Sierra Nevada provides the only alpine landscapes in Andalusia, and indeed, the highest altitudes of the Peninsula are to be found here.
The presence of snow gives some indication of great altitude, since the relief is not excessively sheer, particularly in its foothills.
The route departs from the dale of Motril, beginning the climb up the mountainside. The contrast is well known: the subtropical climate and crops are replaced by snow-covered landscapes. Leaving the coast behind, the route takes us on to Lanjarón, where a profusion of medicinal mineral water sources and fruit trees are to be found.
From here, we further penetrate this area on the southern side of Sierra Nevada, and we come across picturesque villages and mountain scenery, with almond trees and deciduous trees, which alter the landscape as the seasons change.
Through the Ragua Pass, and on to the north side, where a very different landscape may be viewed, looking over the dales of Guadix. The route continues through the Huétor Mountains, where the Diezma viewpoint provides an awe-inspiring view of Sierra Nevada. It is also in this beautiful spot that the sources of the Darro and Fardes Rivers are situated.
From Granada, the route moves upward again into Sierra Nevada as far as Mulhacén, taking the highest asphalted road in all of Europe. As the road climbs, the vegetation becomes more and more sparse until it finally reaches the alpine tundra, which is the home of a great variety of unique species.
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