Between Miraflores de la Sierra and Canencia, there is a hike that seems tailor-made for welcoming spring: the route to the Chorrera de Mojonavalle, a waterfall about 30 meters high hidden in one of the most beautiful forests of the Sierra de Guadarrama. The starting point is the Puerto de Canencia recreational area, at an altitude of about 1,500 meters; from there, a well-marked trail winds its way into the national park through wild pines, birches, holly, and yews, and in just over two hours of leisurely walking leads to the base of the waterfall.
The standard route, perfect for families or as a beginner’s hike, is an easy 6- to 6.5-kilometer trail with a total elevation gain of just 150 meters and an estimated duration of 2 to 2.5 hours round-trip. It begins by crossing the road at the pass and taking the wide forest trail that starts next to the Fuente de la Raja; an iron gate and a cattle grid mark the entrance to the path, which for the first kilometer and a half is almost flat, like a warm-up walk among the pines, very comfortable even for small children. At the El Hornillo Nature Center, the path narrows, and you must leave the wide trail and take a narrow path that branches off to the right, next to a picnic area, and begins to climb gently as the landscape becomes more humid and shady.
A route featuring waterfalls
From there, the trail becomes the most magical part of the journey. The route enters the Canencia birch forest, one of the most unique birch forests in the Community of Madrid, where the white trunks of these trees mingle with yews, holly, and pines, and the ground is covered with leaves, moss, and small streams that can be crossed via footbridges or stones. The water of the Sestil del Maíllo stream —which originates on the slopes of Mount Perdiguera, at over 1,800 meters—begins to appear closer and closer, first in the form of small waterfalls and rocky rapids, and then as a constant murmur signaling that the waterfall is near. As you proceed, the trail narrows and more rocks and roots appear, but it remains accessible to anyone with a minimum of hiking experience; only in the final few meters should you exercise extreme caution if the ground is wet.
Before reaching the base, it is recommended to take a brief detour to the Chorrera viewpoint, a natural balcony offering a frontal view of the waterfall cascading between the rock slabs, nestled in a green gorge that bursts with life in spring and, in autumn, is tinged with ochres and yellows. A little further down, after a short, somewhat steeper descent, the path leads directly to the base of the waterfall: a wall about 30 meters high down which the water cascades in several sections, forming curtains and veils that, with the May thaw or after periods of rain, fall with enough force to fill the air with fine mist. The setting, surrounded by damp rock, lichen-covered logs, and dense vegetation, has a fairy-tale quality that makes the end of the trail an almost obligatory spot to stop, eat a snack, take photos, and let time pass while listening only to the sound of the water.
The return can be made along the same route or by taking a short circular detour that leads back to the Hornillo picnic area via another trail, with the option of veering off toward the holly tree at Puerto de Canencia or the Centennial Yew, both classified as unique trees of the region, if you wish to extend the excursion a bit further. In any case, the day’s itinerary is very accessible: from Madrid, it takes about an hour by road (M-607 toward Colmenar Viejo and then Miraflores–Puerto de Canencia, or via the A-1 through Bustarviejo and Canencia de la Sierra), parking at the pass is free, and the route requires no special equipment beyond sturdy footwear, which is especially important if you’re going with children and want to get right up to the edge of the waterfall, where the rocks can be very slippery.