Walking in the Picos de Europa

42 walks and treks in Spain's first National Park

CICERONE 2023

Guidebook to 38 walks and 4 short treks of 3-4 days in the stunning Picos de Europa mountains of northern Spain. The walking routes are between 8 and 24 km in length and are graded by difficulty, ranging from easy valley walks to difficult ascents of the high peaks. The walks cover the areas of Cangas de Onís, Cabrales, Liébana, Valdeón and Sajambre. Alongside detailed route descriptions and 1:50k mapping, there is plenty of information on potential bases, manned refuges, local transport and facilities along the routes. There are also background notes on the area's rich geology, plants and wildlife. Spain's first national park, the Picos de Europa feature striking karst landscapes of jagged peaks and deeply incised gorges. However, there are also beech woods and picturesque alpine lakes, and the diverse landscapes support a wide variety of plants, wildlife and birdlife. The walks showcase many of the region's highlights, including its high peaks, the Covadonga lakes and the breathtaking Cares Gorge. The landscape of the Picos is widely considered the jewel in Spain’s mountainous crown.

CONTENTS

• Map key
• Overview map
• Preface
• Route summary table
• Introduction
• Location and geography
• Geology
• Climate and weather
• Plants and flowers
• Wildlife
• The National Park
• Getting there
• Getting around
• Language and money
• Where to stay
• When to visit
• What to take
• Maps
• GPS in the Picos
• Roads, tracks and paths
• Safety
• Emergencies
• Using this guide
• Cangas de Onís
• Walk 1 La Cruz de Priena
• Walk 2 La Majada de Belbín
• Walk 3 La Buferrera and Los Lagos
• Walk 4 Covadonga from Los Lagos
• Walk 5 Ario and El Jultayu
• Walk 6 El Mirador de Ordiales
• Walk 7 Tour of the Torre de Santa María
• Walk 8 Torre les Travieses
• Walk 9 La Jocica and La Senda del Arcediano
• Cabrales
• Walk 10 Pueblos de Cabrales
• Walk 11 Cabeza de Juanrobre
• Walk 12 El Cuetón
• Walk 13 Monte Camba
• Walk 14 Vao los Llobos
• Walk 15 Pico de San Carlos
• Walk 16 Pica el Jierru
• Walk 17 Colláu Cambureru
• Walk 18 Cabrones and Urriellu
• Liébana
• Walk 19 Pueblos de Liébana
• Walk 20 Pico Jano
• Walk 21 Vega de Liordes
• Walk 22 Alto la Padierna
• Walk 23 El Cable and La Jenduda
• Walk 24 Peña Vieja
• Walk 25 Los Puertos de Áliva
• Walk 26 Peña Oviedo
• Valdeón
• Walk 27 Pico Cebolleda
• Walk 28 La Torre Salinas
• Walk 29 Collado Jermoso
• Walk 30 El Valle del Arenal
• Walk 31 Pueblos de Valdeón
• Walk 32 La Travesona
• Walk 33 The Cares Gorge
• Sajambre
• Walk 34 Pica Beza
• Walk 35 Vega Huerta
• Walk 36 Pico Jario
• Walk 37 Pueblos de Sajambre
• Walk 38 Sajambre es Bosque
• Trekking
• Trek 1 Tour of the Western Massif
• Trek 2 Tour of the Central Massif
• Trek 3 Tour of the Eastern Massif
• Trek 4 Ruta de la Reconquista – GR 202
• Appendix A Useful contacts and website addresses
• Appendix B Glossary
• Appendix C Huts of the Picos de Europa