Hike to the summit of las Frontales Medias and Altas from Casa El Chorro

From Casa El Chorro, you have access to one of the most complete routes in El Chorro: a big loop that passes through the Natural Park, climbs via the Arab Stairs (Escalera Árabe), and then leads you to the summit of Las Frontales Medias & Altas, just behind the cliff, above the famous climbing sector Amptrax.

A full day of varied hiking, between pine forests, spectacular cliffs and mountain horizons.

Panoramic view from the summit of las Frontales Altas

Technical details of the hike

• Start / finish point: Casa El Chorro – Diseminado Polígono 24, 29552 Álora (Spain)

• Type of route: loop

• Distance: around 12 km

• Elevation gain: around 864 m

• Duration: 4 to 5 hours, depending on your pace and breaks

• Level: reasonably fit hiker (sustained climbs, rocky terrain, some basic navigation on the plateau)

• High points: ridge / plateau behind the cliffs of Las Frontales Medias and Altas.

• Terrain: small roads, rural tracks, forest paths, mountain trail (Escalera Árabe), marked path on the plateau

• Good to know: you walk along the back of the cliff on a trail, without entering climbing terrain. The edge of the wall is very close in places: stay on the path and do not go near the edge.

Step 1 – From Casa El Chorro to the Natural Park and the Escalera Árabe track

You start directly from Casa El Chorro, a bed & breakfast located on the heights of El Chorro, in a quiet setting overlooking the Andalusian hills.

You join the road that descends towards the village, then turn right onto the ascent that leads to the entrance of the Natural Park of Los Gaitanes, Paraje Natural Desfiladero de los Gaitanes.

Little by little, the cliffs of Frontales reveal themselves in front of you. The atmosphere is already typical of El Chorro: olive groves, rocky ground, vast sky, and the great limestone wall getting closer.

This is the warm-up for the day, a gentle transition between the B&B terrace and the mineral world of the mountains.

You continue into the Natural Park along a wide forest track.The vegetation becomes denser, the pines take over from the olive trees, and the view is now shared between:

• the Sierra de Huma in the distance,

• the valley of El Chorro below,

• and the Frontales cliffs gradually appearing on your right.

  
  

You reach the main uphill track that serves as the classic access to the Escalera Árabe hike: an old (or old-looking) stone staircase built into the rock face, allowing you to climb a very marked rocky step.

At the top of the Arab Stairs, you arrive on a natural ledge with a splendid view over the valley of El Chorro, the lakes and the surrounding mountains. It is an excellent place to take a break and catch your breath.

Stage 2 – From the Escalera Árabe to the summit of Las Frontales Medias

From the top of the staircase, you follow a path that leads towards the plateau and the ridge, behind the great Frontales cliff.

The route now continues over more open ground:

• a mix of pine woods, low scrub and rocky areas,

• moderate climbs,

• a great feeling of height.

  
  

As you progress, you sense that the Frontales Media cliff is just on the other side of the plateau. By staying on the path, you reach a series of high points overlooking:

• the valley of El Chorro and its lakes,

• the full ridgeline of the Frontales,

• and, below, the climbing sector hidden just under the lip of the plateau.

  
  

⚠️ Important precautions

• You walk along the back of the cliff, in mountain terrain. The drop is very close on the other side, but invisible as long as you stay on the path.

• Do not cut across off-trail, and do not try to go right up to the edge: the cliff is high and vertical.

• Even if you are at the “summit” of Frontales Media in hiking terms, you are not on a secured viewpoint: extreme caution is required.

  
  

Step 3 – From Las Frontales Medias to the summit of Las Frontales Altas

The second high point, about 40 minutes from the first.

Step 4 – Return across the plateau and along the tracks of the Natural Park → Casa El Chorro

4–5 km – 1 h 30 to 2 h – mainly downhill

1. From this summit / edge of the plateau, you follow the same marked path or an obvious loop to rejoin the main forest track of the park.

2. You gradually descend towards the area of pines and tracks that you used on the way up.

3. Once you are back in the network of tracks near The Olive Branch / Finca La Campana, you take the simplest option to:

   • optionally pass again by one of the two guesthouses,

   • then finally climb back up to Casa El Chorro via the same track/road you used at the start.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about this hike to the summit of Frontales Media

What is the level of this hike?

Fit hiker, 12–13 km, 860 m of ascent, no climbing but genuine mountain terrain.

Do you need climbing gear to reach the summit of Frontales Media?

No, the route described follows paths and tracks along the back of the cliff, with no climbing sections. However, you should wear proper hiking boots with good grip. The ground is often rocky and dry. Also take:

• at least 1.5 to 2 litres of water per person,

• sun protection (hat, sunglasses, sunscreen),

• a light windproof layer depending on the season (the plateau can be cooler and exposed).

How long does the Casa El Chorro – Escalera Árabe – Frontales Media – return loop take?

4 to 5 hours depending on your pace, breaks and how used you are to this type of terrain.

Can you do this hike in summer?

Yes, but avoid the hottest hours, take plenty of water and good sun protection. The best seasons are spring and autumn.

The bonus of the hike

🦅 The emblematic raptor of El Chorro:

the Griffon Vulture (Buitre leonado)

It’s hard to hike in El Chorro without looking up at the sky: above the Frontales cliffs, you will almost certainly see Griffon Vultures (Buitre leonado, Gyps fulvus) soaring overhead.

This large vulture is the most common bird of prey in the area: it nests in colonies on the rock faces of the Paraje Natural Desfiladero de los Gaitanes, above the Caminito del Rey and the gorges (Birdingplaces.eu).

• Length: about 1 m

• Wingspan: between 2.3 and 2.8 m – a true “giant shadow” gliding above the ridges (Wikipedia)

• Silhouette: very broad wings, wingtips spread like “fingers”, short tail

• Plumage: body brown to ochre, whitish head and neck with a pale ruff (birdingmalaga.es)

• Diet: strictly carrion-eater, feeding on carcasses of large domestic or wild herbivores (Vulture Conservation Foundation)

Griffon Vultures make use of the rising air currents created by the cliffs to soar for hours while spending very little energy. Watching them circle above El Chorro, almost at eye level when you are high on Frontales Media, is one of the highlights of this hike.