Points of interest:

Situated just north east of Granada on a main arterial route this park area is a limestone mountain with typical features such as steep sided ravines, mixed woodland and Mediterranean scrub. Altitude in the park is between 1,000 and 1,600meters above sea level. This offers fantastic views across to Sierra Nevada from mirador Buena vista.

There are several caves and springs, the most noteworthy use historically of this is the Aynadamar canal built by the Moors to take spring water from the Fuente Grande in Alfácar into Granada city.

Flora:

The plant life here has an interesting mix of influences, from central Europe, North Africa and the normal types for southern Spain with some endemics from the area of Granada.

The forested area has a wide variety of trees many of which have been introduced through planting schemes. Aleppo pine, Austrian pine, Maritime pine, Cedars and Abies pinsapo or Spanish fir. Holm oaks and some Gall oaks of the original forest also exist, along with smaller Acers.

Of the 800 plus plant species noted in the park the endemics can be divide as follows; 75 endemic to Iberia, 54 from the southern Iberian peninsular and 42 to Iberia and North Africa.

Some of the more noteworthy are Crocus nevadensis, Centaurea funkii, Evax nevadensis, Centaurea montícola, Cotoneaster granatensis and Adonis vernalis subsp Granatensis.

Fauna:

Raptors include, Golden eagle, Booted eagle, Goshawk, Sparrow hawk, Buzzard, Little owl, Tawny owl and Eagle owl.

Mammals in the park are Red deer, Wild boar, Spanish Ibex, Fox, Genet, Least weasel, Wild cat, Badger, Beech martin and Dormouse (Eliomys quercinus).

Several different small lizards, Ladder and Grass snake plus Lataste’s viper are some of the reptiles.

There is a recovery centre for endangered animals at Las Mimbres.

Discovered first in la Sierra de Alfácar, Huetor park, is a small bright blue butterfly, Lysandra bellargus ssp alfacariensis (Family- Lycaenidae, also listed under the name Polyommatus bellargus-Adonis blue, subsp alfacariensis)

Also in the area:

There are well preserved Arab baths Cogollos Vega and the Arab canal to Granada as mentioned above. There is a woodland walk to the Cueva del Agua (Water cave), although the cave entrance has been closed off to preserve it, there are good views of the Sierra Nevada mountains.