Hiking Picos de Europa – The Ultimate Guide (+ free maps)

 

The Parque Nacional Picos de Europa, or Picos de Europa National Park, is the very first National Park in Spain, created in 1918.

It’s an absolutely stunning area of Spain made of rivers, mountains & alpine lakes, full of wild animals.

Hiking in Picos de Europa is one of my favorite things to do in Asturias, and I’m sure you’ll enjoy it too!

I’ve created this guide so that you’ll have everything you need to plan your trip there.

Let’s get started!

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Where to Stay in Los Picos de Europa
• Where is the Picos de Europa National Park?
• The 10 Best Trails for Hiking in Picos de Europa
• The Ultimate Hike – Anillo Picos de Europa
• The Complete List of All the Hikes in Picos de Europa
• Mountain Refuges – Refugios Picos de Europa
• Map of Picos de Europa Asturias
• How is the Weather in Picos de Europa?
• Tips for Your Trip to the Parque Nacional Picos de Europa
• Visit Spain

Where to Stay in Los Picos de Europa

When exploring Picos de Europa, I stayed in different areas over the days, to experience different parts & be closest to the hikes I was going to do the following day.

I’ve listed below my favorite places & the best central option for your home base in the park.

 

Best Home Base – Hostal Poncebos

 

The Hostal Poncebos has the best location!

It’s the highest rated hotel in the area, and the best home base for the hikes in Picos de Europa.

The prices are so low it’s hard to beat, and breakfast is included too! It gets booked out pretty quick, so make sure to secure your spot fast.

Check for Best Price

 

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Best Comfy Hotel – Hotel Picos de Europa

 

The Hotel Picos de Europa is the best to relax after hiking

If the Hostal Poncebos is already full, the Hotel Picos de Europa is my second go-to accommodation.

The room is pretty cozy, everything is super clean, and you’ll even have a pool to relax after a long day of hiking! The Hotel Picos de Europa is definitely my top choice for a comfy stay.

Check for Best Price

 

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Best Hotel in Covadonga Lakes – Casa Rural Priena

 

The best hotel in Covadonga lakes

The Casa Rural Priena is my favorite place to stay at near the Lagos de Covadonga.

It’s the highest rated hotel in the area, and it’s literally minutes away from the lakes. The rooms are very comfy, and it comes with an included delicious breakfast.

Check for Best Price

 

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Read more: Find the best town and best hotel where to stay in Picos de Europa

Where is the Picos de Europa National Park?

The Picos de Europa National Park is located in the north of Spain, a 2-hour drive west of Bilbao.

The National Park is in 3 different regions of Spain – Asturias, Cantabria, and Castile & León – and spans over 646.60km² / 250 square miles.

The 10 Best Trails for Hiking in Picos de Europa

There are so many hikes in Picos de Europa: with 30 short routes (PR), 2 long routes (GR), and 4 high mountain routes, we’re looking at dozens of hikes available for walking in the Picos de Europa.

Unless you’re spending several months in the area, it’s impossible to walk them all.

But don’t worry; I have listed for you the very best trails for hiking in Picos de Europa.

Best Trail Picos de Europa:

1. Poncebos – Bulnes via the Canal del Texu
2. Hike from Bulnes to Sotres
3. Full Circuit Poncebos – Bulnes – Sotres – Tielve – Poncebos
4. Ruta del Cares
5. Ruta Puertos de Aliva in Fuente Dé
6. Horcados Rojos Summit
7. Lagos de Covadonga Hike
8. Vega de Ario
9. Brez Canal de Arredondas
10. Ordiales Scenic Balcony Trail

Keep reading below for more details about each of these hikes, including hike duration, hike profile, map & photos!

1- Poncebos – Bulnes via the Canal del Texu

The first hike on this list of best hikes in Picos de Europa is the Poncebos to Bulnes hike via the Canal del Texu.

Bulnes is a small mountain village in the north of Picos de Europa, that was once only reachable by hiking. There is now a funicular that gets you there from Poncebos in 5 minutes, but if you’re looking for outdoors experience, the hike is a much better choice.

This is where you’ll arrive after less than 2 hours of hiking; this remote village is truly a gem and I highly recommend hiking to it.

