The best walks and hikes around Gavilanes

The Serranillos Pass is one of the most iconic mountain passes in the Sierra de Gredos, famous for its beauty and for being a historic stage in the Vuelta a España (Hinault's legendary stage in 1983). Views of the Cinco Villas Valley and the Gredos peaks. Spectacular scenery throughout the climb. Signage with gradient and remaining distance information. Ideal for linking up with Puerto del Pico, Pedro Bernardo, and Mijares for an epic stage.

The Serranillos pass is one of the great classics of the Tour of Spain as it passes through the Sierra de Gredos. As the Vuelta has almost always ended in Madrid, the Gredos and Guadarrama mountain ranges offered very interesting alternatives to trace mountain stages in the last stages. The port of Serranillos is very iconic in the Sierra de Gredos for several reasons: type of port (long and long), rough and irregular road (but in good condition) and dryland landscape with little vegetation (very typical of this inland area of the Iberian Peninsula). The Serranillos port presents many climbing alternatives: - On its eastern side, there are 2 alternatives: from Burgohondo (the classic one, along the main highway AV-913) and from Navalosa along the AV P-419 highway, which joins the previous one in Navarrevisca. - on its west side, is where we will find more alternatives. I have come to count up to 5 alternatives. They are the following: (1) climb through Santa Cruz del Valle, starting from the N-502 and taking the AV p-706 highway, to later reach San Esteban del Valle and from there to the top; (2) leaving Mombeltrán on the AV-922 highway towards San Esteban del Valle and from there to the top; (3) starting from Cuevas del Valle and passing through Villarejo del Valle on the AV P-706 highway, reaching San Esteban del Valle and from there to the top; (4) starting from the N-502, in the middle of the climb to the Pico pass, taking a road that takes us to the Mirador de la Carretera del Sidrillo and to Esteban del Valle, and from there to the top; (5) previously crossing the Pedro Bernardo port on the AV-922 highway Although I have only done alternative 4 on the eastern slope by bike, they are all very similar. The slopes are gentle and the views, as there is little vegetation, cover a lot of territory.

Gavilanes is a small municipality in Ávila, with only 600 inhabitants. It has a natural pool in the Chorro gorge, located southwest of the town, on Pedro Bernardo Avenue. However, its greatest attraction, which is worth visiting, is the waterfall in the Chorro gorge, two kilometers from the town, near the Machine House. It is the highest waterfall in the community.

Mijares is located on the banks of the Las Torres gorge, which has given rise to a very quiet natural pool in a wonderful environment. In addition to this pool, there are two natural pools where you can enjoy a refreshing swim on a hot day: the Lucero pool and the Largo pool. At the top of the pool, there is a kiosk. It also has a small pool for children, which uses chlorinated water.

Mijares is located on the southern slope of the Villafranca mountain range, near the Tiétar river. The town is surrounded by a natural environment with forests and mountains, which makes it an attractive place for nature and hiking lovers. The most important points of the town are the parish church of San Bartolomé Apóstol, rebuilt in the 18th century, and the Plaza Mayor, the nerve center of the municipality, where various businesses are located and local events and activities are held.

step climb but awsum decent.

The ascent to Cabezo de Gavilanes begins at km.3'5 of the route (up to here dirt forest track), with a steep slope up to the Risco de Miravalles from there it is more bearable. All this climb you have to follow the stone milestones and metal marks on stones that have been placed by the Serranillos Town Hall.

From this point there are good views of the town of Mijares and how the southern slope of the Sierra de Gredos rises to more than two thousand meters in height.