The laguna de El Padul is a wetland very close to the city of Granada. You can enjoy wonderful views from its wooden walkways and watch the birds from its viewpoints. It is an easy and comfortable plan to visit with children from the city or from the coast.
We like to call it Mammoth Lagoon, as one of its main attractions is the appearance of Mammoth fossils. It is the largest wetland in the province, although in the past it was even larger, as nearby peat mining reduced its perimeter considerably.
This lagoon system is located on the outskirts of Padul and is equipped with several pedestrian routes with wooden walkways, viewpoints and places to eat.
Lagunas de el Padul with a high water level (Fantastic photo by Migeek. Flickr. CC BY-SA 2.0).
What you will find here
Mammoth Route
This route is the most significant, as it runs through the place where the remains of several “Wolly Mammoths” were found. It is a low-intensity route accessible to all and specially suitable for walking with children. The entire route is practically flat and the entire route is just over 8 kilometres long. It can be done in a circular route or you can do a short section and then return along the same path.
Starting from the Aula de la Naturaleza (El Aguadero), where you can get information beforehand, the route begins to skirt the wetland. One of the most interesting points is the Mirador del Mamut. This is an elevated platform with fantastic views of the site.
The mammoth species found in Padul lived in cold places, so you can imagine how different this area was 500,000 years ago.
Life-size reproductions of Woolly Mammoth and Sabre-toothed Tiger next to the Aula de Naturaleza
Wooden footbridges between the vegetation. Sometimes they run next to or over the water.
Other routes in the lagoon of Padul
There are two other routes in the same area. These two options also visit the wetland, but also extend to the south and east, passing through the places where palaeontological remains were found.
Sabre-toothed Tiger Trail
This is the longest, approximately 10 km. It also has the greatest accumulated height difference (ROUTE).
Route of the Woolly Rhinoceros
Its route is about 9 km and practically flat (ROUTE).
Mirador de la Laguna, from where to contemplate the horizon (Migeek. Flickr. CC BY-SA 2.0)
The fauna and flora
The ecological value of this lagoon is immense, as it constitutes a small natural reserve in a deeply transformed area. Its conservation has led to it being listed as one of the best areas in Andalusia for birdwatching, where the most knowledgeable birdwatchers could identify almost 170 different species. Among them are the little grebe, grey heron, little bittern, kingfisher, mallard, marsh harrier, common kestrel, short-toed eagle, etc.
The vegetation is dominated by tarais, reeds and bulrushes. There is also a wooded area where you will see willows, fig trees and other riverside trees.
Spectacular views of the Padul lagoon with Sierra Nevada in the background (Granadaruralsur. WikimediaCommons. CC BY-SA 4.0).
A bit of history
The history of the Padul lagoon, like that of all the natural areas of Andalusia, has always been complicated. The relationship with humans has been complicated for as long as data is known (Repartimiento of 1514), as they have always tried to gain space for the wetland in order to make way for cultivation areas. Hemp, sugar beet, corn, beans and many other crops led to plans to drain it from before the 18th century. Today it is protected and forms part of the Network of Natural Spaces of Andalusia.
If you want more historical information, please consult this link and if you want to discover the history of the city of Granada, we will be delighted to guide you.
Autumn details in the Padul lagoon.
Guided visits to the Padul Lagoon
The guided visits to the Laguna de El Padul are organised by the Aula de Naturaleza “El Aguadero”. They have several activities specially focused on children. Phone: 958 489 759 / 657 279 898
Where to eat
The best thing to do is to take food from home. Enjoying a good lunch in nature is not something you can do every day. There are several places along the route where you can eat. We indicate them on the map.
Walks by the water in the Laguna del Padul.
More information
A couple of advices
- You’ll be in a protected area.
- Avoid loud voices.
- If you have binoculars with you, you will see the birds up close.
- The best time of year is spring or autumn.
Parking
Parking is available, although somewhat limited, next to the Aula de Naturaleza. This is the closest place to the wetland. We indicate it on the map. Although if you have time we recommend starting the route from the Jardines de la Estación, next to the Town Hall of El Padul. From there some monoliths indicate the way.
How to get there
If you enter “Ruta del Mamut” or “Laguna del Padul” in Google Maps, the location is not exact. On our map we mark the start of the route and the car park. But if you want to search in Google Maps you must put “Merendero Ruta Del Mamut”.
If you like the Laguna del Padul, you will love Water Paths.
Click on the image, watch the video and discover the water ways in Granada
THANK YOU
We would like to thank our friends who accompanied us to the Padul Lagoon. Also to the people who share their audiovisual content. Some of the magnificent photos you see in this post are the work of Miguel Ángel Manzano (Migeek). We recommend you to visit his Flickr profile channel.
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