Calar Alto
From Gérgal · 22.4 km · 6.4 % average
Photo (illustrative – not this climb): Photo: Eduardo Milla · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Start
- Gérgal
- Summit
- 2,168 m
- Distance
- 22.4 km
- Elevation gain
- 1,432 m
- Average gradient
- 6.4 %
- Maximum gradient
- Not reliably sourced
- Difficulty
- Extreme (FIETS 10.3)
The climb at a glance
Schematic A straight line at the average gradient – the real road is steeper in places and easier in others.
- The observatory sits on Calar Alto, a 2,168 m mountain in the Sierra de los Filabres (Wikipedia).
- Second side via Aulago: 29.2 km, 1,426 m at 4.9 % (Climbfinder).
In the footsteps of the pros
- Vuelta a España: stage finishes at the observatory in 2004 (Roberto Heras), 2006 (Igor Antón) and 2017 (Miguel Ángel López) (Wikipedia).
How long might it take?
| Sustained power | ≈ Time |
|---|---|
| 2.5 W/kg | 2 h 01 |
| 3.5 W/kg | 1 h 29 |
| 4.5 W/kg | 1 h 11 |
Estimate Physics model at constant power on a constant 6.4 % gradient: rider 75 kg, bike and kit 9 kg, rolling resistance 0.005, CdA 0.4 m², air density 1.1 kg/m³, 3 % drivetrain loss; W/kg relative to rider weight; no wind, no stops. Real times vary – this is not a standard.
Best season
Nearest destination climate: prime Jan–May, Oct–Dec (Almería Airport (AEMET), 1991–2020 normals). High-mountain road: typically a summer and early-autumn climb – check pass opening before you travel.
Weather & altitude
Summit at 2,168 m: expect it to be much colder than in the valley – roughly 6–7 °C per 1,000 m in typical conditions.
Surface & traffic
[PLACEHOLDER] Road surface, traffic and tunnels – to verify
Water & food
[PLACEHOLDER] Fountains, cafés and the last shop before the top – to verify
Descent
[PLACEHOLDER] Descent notes – surface, hairpins, cold. Always pack a layer.
Nearby climbs
- Fóia – Serra de Monchique ≈ 535 km away (straight line)
- Torre – Serra da Estrela ≈ 558 km away (straight line)
- Col du Tourmalet ≈ 673 km away (straight line)
Sources & verification
Data Figures copied from the sources listed, retrieved 14 Nov 2026. Published numbers differ with the exact start and finish – we show one sourced version. Exact start point and date of on-the-road verification: [PLACEHOLDER] to record.