier and ticket booth. In 2026 the regulation operates from 8:00 to 18:00 from October to June and from 8:00 to 20:00 from July to September. A car pays €3 a day; motorhomes, vans and vehicles with trailers, €5, and buses, €12. Arrive early: the car park fills up.
Picnic and lunch on the way back
If you stay at La Mira de Gredos, in Hoyos del Espino, they prepare a picnic for the route if you ask the night before. On the way down, La Galana, at the foot of the Plataforma road, serves lunches until 17:30. To stay nearby, the Hotel Rural Cuarto de Milla, in the same village, and to rest your legs the next day, the Aguas de Gredos circuit.
Tips
- Set out before nine You avoid the queue at the barrier and the midday sun on the climb to Los Barrerones.
- Check the forecast In fog or storm, do not go beyond the pass: the return gets complicated.
- Save your strength for the way back The climb back to the pass is the hardest part.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take?
About five hours there and back, not counting stops.
How much does parking cost?
On regulated days, €3 for a car and €5 for a motorhome.
Can children go?
Yes, if they are used to walking: it is 13.6 km with 741 m of ascent.
Can you take a dog to the Laguna Grande?
Yes, but it is demanding because of the stone and there is livestock on the path.
When is the best time to go?
From May to October; in winter, only with equipment and experience.
As a familyWith teenagers
