IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT:
Access to this hiking trail with pets is prohibited as it is within a reserve area.
Hiking trail subject to administrative authorisation. For individuals, this is managed at the El Bosque visitor centre, preferably by email: cvelbosque@reservatuvisita.es, or by phone: 956 709 733. Active tourism companies, clubs, associations, federations and legally constituted groups should contact the Natural Park office, Tel: 600 161 916/600 161 906
From June 1 to October 15 you may only visit when accompanied by authorised companies.


This trail immerses us in the fir forest, a unique fir that led to these mountains being declared a Biosphere Reserve and Natural Park. Why is this fir tree so important? Go to the forest of Spanish fir trees and see for yourself...

The trail begins in the place known as Las Canteras or Los Areneros due to the quarries there, it is a couple of kilometres from Grazalema on the road that leads to Puerto de las Palomas. It begins to ascend among reforestation pines that have been able to stop the rapid soil erosion caused by the heavy rains. In fact, this area has one of the highest rainfalls in Spain.

Heading upwards, the path reaches Puerto de las Cumbres, a natural pasasge to the northern slope of the mountain range of the same name, where there is a superb view, allowing us to see the Serranía de Ronda behind us and a large section of the reserve area before us. You can also see the Torreón, the highest peak in the province of Cádiz, and some Spanish firs that announce the proximity of the forest.

You will be able to enter the fir tree forest, where the little light that penetrates the forest will attract our attention. The Spanish fir belongs to one of the nine species of fir trees that live in the mountains around the Mediterranean. In fact, it is only found in Andalusia in the Serranía de Ronda and the Sierra de Grazalema, where it covers over 400 ha, over the Sierra del Pinar. These trees are generally located on northern slopes, protected from excessive sunshine and the consequent loss of wetness, and they create a dense and shady forest in which the trees compete for light, leaving their lower branches without leaves and a there is a scarce and reduced understory of just a few different species. Fir forests were much more widespread millions of years ago, when climatic conditions were very different from today. It is, therefore, a vestige of those times, a botanical gem restricted to a very limited region.

Later on, the Spanish firs will give prominence to the Valencian oaks, and we now descend a track in search of the small town of Benamahoma. On the slopes of the mountains it is possible to see the crows and vultures flying in circles, as if observing us attentively.