Epic Climb & Gravel Challenge in the Sierras de Tejeda

🚴‍♂️ Cycling Otívar to Lentegí via the Goat Path – Sierras de Tejeda Adventure 🏔️

This ride had everything – steep climbs, quiet mountain roads, challenging gravel sections, jaw-dropping views, a fast 10km descent, and even a well-earned roast chicken lunch at the end!

I was staying just a few kilometres south of Otívar, a charming whitewashed town in the Granada province of southern Spain. Otívar is historically known for its agriculture – sugar cane, avocados, mangos, and especially chirimoyas (custard apples). With the Sierras de Tejeda, Almijara y Alhama Natural Park right on its doorstep, it’s a perfect starting point for hikers, cyclists, and adventure seekers. The famous Goat Path (Carretera de la Cabra) runs straight through the town, linking the coast to the mountain passes inland.

Leaving my accommodation, I made the short spin up to Otívar before turning right towards Lentegí – a small village perched in the hills about 5km away. This section was a steady climb, but the views were worth every pedal stroke. The road was beautifully quiet, winding through pine-covered slopes with the dramatic backdrop of the Sierras.

In Lentegí, the tarmac ends – and that’s where the adventure really began. The only way forward was along a gravel track cutting through a canyon. On a mountain bike, this would be fun. On a road bike with thin tyres? Let’s just say it was interesting! Some sections had deep gravel where my tyres slipped, forcing me to walk for short stretches. The heat was intense, I’d completely run out of water, and the climb out of the canyon was brutally tough. But the scenery was absolutely epic – not a single car, just the crunch of tyres on gravel and the sound of the wind through the pines.

Eventually, the gravel track brought me back onto the Goat Path road, high in the mountains. From here, it was all about the reward – a spectacular 10km descent snaking all the way down the valley back towards Otívar. Perfect sweeping bends, endless views, and barely any traffic made it one of the most enjoyable downhills I’ve ever ridden.

Back in Otívar, I treated myself to lunch at a lovely local restaurant – a big roast chicken with dessert, and plenty of cold drinks to rehydrate. The only problem? My accommodation was at the top of a VERY steep hill… the real final climb of the day!

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Ride details:
📍 Location: Otívar & Lentegí, Province of Granada, Spain
🌄 Route: Otívar → Lentegí → Goat Path → Otívar
🚴‍♂️ Distance: ~25km (with gravel section)
📈 Highlights: Quiet mountain roads, Sierras de Tejeda scenery, challenging gravel, epic 10km descent
⚠️ Challenges: Deep gravel on road tyres, heat, no water for part of the ride

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About the Goat Path (Carretera de la Cabra):
This historic mountain road connects the coastal town of Almuñécar with Granada via winding climbs and panoramic views. It’s a favourite with cyclists for its combination of long ascents, peaceful surroundings, and sweeping descents. Parts of the route pass through the Sierras de Tejeda, Almijara y Alhama Natural Park, a protected area home to pine forests, rocky ridges, and wildlife such as ibex and eagles.

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If you enjoyed this ride, check out my other cycling vlogs from Spain, including climbs in the Sierra Nevada and rides through the Alpujarras.

💬 Have you ridden the Goat Path before? Let me know your experience in the comments!
📌 Subscribe to follow my cycling adventures across Spain, Morocco, the UK, and beyond.

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My Gear for This Ride:
🚲 Bike: Road bike with 25mm tyres (not ideal for deep gravel – but it made the ride more adventurous!)
🎥 Filming: GoPro Hero + DJI drone
📍 Navigation: Garmin Edge GPS

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Chapters:
00:00 Intro & leaving Otívar
01:12 Climb to Lentegí
02:40 Gravel canyon section
04:55 Back on the Goat Path road
06:30 Epic 10km descent
08:15 Lunch in Otívar
09:10 The final steep hill!

