Although it is the most populated city in Spain, there is no shortage of nature in Madrid. The town is one of the cities with the most trees and with the most more Verde Zone in Spain. But in addition to the well-known and centrally-located parks such as the Retiro or the West, there is also that mountainous and somewhat diffuse entity that for the Madrileños is known as “the Sierra”, which holds many of the natural jewels described below. Not to mention the numerous reservoirs, swamps and lakes that alleviate some of the lack of beach in summer.
Luckily, going out in search of nature near Madrid is not a complicated task: the region is home to natural places with Encanto just a few kilometers from the capital, making them an ideal option to make an express getaway for a day or a weekend with family or friends. And this list is proof of that.
1. La Pedriza Natural Park
La Pedriza Regional Park is one of the most popular areas of the Sierra de Guadarrama and one of the natural parks near Madrid preferred by climbers and hikers. They are attracted to this berrocal on weekends by its walls, cliffs and cliffs that make up a unique landscape in the orography of Madrid.
Although there are many routes of varying difficulty, it is important to get information before setting out on the trail, especially in the colder seasons of the year. In summer it is a good time to cool off in the water of the Manzanares River, which flows through one of the most typical natural sites near Madrid.
65 kilometers from the center of Madrid
2. Purgatory Waterfalls
We continue in the Sierra de Guadarrama, within the municipality of Rascafría, where we find this waterfall that nature gives us in Madrid. In order to reach the waterfall you have to follow a very simple path that starts at the Paular Monastery and has a distance of about 6 kilometers. On the way you can also enjoy the Giner de los Ríos Arboretum, which is a deciduous forest with several species of trees from all over the planet.
75 kilometers from the center of Madrid
3. Chorrera de los Litueros
La Chorrera is located in the town of Somosierra. The highest waterfall in the Community of Madrid is only one hour and twenty minutes from the capital. Here you will be able to observe how the water coming from the springs of the summits ends up resurging between the gigantic rocks, thus forming the waterfall. The route is almost two kilometers, round trip, is signposted and begins at Ermita de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad.
102 kilometers from the center of Madrid
4. El Atazar Reservoir
This reservoir is located in the Sierra Norte, one hour from Madrid, and is also known for its enormous size as ‘The Sea of Madrid’. It is part of the Canal de Isabel II and is surrounded by the so-called Mancomunidad del Embalse de Altazar, which includes such distinguished towns as El Berrueco. There is various hiking trails depending on the difficulty and duration we want, although there are some historical points to take into account, such as the Arab Watchtower and the Roman bridge. Undoubtedly, a must stop if you are looking for natural places with charm near Madrid.
75 kilometers from the center of Madrid
5. Lagoons of Peñalara
The Natural Park of Peñalara is another of the places to visit in Madrid in nature: it is home to the highest peak of the Sierra de Guadarrama and a series of glacial lakes. There are hiking trails for all levels, but in order to enjoy the lagoons you will not have to go through complicated stretches. Among the small lagoons, two stand out: the Laguna Grande de Peñalara and the Laguna de los Pájaros. The first, pictured above, is the most visited and has the most accessible route of about 6 kilometers round trip.
120 kilometers from the center of Madrid
6. Hervidero Waterfall
Near San Agustín de Guadalix, in the middle basin of the Jarama, is one of the great surprises of nature in Madrid. The Hervidero Waterfall is surrounded by a landscape worthy of being walked, the circular hiking route, which is suitable for all levels. Along the way, there are also some waterfalls and wooden bridges, making the landscape a unique sight bucolic which takes us away from the city despite the short distance to the capital.
55 kilometers from the center of Madrid
7. Santillana Reservoir
The Santillana Reservoir is also known by the name of Manzanares del Real, although the reservoir is located between that municipality and the municipality of Soto del Real, also next to the Guadarrama mountain range. This is an ideal place for walking, but also for photography lovers, fishermen and ornithologists. Also worth a visit is the 15th century castle which is the best preserved of the Community of Madrid, which makes it one of the natural places with charm near Madrid that will satisfy, also, to those who have historical concerns.
49 kilometers from the center of Madrid
8. Canencia Port
An hour and a quarter from the capital we find this treasure of Madrid’s nature, a birch grove with a stream included. Puerto de Canencia is full of waterfalls and hiking trails, but the best known is the Chorrera de Mojonvalle. The Zone is also full of deciduous pines and oaks that help to create this autumnal setting. In addition to the routes, it is a good opportunity to visit the municipality that gives its name to the port and do some local tourism within Madrid.
63 kilometers from the center of Madrid
9. El Valle de la Fuenfría
No se puede pasar por alto Cercedilla cuando hablamos de naturaleza cerca de Madrid. El valle está compuesto por minerales de todo tipo, una amplia variedad de fauna y por supuesto un gran pinar. Además, podrás encontrar calzadas romanas, piscinas naturales y cascadas a lo largo de la ruta, que incluso coincide con parte del Camino de Santiago dentro de la Comunidad de Madrid.
64 kilómetros del centro de Madrid
10. Embalse de Picadas
En las estribaciones de la sierra de Gredos se encuentra este embalse de 92 hectáreas, elevadas sobre el río Alberche en 1952. Es, junto al contiguo Embalse de San Juan, uno de los más frecuentados por los bañistas en verano por sus playas de interior. También son muy conocidas sus rutas por la vía verde en bici y los recorridos en piragua.
60 kilómetros del centro de Madrid
11. Las Cárcavas
La ruta para llegar a Las Cárcavas comienza en la presa de Pontón de la Oliva, justo en la frontera entre la Comunidad de Madrid y Guadalajara. Este paisaje protegido —parecido al que podemos encontrar en las Barrancas de Burujón— se forma por la erosión remontante del agua en las tierras con poca sujeción vegetal.
Para llegar hasta ellas hay dos caminos: uno corta, de unas dos horas, con una gran cuesta inicial, pero más directa a las Cárcavas, y otro más largo y circular, pensada para pasar el día.
79 km del centro de Madrid.
12. El bosque finlandés
In Rascafría, uno de los pueblos más fríos de Madrid in the park, there is an area of birch, poplar and fir trees that has been nicknamed the Finnish forest. It has a small pond that helps to create this Scandinavian-looking landscape, with jetty and wooden hut included, which is right in front of the Royal Monastery of Santa María de El Paular. The walk following the Lozoya River is simple and has a special charm in every season of the year thanks to the deciduous trees that surround it.
82 km from the center of Madrid.
The region holds many charming natural sites near Madrid that would surprise the most incredulous by their proximity to the hustle and bustle of the capital, but are also part of the local culture. And, without a doubt, some of the most accessible plans for escape from the city without having to travel many kilometers. In addition to learning more about the history of the Zone, is a way of doing sport, it is a good opportunity to ride a bike without fear of traffic or to learn to canoeing there are options for almost all levels.