
Puerto de Los Cotos
Spain, europe
13 km
1,830 m
hard
Year-round
# Puerto de Los Cotos
Ready for a proper mountain adventure? Head to the Puerto de Los Cotos, a stunning high-altitude pass sitting at 1,830 meters (6,003 feet) in Spain's Guadarrama range, right on the border between Castile León and Madrid.
The route follows the M-604 from Madrid and SG-615 from Castile—both nicely paved, but fair warning: this road doesn't mess around. You're looking at some genuinely steep pitches, with sections climbing up to 8.8%, so your brakes will definitely get a workout.
Starting from Monasterio El Paular, the climb stretches 13 kilometers with a solid 645-meter elevation gain averaging around 5%. If those numbers sound familiar, that's because the Spanish Vuelta a España has put this pass to good use over the years, which tells you everything you need to know about its challenging profile.
The scenery throughout the ascent is absolutely worth the effort—mountain vistas that'll make you forget about burning legs and that nagging cramp in your neck. Whether you're cycling, motorcycling, or just driving up for the views, Puerto de Los Cotos delivers that genuine mountain experience that stays with you long after you've descended.
Where is it?
Puerto de Los Cotos is located in Spain (europe). Coordinates: 39.3013, -4.2547
Road Details
- Country
- Spain
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 13 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,830 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 39.3013, -4.2547
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