La Maya restaurant
What to order: mountain meat over holm-oak embers if it is the weekend, and for tea its pancakes with cream or chocolate with fried bread
geocalia
Day itinerary · 40.78° N · 4.00° W
A snowshoeing Sunday at Navacerrada: the snowy forest without skis and lunch in the village.
A morning snowshoeing through the National Park pinewoods with the pass's school, no experience needed, and a grill lunch at La Maya, in Cercedilla. It can be done by train.
Leaving from
Part of Navacerrada Pass and CercedillaThe Central System
Add to my trip
Total time9 h
By car1 h each way
SnowshoesWith a guide, no experience
LevelEasy
Best timeJanuary · February
Without a carC-8 and C-9 bus
The plan
The day at a glance
Any part can be swapped for another without spoiling the day.
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Leave Madrid 1 h by car
via the A-6 and the M-601, with chains; or C-8 to Cercedilla and bus to the pass
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1
Guided snowshoeing from the Puerto de Navacerrada
guided route by the Escuela Española de Esquí de Navacerrada; price when booking
+34 918 52 03 59
- 15 min by car12 km
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2
La Maya restaurant
holm oak grill at the weekend · €€ · open every day
Calle Carrera del Señor, 2, 28470 Cercedilla · +34 918 52 22 52
Restaurant €€Book - 8 min by car3,5 km
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3
Fuenfría Roman road from Las Dehesas
if it is late, a short stretch from Las Dehesas
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Back home
You reach Madrid around 18:30
Approximate cost
About €20–35 per person
Adds up the activities and meals in the plan at their published prices; travel and accommodation not included.
The route
Guided snowshoeing from the Puerto de Navacerrada
You do not need to know how to ski to spend a Sunday in the snow. On snowshoes you walk through the snowy pinewood of the pass as on a path, and with a guide there is no need to worry about the route. Afterwards, lunch in Cercedilla, the train village.
The day, hour by hour
8:00 · Set off. By car, take the A-6 and the M-601, with chains in the boot and the road conditions checked. Without a car, the Cercanías C-8 to Cercedilla and the bus that replaces the C-9 to the pass; in heavy snow that bus does not run.
9:30 · Snowshoeing with a guide. The Escuela Española de Esquí de Navacerrada, on the M-601 road 150 metres from the slopes, organises routes for all levels: gentle walks through the forest for beginners and families or longer routes. The guide explains the equipment and safety before setting off. Book on 918 52 03 59 and ask the price and meeting point. If you go on your own, snowshoes can be rented at Valdesquí for €12.50.
14:00 · Lunch at La Maya. On the way down to Cercedilla, in the centre of the village. At weekends they light the holm-oak grill: ox loin, suckling lamb chops. Open every day from 12:00. If you arrive late, there are afternoon-tea pancakes.
16:00 · Fuenfría. If there is light and energy left, go up to Las Dehesas and walk a stretch of the Roman road. The car park only admits cars with a booking and a fee; on foot you climb from the station.
17:30 · Head home.
Time3 h
Change the route
If someone wants to try skiing:
Skiing at the Puerto de Navacerrada resort
If there is no snow and the group walks well:
Camino Schmid and Siete Picos, a circuit from the pass
Where to eat
Where to eat?
Lunch is half the plan: book before you set off.
Venta Marcelino
What to order: the judiones beans from La Granja with chorizo or the Madrid-style tripe, both stewed fresh every day, and rice pudding or fried milk for dessert
Hotel Luces del Poniente restaurant
What to order: ask for a table on the terrace if the day is clear; the menu and the tea menu are on its website
Map
The stops, in order
With where to park at each one.
What to do
Eat
88 €Stay
Services
Getting there
By car or without one?
When to go
When to go to Navacerrada Pass and Cercedilla
With snow, normally from December to March. If it has not snowed, swap the snowshoeing for the Fuenfría Roman road.
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Best timeGood timeLow season
Tips
Worth knowing first
- 1Waterproof boots and gaiters
On snowshoes, snow gets in from the top.
- 2Do not bring a sledge
There are no sledging areas in the National Park.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Do I need experience to go snowshoeing?
No, the guide teaches you to use them before setting off.
Can you do it with children?
Yes, if they walk well: the school runs gentle walks for families.
Is La Maya open on Sunday?
Yes, from 12:00 to 01:00 every day.
What if there is no snow?
Do the Fuenfría Roman road from Las Dehesas.
More plans like this
Other days of walking and good food
geocalia.com/en/spain/community-of-madrid/navacerrada-pass-and-cercedilla/itineraries/snowshoeing-at-the-pass-from-madrid
Prices, opening hours and times are approximate: check them before you go. Each place has its own page on Geocalia.