Double ascent to the Navafría Pass with a visit to Sotosalbos

Route : Lozoya – Navafría Pass – Sotosalbos – Navafría Pass – Lozoya 📅 Date : Saturday, August 8 🕙 Meeting time : 10:00 am 📍 Meeting point : Lozoya (Madrid) 🚲 Types : Road, Gravel and E-Bike 📖 Route description We will start from Lozoya to tackle the ascent to the Navafría Pass from its southern side, a constant and very pleasant climb that runs between lush pine forests, with abundant shaded areas, excellent road surface and very little traffic, making it one of the most beautiful mountain roads in the Sierra de Guadarrama. After reaching the summit, we will descend the northern slope towards the province of Segovia, continuing along a quiet secondary road until we reach Sotosalbos, one of the most charming villages in the region. There we will find the Church of San Miguel, considered a true jewel of Castilian Romanesque architecture. Built between the 12th and 13th centuries, it stands out for its magnificent porticoed gallery and the excellent preservation of its architecture. We will take a short break to recharge in this emblematic corner of Segovia. After the stop, we will begin the return journey to tackle the second ascent to the Navafría Pass, this time from its northern side, a very steady climb that will allow us to once again enjoy the scenery of the Sierra de Guadarrama. After reaching the summit for the second time, we will begin a long and pleasant descent down the southern slope that will take us back to Lozoya, where we will end a magnificent day of cycling, art and nature. 📊 Technical specifications 📏 Total distance : approx. 70 km ⛰️ Total positive elevation gain : approx. 1,550 m 🏔️ Maximum altitude : 1,773 m 💪 Physical level : High 🎯 Technical level : Medium ⛰️ Puerto Navafria: 🔹 Southern slope (Lozoya) 📏 Distance: 11.3 km ⬆️ Elevation gain: 630 m 📈 Average slope: 5.6% 📉 Maximum slope: 10% 🔹 Northern Slope (Navafría) 📏 Distance: 9.8 km ⬆️ Elevation gain: 570 m 📈 Average slope: 5.8% 📉 Maximum slope: 9% Regroupings 📍 Lozoya (exit) 📍 Navafría 📍 Sotosalbos 🏁 Summit of the Navafría Pass (return) ⚠️ Safety and recommendations 🪖 Helmet required. 💧 Bring enough water and food. 🚰 Possibility of refilling water or finding fountains in the Port of Navafría, Navafría and Sotosalbos. 🔧 Puncture repair kit and basic tools. 📱 GPS or mobile phone with the track downloaded. 🤝 Make sure no one is left alone. 🔄 Regroupings at the agreed points. 🚴 Each participant will be able to adapt the pace of the route according to their level and circumstances. Individual responsibility 🚴 Each participant is responsible for their own safety and compliance with traffic regulations. 💪 It is the responsibility of each person to assess beforehand whether the route is suitable for their physical and technical level and the condition of their bicycle. 🤝 The person proposing the outing acts solely as the creator of the activity, without professional status or assumption of responsibility for accidents, incidents or any other circumstance that may occur during the route. 🔄 Participation in the route is entirely voluntary and each cyclist freely decides to participate, continue, modify or abandon the route according to their circumstances.