# Refugio Zabala, Spain: what it is and when to go

> Refugio Zabala is a mountain refuge in Sierra de Guadarrama in Spain (Trescasas/Palazuelos de Eresma), at 2,075 m above sea level. Interests: Mountains and Hiking. The best time to visit is September, a short season because of the altitude. In June there are 14 h 55 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 05. It has articles in 3 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in Spain: one to enjoy at a calmer pace. Here is what it is, where it lies, when to come, how to get there and what else is nearby to turn it into a trip.

- Address: https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/refugio-zabala/
- Reviewed on: 2026-10-02
- Language: en

## In a nutshell

- **What it is:** Mountain refuge in Sierra de Guadarrama · Mountains, Hiking
- **Where:** Spain · 28741, Rascafría
- **Elevation:** 2,075 m
- **Best time:** September.
- **Nearest airport:** MAD Madrid, 50 km as the crow flies
- **Price:** Gratis
- **Beds:** 4
- **Run by:** Universidad Complutense de Madrid
- **Coordinates:** 40.83713, -3.95849

## What it is and where

Refugio Zabala is a mountain refuge in Sierra de Guadarrama in Spain (Trescasas/Palazuelos de Eresma), at 2,075 m above sea level. It has articles in 3 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in Spain: one to enjoy at a calmer pace.

El refugio Zabala es un refugio de montaña no guardado situado en el circo de Peñalara, en la zona central de la Sierra de Guadarrama. La mitad de la construcción se ocupa por una pequeña estación meteorológica.

It is in [Trescasas/Palazuelos de Eresma](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/trescasas-palazuelos-de-eresma/), where this site lists 90 more places to see, 11 km from the centre.

Its coordinates are 40.83713, -3.95849; the nearest main airport is Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport (MAD, Madrid), 50 km as the crow flies. How to get around Spain (train, car, bus) is covered in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/#moverse).

- [Where it is](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=40.837133%2C-3.958494)
- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=40.837133%2C-3.958494)

- **Beds:** 4
- **Run by:** Universidad Complutense de Madrid

It is one of the [Mountains](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/montana/) and [Hiking](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/senderismo/) places in Spain. In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) it is already on your trip map next to the places you save yourself, and it goes into a day's plan with one tap.

## When to go

The best time to visit Refugio Zabala is **September**, and the season is short because it sits at 2,075 m: above 1,800 m there is snow until June and it returns in October.

| Mes | Época | Hours of daylight |
| --- | --- | --- |
| January | Better not | 9 h 23 |
| February | Better not | 10 h 26 |
| March | Better not | 11 h 40 |
| April | Better not | 13 h 06 |
| May | Better not | 14 h 17 |
| June | Possible | 14 h 55 |
| July | Possible | 14 h 39 |
| August | Possible | 13 h 38 |
| September | Best time | 12 h 15 |
| October | Possible | 10 h 53 |
| November | Better not | 9 h 40 |
| December | Better not | 9 h 05 |

In June there are 14 h 55 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 05. Daylight hours are calculated from the site's latitude for the 15th of each month; when planning a full day on foot they matter as much as the weather.

| What you come for | Best time | Possible |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Mountains | September | June to August and October |
| Hiking | September | June to August and October |

It is not the same trip whatever you come for: Refugio Zabala has a different season depending on what you want to do here, and [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) puts it in the right month for you.

When to go to Spain in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/#cuando-ir).

## Before you go to Spain

To enter Spain there are 6 things to sort out before you leave, starting with “Valid ID card or passport”: they are all, with their deadlines, in [the Spain checklist](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/#antes-de-salir). Currency: Euro (EUR); plugs: Type C and F · 230 V · 50 Hz; emergencies: 112.

In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) you tick off the checklist inside your trip, and each item reminds you when it is time to do it.

## What is nearby

- [Circuito Peñalara](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/circuito-penalara/): Hiking · 597 m
- [Laguna de los Pájaros de Peñalara](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/laguna-de-los-pajaros-de-penalara/): Hiking · 1.2 km
- [Puerto de Cotos - La Granja](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/puerto-de-cotos-la-granja/): Hiking · 1.3 km
- [Mirador de Lucio](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/mirador-de-lucio/): Mountains · Hiking · 1.4 km
- [Peñalara](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/penalara/): Nature · Mountains · 1.5 km

Distances are as the crow flies. Everything else is in [the Spain guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/).

## More in Spain: Mountains

- [Province of Ávila](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/el-cabezo/): province in Castile and León, Spain
- [Aneto](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/pico-aneto/): highest mountain of the Pyrenees
- [Mulhacén](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/pico-de-mulhacen/): highest mountain of the Sierra Nevada in Spain
- [Rock of Gibraltar](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/penon-de-gibraltar/): monolithic limestone promontory located in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar
- [Monte Perdido](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/monte-perdido/): mountain in Huesca, next to the border with France
- [Coma Pedrosa](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/pic-de-comapedrosa/): mountain in Andorra

Every Spain place under Mountains, each with its season, is on [its page](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/montana/).

## Frequently asked questions

### What is Refugio Zabala?

It is a mountain refuge in Sierra de Guadarrama in Spain. It has articles in 3 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in Spain: one to enjoy at a calmer pace.

### When is the best time to visit Refugio Zabala?

September, and it is worth checking carefully: at 2,075 m the season is shorter than lower down. In June there are 14 h 55 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 05.

### How do you get to Refugio Zabala?

The nearest main airport is Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport (MAD), 50 km as the crow flies. From there, [directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=40.837133%2C-3.958494) opens the route on the map, and how to get around Spain is explained in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/#moverse).

### How do I add it to my trip?

With one tap. In Kokai it is already on the Spain map, next to the places you save yourself: add it to a day's plan, give it a time and, if you like, get a reminder when you pass nearby.

### What else is around here?

Nearby you have [Circuito Peñalara](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/circuito-penalara/), [Laguna de los Pájaros de Peñalara](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/laguna-de-los-pajaros-de-penalara/), [Puerto de Cotos - La Granja](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/puerto-de-cotos-la-granja/). The rest is in [the Spain guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/europa/espana/).

Data from [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/927193975), licensed under the ODbL, and from [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6103617), CC0. More about Refugio Zabala on [Wikipedia](https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refugio_Zabala). Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in [credits](https://kokai.app/en/aviso/#creditos).