It is the most elevated mountain of Sistema Central, wich includes Sierra de Gredos and its Macizo Central. Some recent maps as CGE serie L (series M7814) sheet 14-23 of 2000 low the elevation of the top to 2.591 m / 8,501 ft. The name of Almanzor has the origin when the arabs occupied Spain and recalls to Almanzor moorish leader. Between AD 900 and 1000 he camped up to the Sierra and next penetrated into it with some locals and his subjects. Then arrived to Laguna Grande in Circo (circus) de Gredos and put his eyes on that unnamed mountain. Climbed to a gap (portilla) next to the peak where they could see the great South plain. The name of Plaza del Moro Almanzor was then for Circo de Gredos and next was allot to its principal summit.

Almanzor is a very visited granite peak, almost like Circo de Gredos. It's located to the south of Cuchillar (ridge) de Ballesteros. The first ascent was in September 1899 by M. González de Amezúa y José Ibrián and the first winter ascent in 1903 by that one, Espada, Ontañon and Abricarro. In 1918 a letterbox was placed on his summit and in 1960 the present iron cross 1 meter-tall. Two gaps, Portilla del Crampón and Portilla de los Cobardes, are on the trails to the normal routes. Both routes requires 2.5 hours from Refugio Elola, placed at Laguna Grande, and 4.5 hours from the parking called Plataforma. Portilla de los Cobardes is the easiest route in winter because of the less steeper slopes.

To reach Laguna Grande from Plataforma (1.780 m), follow a wide rocky track Wwards to Prado de las Pozas (1.902 m). Pass this meadow and the stream over a little bridge, up to Los Barrerones (2.183 m), to the right of a rocky buttress. Once there don't loose height to the right (attention in winter because of ice and on foggy days) and walk downwards to the North side of Laguna Grande. Go round Laguna by its left shore to Refugio Elola (1.945 m).

Maps and Sketches

Getting There

The most common and almost the only transport to get to Plataforma is by car.

Madrid is distant 188 Km by A-6 highway to Avila, C-502 to Venta Rasquilla (just before the bridge over Arroyo Arenillas), C-500 to Hoyos del Espino and then turn left to drive 12 Km more to Plataforma de Gredos. You can also get there passing El Escorial: drive by A-6 highway over 47 Km, C-600 to El Escorial and C-505 to Avila. Then follow the previous itinerary.

There are a lot of roads coming from the south and west as well as if you come from Toledo, Cáceres or Salamanca.

Red Tape and Refuges

No permits are required to visit the Natural Park of Sierra de Gredos.

Refugio Elola (1.945 m) opens from June to October and weekends out of these period, also fest days except 24 and 25 of December or meteorological impossibility (a little part of the hut remains open). Bad service, don't try to buy anything in the morning if you haven't slept in the hut, you won't be served.

Refugio Refugio de Reguero Llano (1.910 m) is open all the year unless some days as Christmas Eve or 31 December.

Phones and Reserves

Tel. Refugio Elola: 920 20 75 76 or 920 22 83 93 (answer machine in Avila). Reserves are required to spend the night in the hut.

Tel. Refugio de Reguero Llano: 689 41 26 39 and 659 37 89 95. Note that they are mobile phones, sometimes they are out of covering so let a message. This is a private refuge hold by my friend Jose, so be nice with him and his dogs. He also will be friendly if you make the reserve until the arrive. Private, 60 places (many litters), without cooks, meals (only if ordering). It's placed on the NE side of Prado de las Pozas, only at 30 min-walk from Plataforma if you use the wide rocky track that pass besides Pluviómetro, or 20 minutes if you take the short cut straightly Wwards from Plataforma.

Camping

Camping is not allowed, it's forbidden in the Park but it's difficult that a ranger a ranger localize your tent out of the route to Laguna Grande and Circo de Gredos. Many people camp near Refugio Elola at nights but they could be fined it the ranger wants to.

When To Climb

From October to July you could find snow at Gredos. Therefore crampons and ice axe in winter are highly recommended as well as winter clothes because the temperatures can sometimes be under -15 ºC / 5 F. You could also practice ski-mountaineering during the winter and early spring.

INM Weather forecast for Sierra de Gredos.

