Puerto de la Ragua

Sitting on the boundary between Almeria and Granada provinces, Puerto de la Ragua (2,041m) is the highest paved mountain pass in Andalucia and one of the most significant climbs in southern Spain. The Almeria-side ascent from La Calahorra begins at approximately 1,000m and climbs through the eastern Sierra Nevada foothills on consistently well-graded roads. The pass itself marks the transition between the arid Almeria landscape and the greener Granada side — a dramatic geographical and visual contrast in under 18km. The road is paved throughout and in good condition. Winter closures can occur after heavy snowfall (typically rare below 1,800m, but the summit can be snow-covered December through March in cold years). At 2,041m, this is proper high-altitude work that rewards with views across the Marquesado plateau toward the Mediterranean and, on clear days, the Atlas Mountains of Morocco.