24.4
PDI
14.2 mi
DISTANCE
4,386 ft
GAINED
5.7 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
INTRO
Collado Bermejo is a mountain pass in the Sierra Espuña Regional Park, in Spain's Región de Murcia. The climb runs 22.9 km (14.2 mi) from the town of Alhama de Murcia to a gated military post just below the 1,585 m summit of Morrón de Totana, gaining 1,337 m (4,386 ft) at a 5.7% average grade.
The road - the RM-515 - leaves Alhama de Murcia through orchards on a wide, well-paved stretch before narrowing as it climbs into the pines of Sierra Espuña, Murcia's largest protected natural area. Its signature is the closing stretch: roughly 18 tightly stacked hairpins carry the road up to the Collado Bermejo pass itself (1,211 m), after which it kicks up again for a brutal final 5 km - averaging near 9%, with ramps over 12% - to the microwave relay and military post that blocks the road just below the true summit.
The climb is a fixture of Spanish professional racing. The Vuelta a España climbed it in Stage 10 of the 2017 race, from Caravaca de la Cruz to Alhama de Murcia, and it's a recurring first-category summit finish in the Vuelta a la Región de Murcia (Costa Cálida), where the mountain prize at the top is contested as the "Cima Marco Pantani" - Alejandro Valverde attacked on its slopes en route to his fifth Vuelta a Murcia win in 2017. Because inland Murcia sees periodic wildfire activity in the dry season (Sierra Espuña had active fires as recently as 2026), it's worth checking the park's current conditions before you go.
PLAN YOUR ROUTE
We've partnered with Sherpa-Map.com to bring you the best route planning tool. With a PRO Membership you can use this climb as a reference when creating your route. Collado Bermejo averages 5.7% over 22.9 km (14.2 mi), gaining 1,337 m (4,386 ft) from Alhama de Murcia to the gated military post below Morrón de Totana.
The opening kilometers out of Alhama de Murcia are nearly flat, and the grade stays moderate (4-7%) through the forested midsection. The steepest kilometer averages 12.5%, and the closing 5 km - from the Collado Bermejo pass itself to the finish - averages near 9%, with pitches over 12%.
Roadway: The RM-515 is paved the entire way - wide and in good condition on the lower section out of Alhama de Murcia, narrowing to a well-maintained single-lane road once it enters Sierra Espuña Regional Park. Inland Murcia sees periodic wildfire activity in the dry summer months (Sierra Espuña had active fires as recently as 2026), so it's worth checking the park's current alerts before you go.
Traffic: The first few kilometers out of Alhama de Murcia can carry local traffic on the wider road; once the route narrows inside the regional park, traffic drops off sharply and the closing hairpins up to Collado Bermejo are generally quiet.
Parking: Alhama de Murcia is a working town with on-street parking near where Avenida de la Constitución meets the RM-515, right at the base of the climb. Riders staying inside the park can also use the La Perdiz recreation area partway up the mountain.
Provisions: There's nothing on the mountain itself - stock up in Alhama de Murcia before you start, where there are cafes and grocery stores near the base of the climb.
Gear: A standard road bike with a compact or triple crankset is fine - the road is paved throughout, but the closing hairpins and the steep final push past Collado Bermejo justify easy gearing.
Before heading out on any cycling adventure check out our Things to Bring on a Cycling Trip and use our interactive check list to ensure you don't forget anything.
Alhama de Murcia is a modest, workaday town rather than a resort, but it's a convenient, inexpensive base about 40 minutes southwest of the city of Murcia and roughly an hour from the Costa Cálida beaches.
Sierra Espuña is worth a full day beyond the climb itself - its pine forests, planted over a century of reforestation work, are a striking green contrast to the semi-arid landscape surrounding them, and the park's visitor center near El Berro has trail information for hikers sharing the mountain.
See other bike climbs near Alhama de Murcia, including a shorter southern approach to Collado Bermejo, with our Routes in the Area tool.
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