The Schmidt Trail, as they call it, will be easy for you to follow, because it is marked with yellow marks on the trees and rocks, and it is also of low difficulty. The route of this hiking route is 7 km and is linear, the departure and arrival points are different.
If you wish, you can request information about other hiking routes here.
The Tour
The hiking route that the Austrian adventurer delimited can be divided into 2 sections:
- Puerto de Navacerrada – Collado Ventoso (4km; 1.30 h approx.)
Further ahead, you will leave the Telégrafo Tracks on your left and you will have to continue along the paved track that will take you to the Showcase track. In a few minutes, at the end of the road, you will be in front of the Residence of the Air Force. Leave the road at the access point to the Showcase, cross a forest track to the west and, below a cross-country ski track, the Schmidt trail begins.
Take the path and follow the indications, always visible, in the form of yellow circles, which will guide you throughout the route.
Shortly after entering the path, you will come across the El Bosque ski slope. Follow the path that goes down to the valley and, after half an hour, you will enter the grove, where you will be able to see a wide variety of pines, brooms, ferns and rocks. After this descent, you will reach the Telegrafo stream.
Going down to the right of the stream, you will find a small fountain and, about 10 more minutes later, you will cross a camping area from which you will be able to see the Valsaín Valley. Then begins a stretch of alternating climbs and plains, which become more abrupt as you go. walking.
After 1 hour, you will come to a fork. Choose the path to the left until you reach the Collado Ventoso meadow.
- Collado Ventoso – Albergue Valle de la Fuenfría (3 km; 1.30 h approx.)
The Schmid path continues along a narrow path through a valley, which ends in a stream. Now, better signposted, the path begins to follow a zigzag path and, after about 15 minutes, you will reach the Antón Ruiz de Velasco Fountain.
Going down, you reach the Republic forest track, which ends at Puerto de la Fuenfría. To get there, you will have to enter a pine forest whose beginning is steeper than what you have traveled so far. However, the route softens as you go, this is when you are on the forest track. Leaving through one of the entrances, you will reach the Pradera de los Corralillos. On your right, the Roman road that will take you to Puerto de la Fuenfría.
Although the section that we have described is the most used by hikers, the original route of the Schmidt path has one more section, which continues on the right to theAlbergue de la Real Sociedad de Alpinismo Peñalara, which today Today it is closed.
With this hiking tour, you will be able to get to know the Sierra de Guadarrama and the Siete Picos mountain range, between Madrid and Segovia.
At the end, you will have taken a Short Tour (PR-M/SG-5) trail full of history and impressive views. A good alternative for adventure, very close to Madrid, which merges sport and nature perfectly. Do you dare?
