Sierra Alhamilla
The Sierra Alhamilla is a massive tectonic block that rears up between the Tabernas Desert and the coastal plains. Geographically, it functions as a high-altitude "cloud catcher," where the 1,387-meter peaks of Pico Colativí snag Mediterranean mists to sustain a ridge-top forest of holm oaks in an otherwise scorched province. Historically, this range was an industrial engine; the Romans and Moors exploited its thermal heart at the Baños de Sierra Alhamilla, while 19th-century miners carved out the iron ore that fueled the massive roasting ovens of Lucainena de las Torres. The landscape remains scarred by this heritage, with abandoned railway tracks and stone ruins still clinging to the mountain flanks.
For cycling, the Sierra Alhamilla is a relentless vertical staircase, with the AL-3107 serving as the primary spine over the range. The ascent from the basin pushes you toward a 1,100-meter crest where the temperature drops sharply and the horizon expands to include the snow-capped Sierra Nevada. The terrain is defined by sharp switchbacks and exposed ridgelines that provide a clear view of the dark, volcanic domes of Cabo de Gata far below. Navigating this range is a lesson in isolation, where the only movement in the heat-shimmered canyons comes from mountain goats and hawks circling the thermal drafts.
Region: Andalucía
City: Cementerio
Distance: 16.43 km
Elevation Gain: 448 m
Elevation Loss: 230 m
Difficulty: 272 (Easy)
FIETS Index: 0.91 FIETS
Avg Grade: 2.56 %
Max cat climb: 2
Min elevation: 278 m
Max elevation: 635 m
Ride Category: Hilly