Andalusia · Spain
Puerto de las Palomas (Cazorla)
A-319La Iruela to Cazorla
Cazorla mountain pass with a famous Guadalquivir-valley mirador.
This 1,200 m pass on the A-319 sits in the Sierras de Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas natural park in Jaen, climbing from Burunchel and dropping towards the Guadalquivir valley near Vadillo-Castril. Its mirador is a noted spot for watching vultures ride the thermals over the sierra. Mind sharp blind hairpins, the steep drop into the park and slow tourist traffic in summer.
On the road
The road runs from La Iruela to Cazorla. The climb starts in La Iruela at about 810 m and rises on the A-319 through Burunchel to the pass at about 1,245 m. The carriageway is wide and well surfaced, with several hairpins. The gradient barely changes, peaking at 7 to 8%. Traffic is heavy in the holiday periods.
Burunchel is the gateway to the Sierras de Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas natural park, the largest protected area in Spain. Olive groves give way to pine forest as you gain height. On the way up, the Mirador Paso del Aire sits at a natural gap in the ridge. The 1955 Fuente del Cuerno wash house is close by.
Just over the top, the Mirador del Puerto de las Palomas has a long car park and a sturdy balustrade. Griffon vultures often pass at eye level or below, which makes for easy photos. Ravens and booted eagles turn up too. Birdwatchers rate winter as the best season here. Beyond the mirador, the A-319 drops into the park towards Arroyo Frío.
Scenery
Best seasons
In these collections
In these guides
Puerto de las Palomas (Cazorla) on the map7.4 mi · point to point
Navigate to the start: Apple Maps · Google Maps
Character
Corners
busiest around mile 2Elevation
under 4%4 to 8%over 8%907 to 1,249 mFrom the road
Points of interest3 stops
- Mirador Paso del AireViewpoint3.3 mi in
- Mirador del Puerto de las PalomasViewpoint3.7 mi in
- Lavadero Fuente del Cuerno, 1955Landmark0.3 mi in
Hazards
- Blind hairpins
- Steep drop into the park
- Summer tourist traffic
Sources
“Desde este punto, tiene la oportunidad de disfrutar de una amplia vista de este valle del río Guadalquivir y de las numerosas cumbres que lo jalonan.”
Route traced from OpenStreetMap, with its stats measured from that line. How the roads are mapped
Routes for iPhone carries Puerto de las Palomas (Cazorla) offline, with live weather and a 7 day forecast.
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