Just an hour from the capital, in Montejo de la Sierra, there is a forest that in autumn becomes a real visual spectacle: the Montejo Beech Forest. Declared a World Natural Heritage Site by UNESCO, this beech forest of some 250 hectares is one of the most surprising and fragile places in the region.
However, the chromatic variety of the leaves, the humidity of the environment and the magical atmosphere that emanates from its path of centennial beech trees make it especially popular when the season of ochre and reddish colors arrives, selling out in a few hours.
The Montejo beech forest has three different hiking tra ils to go through it (Senda del Río, Senda de la Ladera and Senda del Mirador), the best known is the one along the river because of its ease, perfect for families and adults. These trails can only be done on guided tours, to ensure conservation, and last about an hour and a half. Beyond the autumn colors, the forest captivates for its fauna and the isolation that preserves that fairytale halo difficult to find in other forests of the Community of Madrid.
How to get tickets in autumn
Preserving the beech forest means limiting access: only a restricted number of people can visit each day and tickets are usually sold out soon after they go on sale, especially in autumn. So much so that after applying online, as there is usually so much competition, you are entered into a draw.
Tickets are activated fortnightly on the website, sierradelrincon.org. Reservations for the second fortnight are opened on the 1st of each month, and on the 16th for the dates of the first fortnight of the following month. Just select date, route and name of all attendees (children also count), but you must pick up your pass in person in advance at the Biosphere Reserve Information Center (C/ Real, 64, in Montejo de la Sierra), about eight kilometers from the beech forest itself.
If you don’t get online entry, some places are reserved for in-person delivery, on a first-come, first-served basis, every morning starting at 9:30 a.m. at the Information Center. You can request up to five passes per person and they usually sell out in minutes, so it is advisable to get up early.
It is important to remember that reservations are personal, non-refundable, and access with pets is not allowed except for assistance dogs.
The Montejo Beech Forest is closed on Mondays and on 24, 25, 31 December, 1 and 6 January. Visiting hours and pass pick-up times vary according to the season, and the tour can only be done with a guide.
