Canto Cochino barrier and car park

Canto Cochino is the car park from which the classic routes of La Pedriza start, such as that of El Tolmo. It is free, but the National Park regulates it with a quota of 270 cars parked at the same time and with closing hours of the La Camorza barrier, which change between winter and summer. Private individuals cannot reserve a space; buses can, and must do so in advance, with 10 spaces reserved for them.

When you can enter

Winter (1 October to 31 May). On weekdays access is open until the quota is filled, and it normally does not fill. On Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays the barrier does not let motor vehicles in from 10:30 to 16:00, and the quota usually fills between 8:30 and 9:00. In practice, if you are not inside by about 9:00 at a weekend, expect not to be able to drive up.

Summer (1 June to 30 September). The quota of 270 vehicles applies all week. On weekdays the barrier is closed to entry from 10:30 to 18:30 and from 22:30 to 7:30; at weekends and public holidays, from 9:30 to 18:30 and from 22:30 to 7:00. That is why entry times are early in the morning and late in the evening. In summer you cannot spend the night inside La Pedriza.

When the quota is full, only one car enters for each one that leaves, and always within opening hours. Parking outside the designated areas is prohibited.

Before going up

Call the La Pedriza Visitor Centre (918 53 99 78), which is open every day from 9:00 to 15:00 and is about 200 metres before the barrier, to ask whether there is space. Next to the bridge over the River Manzanares, already at Canto Cochino, the Park has an information point with a general map of La Pedriza; it is open at weekends and public holidays from November to March, from 9:00 to 16:30, and daily from April to October.

If the quota is full

There is no need to give up the route. Leave the car in the visitor centre car park or in Manzanares el Real and enter on foot via the Camorza gorge, which follows the river to Canto Cochino in 4.9 km, or by the Quebrantaherraduras path. Without a car, the 724 bus reaches the village from Plaza de Castilla.

Rules in the area

• Dogs must be on a lead and stay on the paths.
• Camping is not allowed in any mountain area of the Community of Madrid.
• Swimming in the River Manzanares is not permitted, even if you see pools next to the car park; the page on the River Manzanares and the Charca Verde explains it.
• Bivouacking is only allowed at Las Torres, El Laberinto and El Yelmo, without a tent.
• Climbing and bouldering have their own regulation and temporary closures.