The hike is pretty easy, and can be done in 3 hours including the return trip. Another option if you’re not feeling like hiking too much, or if you’re with your kids, is to take the funicular to Bulnes and then hike back down to Poncebos.

You’ll also have a pretty good view on the Naranjo de Bulnes, one of the most famous mountains in Spain.

Here’s the profil of the hike:

Hike Poncebos to Bulnes

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.

Full Guide: PONCEBOS TO BULNES HIKE

2- Hike from Bulnes to Sotres

The 2nd hike in the Parque Nacional Picos de Europa that I recommend is the hike from Bulnes to Sotres.

Sotres is the highest village in Picos de Europa and even though it’s a nice village, the most interesting part of the hike to Sotres is the hike itself – you’ll get jaw-dropping views of Bulnes behind you as you climb up, go through flower fields with beautiful stone houses, and you’ll probably see a lot of animals.

Once you’ll reach Sotres, take the time to explore the colorful little village, and have a taste of the local sidra (cider) before hiking back to Bulnes.

Here’s the profil of the hike:

Hike Bulnes to Sotres

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.

P.S. the route I took was slightly different, I got out on the open at the first mountain hut instead of going straight in the forest; this a longer hike but it will take you to the Refugio de la Tenerosa (and you’ll get epic views)

Full Guide: BULNES TO SOTRES HIKE

3- Full Circuit Poncebos – Bulnes – Sotres – Tielve – Poncebos

Ready for a tougher hike? Then you’ll love the Full Circuit Hike from Poncebos to Bulnes, Sotres, Tielve and back to Poncebos.

This day hike is only for the experienced hikers, but it’s definitely a must-do in Picos de Europa. It will take you through the first 2 hikes above, and you’ll keep on going to Tielve on the Roman road before finally reaching Poncebos at the end of the day.

This is one of the best hikes to do to discover all that the Parque Nacional de los Picos de Europa has to offer; you’ll see all kind of different landscapes, from rocky terrain to forests and flower fields, from flowing river to abandoned villages, and of course epic views all along.

Here’s the profil of the hike:

Full Circuit from Poncebos

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.

4- Ruta del Cares

If you ask me what was my favorite hike in Picos de Europa, the answer is: the Ruta del Cares.

Why? It’s a hiking trail carved directly on the side of the mountain, with jagged cliffs, populated by friendly mountain goats, and offering absolutely grand views during the whole hike.

The hike goes from Poncebos to Cain, and the whole return trip takes about 8 hours including breaks. It’s a day-hike, but it’s a loop, which means you can walk only a part of it then turn back if you’re not feeling like doing the full hike.

If you have only one day to spend in los Picos de Europa, this is the hike I recommend doing. It’s one of the most epic rutas Picos de Europa has to offer.

Here’s the profil of the hike:

Hike Ruta del Cares

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.

Full Guide: RUTA DEL CARES

5- Ruta Puertos de Aliva in Fuente Dé

Let’s move to the southern part of the Picos de Europa, in Cantabria. We’re going in Fuente Dé, famous for its funicular.

The first part of the hike is pretty fun (and it’s not really hiking): we’re taking the funicular all the way up to 1,823 meters high (6,000 feet).

From up there, the hike begins. The Ruta Puertos de Aliva will take you to the Refugio de Aliva, and then all the way back down to Fuente Dé. It’s a nice hike to do because all the hard climbing is done with the funicular, and you get to enjoy the nice stroll down with epic views of the valley.

Here’s the profil of the hike:

Hike Ruta Puertos de Aliva

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.

Full Guide: TELEFERICO FUENTE DE

6- Horcados Rojos Summit

The Horcados Rojos Summit hike is also in Fuente Dé. It’s a tougher hike than the Ruta Puertos de Aliva, and will take you all the way up the Torre de los Horcados Rojos, one of the most famous mountain peak in Picos de Europa, and also one of the most climbed -if not the most climbed.

To get to the start of the hike, you’ll need to take the funicular up the mountains (you can also climb to the top, but that will add 4 hours to the overall time).

