Pico Veleta / Alto de la Sierra Nevada

HC 4 reviews/stories | Statistics | 18 photos

paved

gravel

2161

difficulty points

6.5%

avg. gradient

13.4%

steepest 100 meters

42.4km

length

2772m

total ascent

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Pico Veleta / Alto de la Sierra Nevada is a climb in the region Andalusia. It is 42.4km long and bridges 2772 vertical meters with an average gradient of 6.5%, resulting in a difficulty score of 2161. The top of the ascent is located at 3384 meters above sea level. Climbfinder users shared 4 reviews/stories of this climb and uploaded 18 photos.

Road names: GR 3203, Paseo del Rio, carr de el Purche, A395, A402 & A395

This climb is partly on a gravel surface, but can be ridden with a racing bike.

by MichaelaStuart

This is an automatic translation, the original language is: Dutch.
It is definitely a cool climb of 43 km with a very diverse landscape ... From civilization, through forests, along rocky outcrops above the tree line and suddenly you are in a kind of moonscape. And the last part is literally and figuratively breathtaking. Only the last 1.5 km is terrible. Very la... read more

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Photos (18)

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Statistics

Pico Veleta / Alto de la Sierra Nevada from Huétor Vega via El Puche This climb	Andalusia 264 climbs	Spain 2000 climbs	Europe 24150 climbs
Difficulty points 2161 HC	rank 2 4% easier than Pico Veleta / Alto de la Sierra Nevada from Pinos Genil via Haza Llana	rank 5 28% easier than Llano de Las Animas from Puerto de Puntagorda	rank 13 29% easier than Pozza San Glisente - Dos dell'Asino from Esine
Average gradient 6.5%	rank 61 59% less steep than La Loma from Albuñuelas	rank 571 76% less steep than Camino El Monte from Farrobillo	rank 6565 78% less steep than Calçada do Rêgo Lameiro
Length 42.4km	rank 2 1% shorter than Pico Veleta / Alto de la Sierra Nevada from Cenes de la Vega via Pradollano	rank 10 28% shorter than El Teide from Santa Cruz de Tenerife	rank 20 32% shorter than Transfăgărășan from Căpățânenii Pământeni
Total ascent 2772m	rank 1	rank 1	rank 1

Classification

Famous climb

Beautiful scenery

Hidden gem

56 hairpin turns

Road surface condition

57% 14% 29%

Based on 7 votes

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Traffic

75% 13% 13%

Based on 8 votes

Your experience counts. How much traffic did you encounter during the climb?

Climbing times

7 km/h	06:03:11
11 km/h	03:51:07
15 km/h	02:49:29
19 km/h	02:13:48

Reviews/stories (4)

MrKappie

4 Mo

This is an automatic translation, the original language is: Dutch. Show original

Beautiful climb, this route via Huetor Vega and Monachil is clearly more difficult than the route via the dam, especially because of the changing character in combination with the double percentages on the part after Monachil. At Puerto de Hazallanas it is indeed advisable to take the A-4025, on the way back I would recommend the A-395 because there you have more overview. I rode it myself last week (mid-May), and it is indeed nice to see the pros train. From 2700 metres there was still snow on the road, and after 2900 it was really not possible to continue. For this year, the expectation is that it will take another 3/4 weeks until the path to the top is completely free of snow. The temperatures in the valley will not be much lower the coming weeks and months, so personally think that September remains as the best month if you want to do the whole route.

Lexflex +

6 Mo

This is an automatic translation, the original language is: Dutch. Show original

Did this climb in October 2021, just before participating in l'Étape Granada (175km). Indeed a unique cycling experience this ride to one of the mountain tops of the Sierra Nevada. It will take you a day. Even the last kilometre with the bike in hand was special. Hikers look at you with amazement when they see you coming.

armandgilson

1 y

This is an automatic translation, the original language is: French. Show original

The ascent by the dam is certainly pleasant. The difficulty lies mainly in its length and the heat of the area. The altitude could also be a handicap for some.

MichaelaStuart

2 y

This is an automatic translation, the original language is: Dutch. Show original

It is definitely a cool climb of 43 km with a very diverse landscape ... From civilization, through forests, along rocky outcrops above the tree line and suddenly you are in a kind of moonscape. And the last part is literally and figuratively breathtaking.
Only the last 1.5 km is terrible. Very last part (500 meter) is just not even cycling but clambering with the bike on your neck over rocks
It is a super cool experience that you as a cyclist absolutely must have experienced. You are really on the roof of the world!
The most beautiful climb? Not at all... But in the top 5 of most spectacular experiences on a bicycle!