The road to Cerrajón de Murtas, a hidden gem
Cerrajón de Murtas is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.509m (4,950ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Granada, in the eastern part of the autonomous community of Andalusia, in southern Spain.
Situated in the south-eastern part of the Alpujarra, it’s the highest mountain in the Sierra de Contraviesa Spain, on the south slopes of the Sierra Nevada. The road to the summit is mostly paved with concrete. The final part is very demanding: steep and unpaved. A 4x4 vehicle is recommended.
Starting from the paved GR-5202, in the municipality of Murtas, the ascent is 4,7 km long. Over this distance, the average gradient is 6,7%, hitting a 14.4% through some of the ramps. The drive offers scenic views including the Sierra Nevada and Mediterranean coast.
The summit is home to a lookout with a commemorative plaque, called Mirador del Cerrajón, a geodesic vertex and a fire guardhouse. At the summit, the views are stunning. It’s possible to admire the beauty of Sierra Nevada, Sierra Gádor, the sea (on clear days the African mountains), Sierra de Lújar and most of the towns of the Alpujarra region.
Road suggested by: jorge manuel gómez sánchez
Pic&video: LIBRADA