Once you’re up there, you’ll climb all the way to the Summit on a well-maintained trail. The last part to the summit itself is a bit tricky, with a lot of loose rocks, so you’ll definitely need a bit of experience to reach the top.

After the summit, you’ll hike back to the cable car & ride it to get down to Fuente Dé.

Here’s the profil of the hike:

Hike Loop to Horcados Rojos

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.

7- Lagos de Covadonga Hike

The Lagos de Covadonga are my favorite spot in the Picos de Europa. So no wonder that the Lagos de Covadonga hike is among this list of the best Picos de Europa hiking spots. I’ll even go as far as saying that it’s one of the best hikes in Spain.

The hike starts with a climb to the Mirador de Entrelagos, where you’ll see both lakes (Lago de Enol & Lago de la Ercina) from above. It’s the only real climb in the hike, and trust me it’s worth it for the view you’ll get.

After that, it’s a gentle stroll around both lakes, to discover more of the area, and go behind the mountains where you’ll be away from the crowds & see a lot of animals (cows, sheeps, goats and horses).

Here’s the profil of the hike:

Hike Ruta Lagos de Covadonga

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.

Full Guide: LOS LAGOS DE COVADONGA

8- Vega de Ario

The Vega de Ario hike starts from the Lagos de Covadonga. It goes to the mountain refuge Refugio Vega de Ario and back to Lago Ercina, one of the two Covadonga lakes.

It’s a longer hike than the regular hike around the lakes, and it’s a good option if you want to spend the full day out in nature. You can start your day by exploring the lakes, then taking on the Vega de Ario hike, and you’ll be back at the lakes for sunset. Then you can hike at night around the area to experience it in a different way.

Here’s the profil of the hike:

Hike Vega de Ario

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.

Check out the Mirador de la Reina before the hike

9- Brez Canal de Arredondas

If you’re looking to go on walking holidays in Spain with your kids, then the Brez – Canal de Arredondas hike is the perfect hike for you.

The hike starts from the town of Brez in Cantabria, and goes alongside the canal de las Arredondas. All along the hike you’ll have absolutely magnificent views over the eastern massif of Picos de Europa, just like you see in the image above.

It’s a very easy hike, with almost no elevation, making it a perfect choice for walking in Picos de Europa with kids.

Here’s the profil of the hike:

Hike Brez – Canal de las Arredondas

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.

10- Ordiales Scenic Balcony Trail

The last hike on this list of best spot to hike Picos de Europa is the Ordiales Scenic Balcony Trail, a famous walk in Spain. It’s a long day-hike that starts from the Covadonga Lakes, and climbs all the way up to the Mirador de Ordiales.

This trek goes high, and you might have snow all around if you go in the colder months. You’ll walk up the refugio Vegarredonda, where you can spend a night and make it a 2-day trail.

At the end of the hiking path you’ll reach the Mirador de Ordiales, where you’ll have an incredible view over the valley. It’s also a very history-rich place: it holds the tomb of Pedro Pidal, Marquis de Villaviciosa, responsible for the creation of the Picos de Europa National Park.

Here’s the profil of the hike:

Hike Ordiales Scenic Balcony Trail

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.

The Ultimate Hike – Anillo Picos de Europa

Ready to take your hiking game to the next level? The Anillo Picos de Europa is the ultimate route for hiking Picos de Europa, but be warned it is not for the faint-hearted.

What is “El Anillo de Picos”? It’s a massive hike going all over the Picos de Europa national park over a period of 9 days, with stops in 9 of the mountain refuges.

Ultimate hike in Picos de Europa – map from https://elanillodepicos.com/home/

You have several options to hike the Anillo: 3 different levels by combining the green part, the green+blue, and green+blue+red.

Alternatively, you can also do each color on its own (green, blue or red).

Anillo Vindio

The first option is the hike in the western massive, named Anillo Vindio. It’s the easiest option, but still remains a good challenge.

Western Massive / Anillo Vindio

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.

Anillo Extrem

The second option is the Anillo Extrem, combining the green & blue parts. You will hike in the western massive and the central massive of Picos de Europa.

Anillo Extrem

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.

