Camino Schmidt

Camino Schmidt is a long-distance hiking route in Spain’s Sierra de Guadarrama National Park, with most hikers starting from Puerto de Navacerrada. The route runs as a point-to-point hike to the Fuenfría Valley, following the named path markers through the forested sections between the high passes.

The traverse is built around Collado Ventoso (“windy pass”), which sits on the boundary between Madrid and Segovia. Expect a steady climb as you work your way toward this broad saddle, then continue through the higher terrain toward the valley approach.

Wayfinding is a key part of the experience: the trail is described as being well signposted with yellow dots on pine trees and signs at points of interest. That makes it practical as a single, continuous hike rather than a pick-your-own routing exercise.

Historically, the route’s identity traces back to Eduardo Schmidt, who marked it in 1926; the trail is described as one of the earliest official hiking routes in Spain.

In hiking terms, plan around a moderate effort for a distance around 13.7 km one-way, typically taking about 4.5 to 5 hours. The route is also commonly done for its established pine-forest atmosphere and the pass crossing at Collado Ventoso.

More information: Hiking Routes near Madrid, Portugal \u0026 Spain El Camino Portugues Hiking -, Camino Schmidt | hiking trails around Real Sitio de San Ildefonso