Spanish Sierra Nevada Walks Near Poqueira Hut
Walking Routes From The South Side–Capileira, Trevelez and Mulhacen
Aug 25, 2009
The Poqueira Hut is the only manned hut away from road access in the Spanish Sierra Nevada. All other huts in the park (apart from the relatively low-altitude Postero Alto Hut at 1,850 m near Jerez del Marquesado) are bivouc shelters, where (in the best ones) good shelter, a sleeping platform and table is provided, but the worst are in worse repair than some Scottish bothys. The Poqueira Hut is in a style similar to that of Alpine Huts – albeit at a much more affordable cost – with dormitory-style spaces for 80 people and meals provided.
Walking to the Poqueira Hut from Capileira
The walk from Capileira to the Poqueira Hut has taken over from the route from Trevelez as the main access route, and serves as the first day of the two day route to the summit of Mulhacen and back. While fit and acclimatised walkers can complete the entire route to Mulhacen and back in one day, that is a very arduous undertaking. It is far better to break the journey into two days and spend the night in the Poqueira Hut.
There are a few options for the route, but three are the most popular. One goes north from Capileira (1,450 m) past La Cebadilla , then north-east to the hut along footpaths. Two start from the road-head at Hoya de la Portilla (2,150 m), gaining valuable starting height but one mostly uses the wide track of the old road past Alto del Chorillo, and is much easier going (and good for mountain biking) but much less interesting in ascent.
Walking to the Poqueira Hut from Trevelez
Once the main route from the south, the way up the hillside to the Tajos del Chorrillo isn't the easiest to find at the start, but heads northwest to the Alto Chorrillo where the old summit road can be picked up. The hut is then a short descent from this on wide and easy tracks. Again, its a full day walk.
Walking to the Summit of Mulhacen From the Poqueira Hut
This is a full-day route and walkers should make an early start to avoid the worst of the heat on the final summit scree slopes of Mulhacen. The walk runs beside the Rio Mulhacen to the Caldera Bivouac Hut (walking either side of the river is possible, but the west side (far side from the hut) has the usual ascent path. Taking the east side of the river involves walking over rough terrain high above the river with no path – although as a bonus it saves an unnecessary 100 m of descent into the valley at the start!) From the Caldera hut it is roughly an hour of slog up a steep scree slope to reach the summit of Mulhacen with its awesome views over the hills to the north and east.
The Poqueira Hut is a good base for walking on the southern side of the Spanish Sierra Nevada. Other articles about walking in Sierra Nevada by the same author include walks around Trevelez, walks around Veleta, and remote mountains in eastern Sierra Nevada.
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