Peñarroya

Park at the Collado de la Gitana, the col beside the Cruz de la Gitana where the road between Valdelinares and its ski station crosses the GR 8 (an information panel stands here). Cross to the track opposite, ignore a turn to the right and at a three-way junction take the middle track (right goes towards Gúdar, left down to the Fuente de la Chaparrilla recreation area). The track climbs gently west through pine forest over the Collado de la Imagen (1,883 m). Near the top, leave the track for an older track and then a faint path marked only by cairns; one turn about 590 m along is unmarked. A low band of rock guards the summit plateau and is breached by small gullies. Staying on the main track instead also reaches the summit area without leaving it. The top is flat and covered in pines, with stone benches and a very tall masonry geodetic pillar; views are only good from its base tiers. A popular variant is a 4.8 km loop: descend the waymarked GR 8 beside the Barranco de la Gitana to the Fuente de la Chaparrilla (spring, recreation area and an open shelter), climb steep, pathless slopes to the summit, and return cross-country with occasional cairns to the track at the Collado de la Imagen. One party recorded 1 h 50 min moving time and 242 m of ascent for this loop. In winter the area is under snow and busy with sledgers from the ski station; the cairns and waymarks can be buried.