Get informed of winter road conditions in pages 601 and 611 of "Teletexto" TVE.

Nearby 2 Thousand-meter Mountains

ONLY FOREMOST SUMMITS

La Galana 2.564
Risco de la Portilla del Crampón 2.562
Cuchillar de Ballesteros 2.554
Risco del Gutre 2.545
Cuerno del Almanzor* 2.538
Espolón Bajero del Gutre 2.522
Cuchillar de las Navajas (El Sagrao) 2.508
Ameal de Pablo 2.489
Canchal de la Galana 2.479
Cuchillar del Cerro de los Huertos 2.459
Cerro de los Huertos 2.459
Casquerazo 2.437
Cabeza Nevada o Mogota del Cervunal 2.427
Risco de Cinco Lagunas 2.418
Casquerazo Inferior 2.412
Meapoco 2.396
Morezón 2.389
Punta Esperanza 2.374
Altos de Morezón 2.366
Los Cerraillos 2.364
Risco de la Ventana 2.363
Primer Hermanito 2.343
El Perro que Fuma 2.342
La Mira 2.341
Segundo Hermanito 2.339
El Asperón 2.337
Risco del Frances or El Riscazo 2.337
Tercer Hermanito 2.328
Risco de las Hoyuelas 2.318
El Enano 2.315
Risco de la Campana 2.314
Plaza de Toros 2.313
Cerro de la Cagarruta 2.299
Risco Negro 2.295
Cuento Alto 2.272
Risco del Fraile de Cinco Lagunas 2.272
Morezón Bajero 2.269
Los Castillejos 2.264
El Berrueco de Bohoyo 2.259
Risco de los Cachorros 2.249
El Novillero 2.248
Risco del Fraile 2.247
El Durazno 2.246
Molederas 2.241
El Butraco 2.218
Peñas del Chocarrón 2.203
Risco Pelucas 2.199
Picurucho 2.197
Alto de la Barrera 2.174
El Raso 2.174
Risco de las Hoces 2.168
El Durazno 2.166
Risco de las Hoces Bajero 2.166
Los Campanarios 2.165
El Calvitero 2.158
La Lanchosa 2.158
Cabezo de la Solana 2.096
Cabezo del Cervunal 2.094
Alto del Pajonal 2.089
El Artiñuelo 2.084
Sabinal 2.069
Esbirladero 2.045
Piedras del Beso 2.042
Peña Rayo 2.032
Punta de la Casqueruela 2.020
Peña de Chilla 2.011
Risco Redondo 2.009

* Could be considered as a secondary summit of Almanzor.

The lakes in the area

Laguna Grande (1.930 m) - 8.63 ha
Laguna Cimera* - 5.75 ha
Laguna Galana* - 1.79 ha
Las Lagunillas* (1.980 m) - 1.22 ha
Laguna Bajera* - 1.21 ha
Laguna Mediana* - 0.50 ha
Laguna de Brincalobitos* - 0.50 ha
Laguna del Novillero (1.840 m) - 0.49 ha
Laguna de Majalaescoba (1.840 m) - 0.38 ha
Laguna del Gutre (2.330 m) - 0.17 ha
Lagunillas del Gargantón (2.020 m) - 0.06 ha
Laguna del Morezón (2.220 m) - 0.03 ha

*These lagunas (lakes) form Cinco Lagunas
Note: 1 hectare (ha) = 2.471 acres

External Links

Desnivel
Spanish publishing company of mountain books. In this section you can find all about refuges, snow and ice conditions, roads, avalanches and weather of Sierra de Gredos. Also in desnivel.com you can buy books about this subject.
Avilanet
Webcam of Macizo Central de Gredos.
Es-gredos
Sport activities in Gredos.
Gredos
They want to be the reference of all relating to Sierra de Gredos.
Toprural
Hotel, hostels, restaurants, general info about rural turism all-around Spain. But this one is exclusively for Sierra de Gredos' area.
Atrápalo
Info of hotels all over Spain.
Dirección General de Tráfico
The web for knowing more about the winter viability of the roads that bring you to Sierra de Gredos.
Escuelas de Escalada
Web of Desnivel (Spanish publishing company of mountain books) where you can obtain information about climbing in Circo de Gredos. In Spanish and English.
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