IE-019 Sierra Nevada riding route: Abla

The IE-019 Sierra Nevada riding route lies within the Sierra Nevada National Park and Nature Reserve. This means you can enjoy outstanding plants and wildlife as well as the geomorphology and landscapes of a unique natural setting that create an idyllic horse riding route. This high mountain route requires experience in such terrain, as there are sharp drops and rises.

It is home to 2,100 catalogued species of plants, including the endemic Plantago Nivalis (a species of plantain locally known as the 'snow star'), along with a large population of mountain goats, badgers and wild cats,… making this route an international benchmark for lovers of nature tourism.

Since the Copper Age, the villages that arose in this region focused on agriculture, livestock and trade. They all left their mark on La Alpujarraregion, an area that has a remarkable historic legacy, ethnology, culture and heritage.

The town of Abla pertains to the Sierra Nevada Nature Reserve, boasting contrasting scenery that encompasses the green landscapes and high mountains of Sierra Nevada and Los Filabres, unspoilt beaches in the Cabo de Gata- Níjar Nature Reserve or the desert landscapes of Tabernas.

Route

The route starts at Venta del Serbal recreational area–within Sierra Nevada Natural Park–heading south-southwest. At the intersection, by the country house known as El Serbal, we take the desired path since, as we have already mentioned, it is a two-way route. However, it is best to continue along the right-hand path. The journey leads to the Aula de Naturaleza Paredes (Paredes Nature Workshop)–a youth hostel and environmental education centre–then to the Fuente de Paredes watering hole, where we can stop for a rest.

Carrying on towards the west, we come to the Haza Ribera viewpoint, in the track leading from Abrucena to Abla, 1500 metres above sea level. It offers a great view over a wide area encompassing pine groves from the repopulation undertaken between the 1940s and the 1970s. After passing by La Hoya del Águila, we take the south- southeast path via El Canalón, passing through Las Tejoneras, then a little further south to El Tranco and, finally, to El Serbal country house to the north before heading back to the recreational area.

In the municipality of Abla, there is another horse riding route known as the IE-014 Sierra de Filabres: Abla