If Madrid is known for something, it is for its popular spots, such as Puerta del Sol or Gran Vía. But, if you are not from the neighborhood, you should know that this community hides beautiful places worthy of being known in multiple ways: hiking is one of them.

 

A priori, hiking could be a simple activity, if we compare it with bungee jumping, for example. However, each route is unique, each day you can meet different people and engage in conversations of different topics, and the more you practice it, the more you get attached to it.

 

In Madrid, the options for hiking are very varied. But for us to know these options is easier, we can arrange them into four types of routes or different paths.

 

In the first place, we can choose to go to the different protected areas of Madrid's geography . Thus, we will find routes that cross the National Park of the Sierra de Guadarrama or the Regional Parks of the Cuenca Alta del Manzanares, the Southeast and the Guadarrama.

 

Second, we have a very interesting option: routes that follow the cattle trails , known as "Routes Discover your canyons". This will be a golden opportunity to know the paths through which livestock traditionally passed (and still today, although to a lesser extent). You can learn the history and learn to value a little more the culture of Madrid. There are around 1650 cattle trails that exist!

 

In third place, you can practice hiking as a way to reach a specific destination and with a clearly marked intention: birdwatching . In case it sounds like Chinese, that word means 'bird watching', and it's a practice that is gaining strength in recent years. So, in addition to water and something to nibble, take a pair of binoculars because spotting a bird in mid-flight is an impressive experience.

 

In addition, and fourth, you have other options for routes: trails approved by the FEDME (GR, PR, SL), paths that pass through greenways (old railway networks), natural roads or routes of each municipality.

 

Here are some examples, so you can start to investigate: Schmid Road, route of approximately 6 km from the port of Navacerrada to Cercedilla; Path of the Cascades of Purgatory (El Paular), with about 12 km of waterfalls, with lots of vegetation and incredible views. Finally, another of the options you have is the Ecological Path of the Port of Canencia, with about 7 km passable and highly recommended to do it during the fall.

 

If you still have doubts, wait and read some reasons why hiking in Madrid.

 

Madrid is a great city, but one of the main problems of large cities is the amount of pollution they produce.

 

Detoxify by doing some of the hiking routes that the capital has. In addition to breathing fresh air, you will achieve the peace and relaxation that the city hardly gives you.

# 5 Change the asphalt on the ground

 

If we say "Madrid" surely we all think of its grand avenues or its fantastic architectural facades loaded with history. What if we change those great historic buildings for large groves older than the buildings we know so much about?

 

Discover all that the nature of Madrid has to tell you.

 

 

Madrid offers many ways to go hiking.

 

For example, in protected areas such as the National Park of the Sierra de Guadarrama, the Regional Park of the Cuenca Alta del Manzanares or the Regional Park of the Southeast; know its magnificent cattle trails full of livestock history; discover their green paths; or mix the activity of hiking while doing some birdwatching.

 

You want to try them all!

 

 

All cities should have their green areas well preserved, and the best way to help conserve them is for everyone to know their advantages first-hand.

 

Take a hiking trail in Madrid and see for yourself your benefits!

 

 

It is not the same to explain to you about vegetation or fauna in a textbook than to see it with your own eyes.

 

The field offers you a lot of curious information and discovering it with your own feet is priceless.

 

 

Sometimes it seems that we live to work, when it must be secondary. Get out of the routine and reconnect with the nature that surrounds Madrid. Live your little adventure in the outskirts!

 

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