Spain Pradillo Dam

An enclave in the middle of nature with easy access, ideal to practice with our camera and, incidentally, making a route of just two hours affordable for the whole family. The Pradillo Dam is located on the outskirts of Rascafría: Northwest of the Community of Madrid, in the heart of the Lozoya Valley, within the Sierra de Guadarrama and the natural park of Peñalara.

It will take us one hour by car from Madrid city driving along the A-1 (Burgos road) and turn off at exit 69 to take the M-604. The other option would be to go up the A-6 (road to La Coruña) and take the M-601 at exit 39, which will also take us to the M-604 via the SG-615.

After passing through the village, we continue towards Puerto de los Cotos, leaving the Monastery of El Paular to one side and shortly after the access to Las Presillas, the bathing area from where the route to the famous Cascadas del Purgatorio starts.

There is a car park a few metres away but you have to cross the river over a bridge and then walk over some usually wet stones, this is the only place with some difficulty for beginners, the rest of the way is easy and beautiful.

It can only be reached by car or a long walk from Rascafría along the road, which I do not recommend because it has no hard shoulder.
Just before you get to the dam there are two restaurants with parking (not very big) but one of them is closed in winter.
From there a ten-minute walk and you will be at the dam, I recommend visiting both sides because it has pictures from both sides, the only bad thing is that you have to go back to the bridge to go to the other side, but it is worth it.