Pico Torrecillas – circular via the Cañada de las Ánimas - Sierra de las Nieves National Park

Today, the 1,919-meter-high Pico Torrecillas awaited us in the Sierra de las Nieves Natural Park. The approach to the Cortijo de los Quejgales, along a mostly unpaved track, is easily accessible with any type of vehicle. We initially walk gently uphill on a wide forest road. As the trail begins, it becomes steeper, and in the hedgehog pine forest, you have to be careful not to stray from the path due to the many fallen trees. We recommend using a hiking app for navigation, as the trail markings leave much to be desired, not only here. Leaving the forest, old, gnarled oaks dominate the rocky karst landscape. A gentle up and down takes you to the base of Pico Torrecillas. The last 150 meters of elevation are quite a climb. The summit rewards us with a panoramic view: To the north, we see Ardales and Pico Huma, to the east, Marbella, with the sea beyond; to the south, the Rock of Gibraltar is clearly visible, and even the Moroccan coast in the distance. Great! On the way back, we turn left at an oak tree with hiking signs. The path isn't always easy to spot here; the sparse cairns are anything but clearly visible in this rocky landscape. After a bright green depression, we climb one last time, shortly after reaching a wide track, which we leave after a few meters on the right. The path then descends to the parking lot, becoming somewhat steeper again through the pine forest. Conclusion: long but awesome.