Anillo 3 Macizos

And finally the last option is the Anillo 3 Macizos, combining the green, blue & red parts. You will experience all parts of Picos de Europa, the western, central and eastern massives. It’s the most challenging hike, and shouldn’t be attempted without any prior experience.

Anillo 3 Macizos

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.

You will need to book nights in the different mountain refuges in order to complete these multi days hikes. Scroll down below to see the list of all the mountain refuges with the contact info, and how to book a night!

The Complete List of All the Hikes in Picos de Europa

Well I guess I couldn’t title this guide “The Ultimate Guide for Hiking in Picos de Europa Asturias” without having the full list of all the hikes in the national park.

In Picos de Europa, there are 34 short walks (PR) and 2 long walks (GR).

I’ve listed in the table below all of the walks in Picos de Europa with the distance, the duration, the elevation change & the difficulty.

#		?	⏱	↗️↘️	?
1	Route of Frassinelli	15.1km	3h30	970m	medium
2	Lakes of Covadonga	5km	2h30	50m	low
3	Cares Gorge	21km	5h30	740m	medium
4	Vega de Ario	7.6km	3h30	610m	medium high
5	Buferrera – Ordiales	10.2km	3h30	640m	medium high
6	Vega de Orandi	4.3km	2h30	430m	low
7	La Jocica – Carombo	17.5km	6h	550m	medium
8	Demués – Los Lagos	10.1km	3h30	700m	medium
9	Soto de Sajambre – Vegabaño	9.8km	3h	390m	medium
10	Pueblos de Sajambre	13.8km	4h30	600m	low
11	Panderruedas – Posada del Valdeón	13.5km	4h	511m	low
12	Vega de Llos	12km	5h	596m	medium
13	Cueva de Santibañas	4.3km	2h30	500m	low
14	Montó	4.3km	2h30	500m	low
15	Senda del Mercadillo	15km	5h30	832m	medium high
16	Collado Jermoso	4.2km	4h	1214m	high
17	Entorno de Tresviso	2.9km	1h30	330m	low
18	Jou de los Cabrones	5.5km	5h	1430m	high
19	Canal de Camburero	4.3km	4h30	1300m	high
20	Monte Camba	14.1km	5h	530m	medium
21	Vega de Urriellu	8.6km	4h30	1070m	high
22	Peña Oviedo	10km	3h	700m	low
23	Horcados Rojos	11km	4h30	510m	medium high
24	Puertos de Áliva	13.3km	5h	970m	medium
25	Vega de Liordes	11km	5h30	970m	high
26	Hayedo de Las Ilces	10.2km	4h30	300m	low
27	Brez – Canal de Arredondas	5.4km	2h	220m	low
28	Macizo de Ándara	25km	7h30	1110m	medium
29	Pasá del Picayo	6.7km	4h	730m	high
30	Urdón – Tresviso	13.6km	5h	830m	high
31	Camarmeña	2km	1h30	200m	low
32	Pandetrave – Collado Jermoso	11.9km	6h30	800m	high
33	Panderruedas – Oseja de Sajambre	6.4km	2h	708m	low
34	Oceño – San Esteban de Cuñaba	11.2km	5h	990m	medium high
201	Senda del Arcediano	27.5km	9h30	900m	medium high
202	Ruta de la Reconquista	58.6km	20h30	1050m	high

Mountain Refuges – Refugios Picos de Europa

If you’re planning trekking Picos de Europa, you’re probably considering longer hikes, that take several days to complete. For these kind of hikes, a good option is to stay in a mountain refuge for the night.

Cows in the mist in front of the Refugio de la Tenerosa

Even if you don’t spend a night there, there are a great place to stop & enjoy a warm meal or hot beverage.

I’ve listed below all of the refuges, with their contact information.

