We begin our route at the parking lot of the Ultralight Field in Villanueva del Pardillo, also known as Villanueva del Pardillo Aerodrome. Our journey starts by ascending along the old asphalt track, known as Collada de la Venta de San Antonio or the Toconales Path, until we reach the crossroads at the Mirador de Madrid (km 3.0), whose name is self-explanatory.
At this point, we turn left onto the Collada del Molino de Sopas, which leads us to the Aulencia Dam (km 4.6). This Madrid river is largely unknown, despite flowing entirely within the Community of Madrid. Its course spans a modest 34 kilometers, from Santa María de la Alameda to Villanueva de la Cañada, where it merges its waters with the Guadarrama River.
It’s astonishing that this river remains so obscure, despite being one of the primary suppliers of drinking water to the Madrid region, thanks to the Valmayor Reservoir, the second-largest in capacity in the autonomous community. However, even more obscure is the Aulencia Canyon, originating at the dam and extending for 3.5 kilometers. As we journey through this canyon, we can hear the murmur of water and the song of birds, and appreciate the lush riverside vegetation surrounding it.
We part ways with the Aulencia River upon reaching the Molino del Puente Caído (8.4 km). At this point, we turn left onto the Collada de Cabeza Aguda, with the intention of completing our route and returning to the starting point.
Video
Map
Max elevation: 826 m
Total climbing: 451 m
Total time: 03:07:48
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