Your EPIC Guide to the Parque Natural de Somiedo
The Parque Natural de Somiedo is one of the most well-preserved area in all of Spain.
The nearby Picos de Europa National Park steals all of the fame, but trust me the Somiedo Natural Park is equally as stunning.
From several alpine lakes to visit & plenty of hiking trails, to a preserved wildlife & growing population of brown bears, there are plenty of things to do in the park.
Let’s see everything you need to know to plan your trip to Somiedo!
Where to Stay in Somiedo Asturias
If you’re planning to explore the Somiedo Natural Park, there are several nice places to stay in the park. I’ve listed below the top choices, including the one where I stayed when hiking in the area.
Best Hotel in Valle de Lago – Hotel Rural Somiedo
The Hotel Somiedo is where I stayed when exploring Somiedo
I stayed in this hotel when I was in Somiedo; the location is perfect, right next to the start of the hikes to the lakes.
What I loved the most was how kind the hosts were; a really helpful couple, who helped me plan my hike, gave me tips and even put together a lunch for me to take away in the morning.
Best Budget Hostel – Albergue de Saliencia
The Albergue de Saliencia is the best choice for budget travelers
The Albergue de Saliencia is the perfect place to stay if you’re planning to hike to the Saliencia Lakes.
It’s also the best budget hostel, perfect for backpackers. For 18€ you’ll get a room for the night and a nice breakfast in the morning.
Best Hotel for Couples – Pension Rural Casa Cesareo
Best option for a cheap & comfy stay
If you have a car and if you’re travelling with someone else, the Pensio Rural Casa Cesareo is the best choice for you.
Located a bit further from the lake in Pola de Somiedo, you’ll get a family room with 2 twin beds for very cheap!
Where is the Parque Natural de Somiedo?
The Parque Natural Somiedo is located in the north of Spain, in the region of Asturias, famous for its stunning unspoilt beaches & mountain ranges.
Click on the map to open in Google Maps
The park is in the south part of Asturias, on the border with the region of Castile and León. It’s about 4h from Bilbao, the largest city in the Basque country.
What to Do in Somiedo Natural Park
Wondering what are the top things to do in Somiedo Natural Park? You’ll find below all the best activities to do in the area:
Hike one of the many Somiedo rutas
The park is made of 5 valleys:
- Cigueñas
- Las Aortas
- Puerto de Somiedo
- Sapiencia
- Valle del Lago
In total, these valleys span over 300 square kilometers (115 square miles), offering a vast area of nature for your hikes & explorations.
My favorite hike in the area was the hike Ruta Lagos de Somiedo. The hike takes you to the Lagos de Somiedo, 4 alpine lakes in the south east part of the park. The Lagos de Somiedo are made of:
- the 3 Lagos de Saliencia
- Lago de la Cueva
- Lago de Calabazosa
- Lago Cerveiriz
- the Lago del Valle
These alpine lakes are among the most beautiful lakes in Spain, along with the Lagos de Covadonga that can be found nearby in Picos de Europa.
Here’s the profil of the hike:
Hike Ruta Lagos de Somiedo
Distance: 23.3km / 14.5 miles
↗️ Uphill: 858m / 2,815 feet
↘️ Downhill: 858m / 2,815 feet
Difficulty: hard
You’ll need to be used to hiking to complete this trail from Valle del Lago Somiedo to the Somiedo Lakes & back.
You’ll start on a low incline from the valley to the Lago del Valle, the first lake you’ll see. Enjoy your time at the lake, but don’t linger too much there because you’ll still have a long way to go to cross the mountain to reach the Lagos de Saliencia.
After hiking extensively in Asturias, I’ll have to say that this hike was one of my favorite, along with the Ruta del Cares, another epic hike that you should check out if you’re in the area!
You’ll find below the map of the hike:
You can download the GPX file by clicking on the image above if you want to use in your GPS app/smartwatch.
If this Somiedo trail seems too much of a challenge for you, don’t worry! There are other Somiedo rutas to hike towards the Lagos de Somiedo:
You can go for a shorter hike & see only the Lago del Valle, which will allow you to spend more time at the lake.
Click here to read the full hiking guide: Hike to Lago del Valle
Or you can hike only to the Lagos de Saliencia, starting from Saliencia which will also make for a shorter hike.
Click here to read the full hiking guide: Hike to Lagos de Saliencia
If you’re going to stay for a while in the area, there are so many other hikes waiting for you! Just pick one & go explore 🙂
Go on a Bear Watching Expedition
Yes, I said Bear Watching. Did you know that there are more than 250 bears in Somiedo? It’s one of the largest population of bears in liberty in all of Europe! Going bear watching in Somiedo is definitely one of my favorite things to do in Asturias.
The specy of bear living in the Parque de Somiedo is the Cantabrian brown bear, the largest animal in all of Spain. There was originally only a small number of bears, but thanks to amazing work from local NGOs, they have been thriving and their number is slowly growing, year after year.
Even though you might be able to spot a bear while hiking on your own, you have much better chances to see one of these massive animals by going on a bear watching expedition, with local guides.
One of the best options for bear watching tour is to go with Somiedo Experience. They offer expeditions for 70€ per day, and provide binoculars and telescopes for you to use during the trip.
