Routes for mountain biking in the province of Ávila

Rutas para salir en bicicleta de montaña en la provincia de Ávila

Ávila is one of the provinces where nature and cycling make a perfect combination. Its irregular and rugged orography, with the imposing Sierra de Gredos as the epicenter of numerous routes, makes this region an ideal destination for bicycle lovers. Whether you prefer to ride its mountain roads or are passionate about MTB on technical trails, here you will find a spectacular environment to enjoy every pedal stroke to the fullest.

In addition to its diverse landscapes, Ávila has a great cycling tradition, being the birthplace of legends such as Julio Jiménez, Ángel Arroyo, and Chava Jiménez, riders who have made their mark in professional cycling.

Discover the best cycling routes in Ávila

If you are passionate about mountain bikes, in Ávila you will find high mountain trails, paths through Mediterranean forests and routes that cross rivers and streams, many of them specially prepared for MTB. From technical trails to forest tracks, the surroundings of the Sierra de Gredos are perfect for testing your endurance and skill on two wheels.

On the other hand, if road bikes are your thing, road bicycles, the province offers legendary mountain passes and secondary roads with little traffic where you can enjoy challenging climbs and thrilling descents. The variety of elevations and landscapes makes Ávila an ideal setting for cyclists of all levels.

Reasons to take a cycling getaway to Ávila

  • Variety of routes: both for road and MTB, with options for all levels.
  • Impressive landscapes: from mountain passes to valleys and forests.
  • Charming villages: perfect for a stop to learn about the local history and culture.
  • Unique gastronomy: ideal for recharging your energy after a day of cycling.

If you are looking for a destination where mountain biking and road cycling take center stage, Ávila is undoubtedly one of the best options to enjoy a getaway on two wheels.

Route Barco de Ávila - Bohoyo - Barco de Ávila

This is a moderately difficult route through beautiful landscapes and pastures at the foothills of the Sierra de Gredos. Starting from the town of Barco de Ávila, a beautiful medieval town famous for its Old Bridge over the Tormes River and its 12th-century castle, you should head southeast towards the first mountain challenge, the Alto de Montenegro. After reaching the summit and descending to a small stretch of road surrounded by holm oaks, you enter the trails of the Tormes Valley again, heading for the second climb of the day, the longest and hardest, then descend to the village of Bohoyo and return to Barco de Ávila. It is an accessible route if you have some experience with a bicycle, and it is surrounded by beautiful landscapes, pastures, and grazing fields next to the Sierra de Gredos.

Route through Candeleda in the Sierra de Gredos

When we talk about Ávila and cycling, we inevitably have to talk about Gredos. The beautiful and rugged mountain range of the Central System has countless routes and trails of medium and high mountain to enjoy MTB at all levels. We suggest this route of medium physical level with some more difficult rocky trail sections around Candeleda, one of the most beautiful mountain villages in the area, where cycling is in the air everywhere. It is a circular route proposed by the Centro BTT Bajo Tiétar
, which offers bike rental services and guided tours through the village of Candeleda and the mountains surrounding this town.

  • Difficulty: Moderate
  • Mode: XC / Trail / Enduro
  • Distance: 25 kilometers
  • Elevation gain: 652 meters
  • Route type: Circular
  • Start/end: Candeleda

Alto de las Cogotas

In the vicinity of the city of Ávila, there is also plenty of terrain for mountain biking. Meadows, cattle fields, streams, rivers, and a reservoir—the Castro de las Cogotas—are all part of this undulating route that starts and ends in the capital of Ávila. You will not only be able to enjoy the beauty of Ávila's medieval historic center with its famous walls, whose construction dates back to the 11th century. You will also enjoy its rural surroundings with rolling tracks and trails, rocky sections, and views of the Cogotas reservoir, just 10 kilometers from the capital in the Adaja River valley, one of the most important tributaries of the Duero. It is an accessible route, although the terrain is what is known as leg-breaker, combining the typical landscapes of Castilian meadows with holm oaks and scrubland, along with the historical and cultural component of the city of Ávila.