With the arrival of the November long weekend, many are already planning an excursion taking advantage of the long weekend to enjoy a project alone or in company. Madrid and its surroundings offer a multitude of ideal alternatives to enjoy a getaway in a simple and accessible way.
Whether you already know the Madrid capital or not, there are several options to also enjoy nature with the little ones, in full explosion of autumn colors. From Sierra del Guadarrama National Park to the Laguna del Campillo recreational area, the province offers multiple options for all ages.
Knowing some of the natural landscapes of the area is a great option to easily plan this long weekend in November. We offer you three excursions that you can do with children this November long weekend near Madrid.
El Chorro de Navafría road, in the Sierra de Guadarrama National Park
The El Chorro de Navafría road, in the Sierra de Guadarrama National Park, offers a spectacular waterfall. With a height of 60 meters, it is made up of two waterfalls coming from the stream of the same name in the Cega river valley.
The circular route, only 1 and a half kilometers long and estimated to last just over half an hour, is simple and accessible, making it an excellent alternative for children to enjoy the nature of the mountain.
To start, you will need to access the El Chorro de Navafría recreational area, from where it is possible to walk a paved track that crosses the parking lot and passes near a restaurant. To the left is a dirt road on which you will have to walk parallel to the El Chorro stream, crossing one of the best preserved wild pine forests in the entire peninsula.
On the other hand, in addition to this type of vegetation, it is also possible to discover other types of trees and a varied flora, such as hollies, wild roses, steppes and a vast sea of ferns. After having appreciated all the vegetation, the path will continue directly to the waterfall which gives its name to the route.
At this point it is possible to observe how the water erodes neighboring rocks, making its way between them. After enjoying the natural wonder, you will need to return to the parking lot by crossing a bridge that crosses the stream, again walking parallel to the stream until you reach the starting point.
Finnish Rascafría Forest
The Finnish Rascafría Forest, in Madrid, is a unique natural enclave due to its resemblance to the thickness and colors of Scandinavian groves. The journey from the city to the forest ends in a magical cabin, surrounded by a lake, on a forgotten quay.
To begin, you will have to park in the town of the same name, from where you can head towards the Camino del Papel, named after the use that the monks once gave to the trees in the area. Next, you will have to cross the Puente del Perdón, which crosses the waters of the Lozoya River towards the Monastery of Santa María del Paular.
After passing through all the historic religious buildings, it will be possible to access the Finnish Forest, a vast grove made up of poplars, birches and firs. Continuing, it is possible to reach a clearing where there is an old cabin.
The route is not very difficult, which makes it an ideal alternative to do with the family in autumn, enjoying the characteristic colors of the forest and enjoying the landscape.
Route through the Laguna del Campillo, to Rivas Vaciamadrid
The route through Laguna del Campillo, in Rivas Vaciamadrid, is a good route to introduce children to hiking and a love of nature. The route, 6 and a half kilometers long and lasting 2 hours, ends in an environmental education center.
To access the enclave you will have to access the town of Rivas through exit 19 of the A-3 until you reach the authorized parking lot. From here it is possible to start the entire circular walk, which can be done both on foot and by bike.
In addition to the lagoon, of artificial origin, it is possible to enjoy a small pine forest and the tracks of the old Arganda train, which only runs on Sundays and is currently used for tourist purposes. The route is not lost, since you will just have to continue along the path that surrounds the water, so it is possible to do it with children of all ages.
