Sierra Norte de Madrid

The Sierra Norte de Madrid is the most northern part of the Sierra de Madrid - collective name for the various mountain ranges in the province of Madrid - and is adjacent to the Sierra de Guadarrama, which is also part of the Sierra de Madrid. The border between the Sierra de Guadarrama and the Sierra Norte de Madrid is not always clear (for example sometimes the Peñalara is considered as part of the Sierra Norte de Madrid). On hikingiberia.com we consider the area northeast of Cotos as the Sierra Norte.

The mountain range is part of the Central System (Sistema Central) and lies at the centre of the Iberian Peninsula, entirely in the province of Madrid. The principal towns are Buitrago de Lozoya, La Cabrera, Rascafría and Torrelaguna. The area is 1,253 km² big and contains various sub mountain ranges such as Somosierra, Sierra del Lobosillo, La Cabrera and La Morcuera.

Through this area flows the river Lozoya that connects with five reservoirs: Pinilla, Riosequillo, Puentes Viejas, El Villar and El Atazar. These reservoirs are of vital importance for the water supply to the Spanish capital.

Because of the proximity of the metropole Madrid it is a very populair hiking area and has it relatively good and well maintained trails.