# An autumn Sunday in Rascafría: oak woods, the Purgatorio waterfall and the arboretum

A half-day among oaks and Ávila cattle along the Aguilón river to the Purgatorio waterfall, mountain-village lunch on the edge of Rascafría and the Giner de los Ríos arboretum at dusk.

Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/community-of-madrid/lozoya-valley/itineraries/oak-woods-and-purgatorio-waterfall · Revisado: 2026-11-12

## El día
- 08:45 · Salida: 1 h 15 by car (from Madrid via the M-607 and the Puerto de Navacerrada, or via the A-1 and the M-604)
- 10:00 · Purgatorio Waterfall from El Paular (from the Puente del Perdón along the Camino Viejo and the Aguilón river · about 5 km each way · return the same way)
  - 5 min by car, 3 km
- 14:15 · La Pradera Restaurant (La Pradera, on the M-611 · croquetas and mountain cooking · €€ · booking) · La Pradera Restaurant, €€
  - 3 min by car, 2,5 km
- 16:15 · Perdón Bridge, visitor centre and Giner de los Ríos Arboretum (18th-century bridge, visitor centre and arboretum · 1 h · free)
- 17:30 · Vuelta (You reach Madrid around 19:00)

The Lozoya valley, on the other side of Navacerrada, is in autumn a mosaic of yellow oak woods, ash trees and meadows with Ávila cattle, beneath the Peñalara range. The classic walk, from the monastery of El Paular to the Purgatorio waterfall, takes in all of it in half a day and ends at a waterfall between granite cliffs. Afterwards, mountain-village cooking in a meadow with tables under the trees and a while in the arboretum, which at this time of year is a catalogue of colours.

## The day, hour by hour

8:45 · Set off. From Madrid, take the M-607 and the Navacerrada pass to Rascafría; if there is ice on the pass, take the A-1 and the M-604, which is a little longer. Park next to the El Paular monastery.

10:00 · To the Purgatorio waterfall. The council's route plan starts opposite the monastery, at the Puente del Perdón, and follows the Camino Viejo de Madrid through oak woods to the Aguilón river. You go up the river among pools and rapids, with cows in the clearings; at the end the Majada Grande cliffs and the waterfall appear, with a wooden viewpoint. It is about 5 km each way and you return by the same path: allow half a day.

14:15 · Lunch at La Pradera. On the edge of Rascafría, next to the M-611 that climbs to the Morcuera: wooden tables under the trees, a vine trellis and a glassed-in dining room for when it gets cool. Open Saturdays and Sundays from 12:30 to 18:00. Book.

16:15 · The Puente del Perdón and the arboretum. Next to the monastery: the 18th-century bridge over the Lozoya, the National Park visitor centre, with the exhibition on the Carthusians' paper mill, and the Giner de los Ríos Arboretum, with about 200 species. An hour, free.

17:30 · Head home. In Madrid around seven; in Segovia, in an hour.

## What to order

The home-made ham croquettes and a spoon dish if there is one, as in November you fancy it. Home-made dessert.

## Cómo llegar

### By car
M-607 and the Navacerrada pass, or A-1 and M-604 via Lozoya if the pass has ice or snow. Car park next to El Paular.

## Consejos

### Check the pass before you set off
In November the Navacerrada pass can have ice first thing; the Comunidad de Madrid reports on road conditions.

### Good footwear
The end of the route is stone and with wet leaves it is slippery.

### Dog on a lead
There is loose livestock in the meadows.

## Cuándo no ir

If you want something short: the full route is half a day. With small children, stay at the arboretum and the Puente del Perdón and eat early.

## Preguntas frecuentes

### How long does it take to reach the Purgatorio waterfall?
It is about 5 km each way from the Puente del Perdón; with the return, half a day.

### Is it difficult?
It is of medium difficulty: the path is easy to the river and the last stretch, of stone, needs attention.

### When is there most water in the waterfall?
In spring and after the autumn rains.

### Do I have to pay for anything?
The route, the arboretum and the visitor centre are free. The visit to the monastery costs €7.