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More from my channel:
▶ Cycling the Goat Path from Almuñécar
▶ Pico Veleta – The highest road in Europe by bike
▶ Riding the Dades Gorge, Morocco
▶ Dartmoor & Exmoor National Park cycling adventures

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#CyclingSpain #GoatPath #Otivar #Lentegi #CycleVlog #RoadCycling #SierrasDeTejeda #BikeTravel #CyclingGranada #GoatPathSpain

Welcome to the Sierra de Tejeda. It’s a wonderful spring morning in the south of Spain. Today I’m going to be doing 30k ride from Otivar through Lentegi and then joining onto Carretera de la Cabra Otherwise known as the Goat Path. And then back to Otivar. Let’s get out there! I am was staying a few kilometres south of Otivar so I had a short ride up to the town This road is beautiful and at the moment, there isn’t much traffic. I can barely see any cars right now I think it’s because I’m going quite early Otivar is historically known for growing sugar cane, avocados, mangos, and especially chirimoyas (custard apples) Being just on the edge of the Sierras de Tejeda a its a great jump off point for hikers and cyclists alike. And also the Goat path runs straight through it. After Otivar I turn right and climbed up to Lentegi, I turn right and climb up to Lentegi about a 5km beautiful quiet and great views. Just been through Otivar, couple k in Getting hot now. Going up! So I’m on the way from Otivar to Lentegi Yay Lentegi! So I’m going through Lentegi now As you can see there’s so many Cols looks like a snake. Alright let’s go through the town. I think, yeah. I quite like going through the town cause the houses look very cool. Let’s continue. Let’s go! Getting steeper! Just taking it at my own pace right now. It’s quite tough. Okay. I’m in one of the view points it’s called Las arterias de la Vega the view so cool here we can see some cliffs on the right and then we can see lentegi village on the left Let’s go. So I was thinking of having some lunch here in this village but I don’t find any restaurants so I think I just keep going now until I find something or maybe just have food at home then later so looks like I’m starting on a track right now It’s a gravel track. I don’t think my bike is suitable but just keep going okay The road stops at Lentegi and to continue I needed to go onto a gravel path. This was quite a challenge because the tire were only thin and some of the gravel was very deep But the path was epic. Winding through the canyon, with no traffic and lined with pine trees Taking a little break and having a snack. Gives me a little bit of sugar. Cause I’ve been on this track for quite a while now. And for me it’s a bit hard because I’m doing it on the road bike sometimes my tire slips a bit but I think it’s part of the fun So I’ve got one last climb – and it’s a big one to go to the goat path Half way there. I had a big climb out of this section to get me back onto the Goat path road and it was tough because in few sections I have to walk my bike because the tires were slip on the gravel and also I was completely run out of water but I still have fun. It’s a bit too sandy for the bike. I think here it looks better now let’s try again here we go I’m a bit exhausted right now from all the climbs spicy very spicy today, but I’m not far now I think after this it’s just all downhill.. hopefully! usually there will be some surprise.. Oh hills again! we never know alright maybe hopefully we can find something for lunch on the way I just come out from the gravel track now I’m on to the goat path and going to the Otivar and I had a beautiful 10 kilometre descent all the way down to the valley the view is epic can see the ocean and the hills at the same time. So beautiful. That was an epic descent, it’s a long one really fun yeah I stopped Otivar for lunch and have a roast chicken and lovely dessert plus lots of rehydrating I’m back in Otívar now and I think the restaurant is open let’s get some lunch Oh yeah good I’ve been running out of water I’m eating some chicken chicken breast I hope they give me the big one because I did some big climbs Big lunch! Yum! Too much for me and the dessert mango sorbet – always mango. I love mango! Did I mention that my accommodation is at the top of a very steep hills Alright let’s go home! I’m back! Done all of it and that last one wasn’t easy. Done all of it and that last one wasn’t easy but I’m alright I hope you enjoy my video and subscribe to see more.