The best hiking routes in Monte de El Pardo

Monte de El Pardo is a vast, fenced Mediterranean holm oak forest located directly north of Madrid. Unlike the nearby high granite peaks of the Sierra de Guadarrama, this area consists of gently rolling hills of sandy soil, shaped by the Manzanares river basin. Because it has been preserved for centuries as a royal hunting ground under Patrimonio Nacional, it remains remarkably undeveloped, presenting a dense canopy of evergreen oaks, rockrose scrub, and open pastureland rather than manicured parkland.

Walkers will find a sharp contrast between the accessible riverside paths near the town of El Pardo and the dry, dusty firebreaks that climb into the hills. Underfoot, the terrain is dominated by loose, coarse granite sand that can make uphill climbs feel heavy, while the low-lying areas near the river offer firmer dirt tracks shaded by ash and willow trees. The entire inner forest is sealed behind a historic stone wall to protect the wildlife, meaning hiking is strictly restricted to the designated outer paths and the public corridors along the river.

In autumn, particularly around October, the landscape changes as the acorns fall and the dry summer scrub begins to green up again. While the paths closest to the town and the river can be busy with families and cyclists, the outer perimeter trails offer a much quieter, more solitary experience where the constant hum of the distant city highway is the only reminder of the nearby metropolis.