Book here: Somiedo Experience
Discover the Local Wildlife
Somiedo is a Nature Reserve, and it was the first area in Asturias to earn that title in 1988. The goal was to help preserve the local fauna & flora; thanks to this, the Parque Nacional de Somiedo has been named a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2000.
There are more than 40 species of mammals in the park, including the Iberian wolf (that can also be seen around the Mirador de la Reina), ibexes and deers. You will also find hundreds of different species of birds, and 20 species of amphibians & reptiles.
The Parque Somiedo is incredibly rich in wildlife, and one of the best things to do in the park is simply to head out in the wild and discover the local wildlife.
Explore the Park on Horseback
Not feeling like walking all-day? Switch it up & go explore the park on horseback!
Horseback riding is well-developed in Asturias, and it’s one of the best ways to explore the area. There are several options for horseback riding tours, but my favorite is the one that takes you to the Lago del Valle.
Horseback Riding to the Lago del Valle
Another great option is this 1 Day Horseriding Tour that will allow you to explore Somiedo on a horse during one full day!
Ride Your Way Through the Parque Nacional de Somiedo
Another great thing to do in the Somiedo National Park is to hop on a bike and ride around the park!
There are a lot of well-maintained trails that are perfect for biking, and the surroundings are absolutely amazing, which makes for a wonderful experience.
One of the best area to bike in Somiedo is on the route Senda del Oso: a gentle downard slope from the start, allowing you to enjoy the views without having to pedal too much.
Bike Riding on Senda del Oso
Includes: bike, helmet, map, phone assistance and transport to & from the area
Price: 17€ per personBook here: Bike break through Senda del Oso
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So there you have them, the best things to do in Somiedo, Asturias! Keep reading below for more info on how to get to the park & tips for your visit.
How to Get to the Parque Natural Somiedo
If you’re planning to go to Somiedo, I highly recommend renting a car (or using your own). There is a way to get there by bus, but it involves a lot of walking as the bus system is not very developed in this part of Asturias.
Get to the Parque de Somiedo by Car
There are 2 main places I recommend driving to if you have a car, Valle de Lago & Saliencia. Let’s see how to get to each one by car:
Drive to Valle de Lago Somiedo
After entering the Somiedo Natural Park, you’ll drive on mountain roads until you reach the town of Valle de Lago. Here is the estimated driving time from nearby cities:
- From Gijón: 1h50
- From León: 2h
- From Poncebos in Picos de Europa: 3h
Once you get to Valle de Lago, keep driving straight through the city, heading south east. You will drive past the Hotel Somiedo, then reach the first parking lot: Aparcamiento Valle del Lago.
Don’t stop there, keep driving to the next part of the village; right after the houses you will reach another space where you can park your car. Here is the location: parking Valle del Lago. This is the closest you can get to the lakes, and the perfect place to start your hike!
If the second one is full, simply drive back to the first one. It’s only a 10 minutes walk between both parkings, so don’t sweat it.
Drive to Saliencia
If you want to tackle the Lagos de Somiedo hike from the Alto de la Farrapona (or simply if you booked your hotel in Saliencia), the best is to drive to Saliencia:
- From Gijón: 1h35
- From León: 1h40
- From Poncebos in Picos de Europa: 3h
Get to the Parque Somiedo by Bus
If you don’t have a car, you can still go to Somiedo, but it will be a tad more difficult.
The main bus stop in Somiedo is the town of Pola de Somiedo. Book your bus trip with Alsa, the largest bus company in Spain.
Bus to Pola de Somiedo
From Gijón: 4h / 12€ one-way trip
From Bilbao: 8h30 / 29€ one-way trip
Once you’re in Pola de Somiedo, you’ll have access to a lot of hikes.
You can also take another bus to Urria, which will get you closer to the Lagos de Somiedo.
Go to Moovit Asturias, enter “Parking Valle del Lago” as your destination, & choose your starting point.
Once you’re in Urria, you’ll need to walk 1h before reaching the start of the hike in Valle de Lago.
Tips for Exploring Somiedo National Park
If you’ve gotten this far, chances are pretty high that you are seriously considering going to Somiedo.
You’ll find below a few tips to help you plan your trip, and to make sure you have the best experience you can while you’re out there:
- there are wild animals in Somiedo; always remain alert
- the cows, sheeps and goats are friendly but they remain wild animals; don’t bother them
- if you’re going in winter, there will probably be a lot of snow in the area
- you can check the snow beforehand on the webcam Somiedo
- pack plenty of water & snacks when you head out for the day
- pack warmer clothes in your bag as the weather quickly changes in this area
- don’t be afraid to ask locals for info or directions, they are very friendly
- make sure to visit the Tourism Office in Pola de Somiedo for more info
Visit Spain
Planning a trip to Asturias and Spain? You can find below several other articles about this wonderful part of the world to help you plan your trip:
Asturias Guides:
Looking for even more epic hikes? Check out the hike to Bulnes, the day-hike from Bulnes to Sotres, or the hikes around the Fuente Dé funicular.
Want a change from the mountains? Check out the stunning beach Playa del Silencio or the epic coastline at Cabo Vidio.
Spain Guides:
Discover Toledo, the City of 3 Cultures
I hope you enjoy your trip to Asturias and to Spain!
If you have any questions, let me know in the comments below, I always reply.
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