Hiking at Presa del Pontón de la Oliva

A stone's throw north of Madrid, the hiking area at Presa del Pontón de la Oliva offers a chance to step away from the daily grinding of gears and take in natural beauty on an easy and accessible trail.

How to arrive:

• By car: Take the A-1 north out of Madrid until Venturada (Exit 50). Follow highway N-320 to Torrelaguna, then M-102 to Patones. Finally, take the highway El Atazar (M-134) for about four kilometers, which leads directly to the parking. The parking is free and there are multiple signs for the hiking area along the drive.

Follow the curve left from this spot and you'll find the parking lot just around the bend to the left. Take the road that veers to the right and you'll find several safe parking spots further along the side of the road.

• By bus: Take lines 193 or 197 from Plaza Castilla to Patones or Patones de Arriba. Go on foot about four kilometers from either town to the hiking area. Bus 913 from Torrelaguna also goes directly to the start of the route. Remember to carry coins and small bills to pay for the bus fare (as of November 2022, around €6 each way).

Madrid, or any big city, can grow to feel like a concrete black hole. You move there with wonder and wide eyes, but bogged down by work, expenses, and commuting, soon you're making it through one day just to go home and get ready for the next.

Fortunately, frosty mornings and earlier nights remind us that the change of seasons is inescapable, even in the city. Sunset leaves sweep sidewalks, the cold sinks into the bones of your house, dreary days quench parched parks, and autumnal winds devour alleyways. A reflection of our inner worlds, the change of seasons reassures us that no feeling lasts forever—that every emotion evolves.

However, if you need a more physical escape from city chaos, the Presa de la Oliva Hiking Area is a perfect day trip from Madrid.

Presa del Pontón de la Oliva is located just an hour north of the capital, right on the border between the Comunidad de Madrid and Castilla la Mancha. Easily accessible by car or public transport, the area is replete with scenery and outdoor activities.

The main trail embarks from an impressive sight: an enormous dam (presa) constructed in 1857. No longer in use, it is the oldest dam in the network of canals that provides drinking water to Madrid. Along the route, you can find canals excavated into the slate mountainside.

The Route:

From the base of the dam, a staircase on the left leads up to the route. The trail begins with a walkway protected by railings, hugging the mountainside. At first, the landscape is unsurprisingly typical: rocky, brown, and dry, dotted with shrubs and low trees. Across the river, we spotted several climbers scaling the sheer cliffside.

Follow the red and white trail sign, national route GR-88, and the scenery dramatically transforms. Green pastures with dense, tall trees meander alongside the Lozoya River. The bells of free-roaming cows sound throughout the gorge. There are plenty of tranquil and grassy areas for a break or a picnic.

Practical Info:

While we walked for about an hour and then returned the way we came, you can also make a circular route out of it. After about three kilometers, stay to your left and take the path that leads to the Presa de la Parra. From there, continue until you come across national trail GR-10, on the left. This route will wrap around back to where you started.

Circular route, image via elmiradordemadrid.es

The hiking route is well-marked and easy to follow. Apart from some stairs and elevation to climb at first, the rest of the terrain is flat. The total incline of the circular route is 252 meters (826 feet). The trail is simple and suitable for beginner hikers, from children to adults. We wore tennis shoes, but the dirt path did have muddy spots after a rainy week. The route is about eight kilometers (five miles) and takes around four hours, depending on your pace. Visit and immerse yourself during any season. I imagine the winter might be a bit cold, but the summer would be a refreshing retreat. We visited in the fall to break up our humdrum cycles, breathe fresh air, and soak in the colors.

Apart from the trail, two other sites to check out in the area are the village of Patones de Arriba, a fairytale frozen in time, and another hiking area called Las Cárcavas, a bizarre and martian rock formation.

After the hike, a bar and restaurant wait within walking distance of the parking area. The nearby towns of Patones and Torrelaguna provide several other options. We visited in mid-November and happened upon the Fiesta de Tapas in Torrelaguna.