Al Andalus Ultimate Trail

STAGE 1: LOJA TO ALHAMA DE GRANADA Start at the hotel Hotel El Mirador in Loja. Cross the road to begin the climb. Hard climb through desert landscape. Very little shade until CP1 at aprox 11km Undulating arid track until CP2 at aprox. 20 km. Gradual descent until CP3 at aprox. 30 km. Continue 3 km by road then a steep climb for 2km around the Los Tajos olive farm. Aprox. 3 km until the finish at the Alhama de Granada municipal pool. STAGE 2: ALHAMA DE GRANADA TO JÁTAR Start at Alhama de Granada Municipal Sports Center. Pass through spectacular Alhama gorge. Continue along sections of the GR-7 footpath to CP1 at approx. 10km. Continue on GR7 track through Játar and start of single-track to CP2 at approx. 21km. Begin in Sierra Almijara mountain range continuing along a scenic technical single-track to CP3 at approx. 31km. Difficult mountain track climb. Very little shade until CP4 at approx. 42km. Approx. 6km of undulating track to finish outside of Játar in El Nacimiento campsite, birthplace of famous local mountain spring water. STAGE 3: JÁTAR TO JAYENA Start at Játar El Nacimiento campsite. Climb the scenic tarmac road towards Lake Bermejales. Continue on tarmac and farm track to CP1 at approx. 11km. Follow gravel road and mountain track through La Resinera to a steep climb and CP2 at approx. 17km. Mountain tracks continue through beautiful scenery. Rejoin the GR7 and CP3 at approx. 27km. Continue through the Natural Park. At approx. the 37km mark, start 600m of single-track. 1.5km of track leads to the finish at El Bacal campsite outside of Jayena. STAGE 4: JAYENA TO ALHAMA DE GRANADA Depart El Bacal campsite and follow single-track alongside the River Turillas to the edge of Jayena. Turn left to begin hard climb towards forest airstrip. Single-track leads to the road into the town of Fornes and CP1 at approx. 9km. Follow undulating tarmac road onto the track of Lake Bermejales. Continue on track to Arenas del Rey. Pass Arenas del Rey chapel and continue on lakeside track. Intermediate water available at approx. 17km. Continue on lake track to spillway and CP2 at approx. 23km. Begin hard ascent with little shade towards Agron Tower and CP3 at approx. 30km. Descent on track to the town of Cacin and CP4 at approx. 40km. Continue through poplar groves and continue on tarmac past Cacin. Begin ascent on track to CP5 at approx. 49km. Continue on single track for 2.5km to tarmac with little shade towards the town of Alhama de Granada. Road junction at 53km leads to more shadeless track and CP6 at approx. 58km. Descent on farm track leads to broken asphalt road and ascent to final single-track. Finish in El Motor campsite at approx. 67km. STAGE 5: ALHAMA DE GRANADA TO LOJA Start at El Motor campsite outside of Alhama de Granada and follow single-track around the lake. Continue through Alhama gorge to town. Pass the farmer’s market and Stage 1 finish. Ascent on track, past road crossing, then descent to CP1 at approx. 10km. Long ascent on mountain track to CP2 at approx. 20km. Continue on track to CP3 at approx. 31km. Long descent of approx. 11km to race finish at the Hotel El Mirador.