Refugios Picos de Europa:

• Albergue Pena Castil
• Andara
• Cabana de Pastores
• El Redondo
• Hou los Cabrones
• Refugio Aliva
• Refugio Collado Jermoso
• Refugio Urriellu
• Refugio Vegabano
• Terenosa
• Vega de Ario
• Vegarredonda

Albergue Pena Castil

Location: in Sotres

Open: all year

Contact: (+34) 985 945 040

Andara

Location: above Sotres

Open: all year

Contact: (+34) 985 846 487

Cabana de Pastores

Location: Covadonga Lakes

Open: only in summer

Contact: (+34) 985 849 261

El Redondo

Location: in Fuente Dé

Open: all year

Contact: (+34) 942 736 699

Hou los Cabrones

Location: near Torrecerredo

Open: from May to October

Contact: (+34) 650 780 381

Refugio Aliva

Location: in Fuente Dé

Open: from May to September

Contact: (+34) 942 730 999

Refugio Collado Jermoso

Location: near Torre Palanca

Open: from May to October

Contact: (+34) 616 904 353

Refugio Vega de Urriellu

Location: near Naranjo de Bulnes

Open: all year

Contact: (+34) 985 925 200

Refugio de Vegabaño

Location: above Soto de Sajambre

Open: from March to January

Contact: (+34) 699 633 244

Terenosa

Location: above Bulnes

Open: from May to October

Contact: (+34) 985 252 362

Vega de Ario

Location: near Covadonga Lakes

Open: from May to October

Contact: (+34) 639 812 069

Refugio de Vegarredonda

Location: near the Mirador de Ordiales

Open: from March to October

Contact: (+34) 985 929 952

So there you have them, the refuges in Picos de Europa, Spain.

If you plan to stay in a refuge, make sure to book in advance as they all have limited number of beds, and they get booked pretty quickly.

You also need to bring your own sleeping bag – some refuges have blankets or sleeping bags, but not all, hence it’s strongly recommended that you bring your own.

Average Price per night: 10€

Breakfast: 5€

Lunch & Dinner: 14€

Book here: Book Refugio Picos de Europa

Map of Picos de Europa Asturias

In the “best hikes” part above, I gave you a lot of maps of hike to download for free. But sometimes, technology can fail us, and it’s good to have a proper paper map when this happens.

The best option is to buy an actual map of Picos de Europa online or at the tourism office.

No time for that?

You’ll find below a Picos de Europe hiking map that you can print out & take with you on your trip!

Map from https://picosdeeuropaparquenacional.es

How is the Weather in Picos de Europa?

Picos de Europa is located very close to the sea (yes, there are amazing beaches in Asturias!). Due to that, there are 2 climates in the park: continental & maritime. What does this mean? Well, that means that you should expect sudden changes in weather, and pack accordingly.

You’ll see below what to expect for the weather in Picos de Europa based on the different seasons you’re planning to go there.

Spring

Average Temperature: 18°C /  65°F

The weather is usually sunny in spring, but the weather will change quickly and bring a lot of rain.

You will find snow in the high altitude of the park until the end of June.

Summer

Average Temperature: 27°C / 81°F

Warm & sunny days are the norm in summer, but the weather often changes during the afternoon and it gets a bit colder with the mist.

That’s me enjoying the summer in Picos de Europa

Fall

Average Temperature: 12°C / 53°F

The temperature drops in fall, and you’ll have regular rain showers. Snow also starts to fall from the end of September.

Winter

Average Temperature: 5°C / 41°F

The Picos de Europa weather in winter is the regular mountain winter, cold & with snow.

Make sure to check the snow forecast before heading out: snow forecast Picos de Europa

The same place as the photo above, just a few hours after

Check live weather forecast for Picos de Europa here: Weather Picos de Europa

One of the good ways to check the weather & the conditions in the park is to check on one of the many webcams in the park. This way you’ll know exactly how it looks like at this exact moment! Click here to see: Webcam Picos de Europa

Tips for Your Trip to the Parque Nacional Picos de Europa

Ready to discover Picos de Europa? Here are a few tips for you so you make the most out of your time in this beautiful part of Spain:

• Make sure to pack at least 1.5L of water & snacks for the day. Also, try to pack light so you can move easily when hiking.
• Download the area of Picos de Europa in your offline google maps before going, so that you’ll have a map even with no cell network
• Download the hiking routes given above to always be on the right path
• There is often a lot of mist in the mountains, and it can be hard to find your way; if you’re not sure where to go, look for hiking route marks on the rocks or signs. If you don’t find any, try to wait a bit to see if the mist rises
• If you go hiking alone, always warn someone beforehand – tell people in the refuge, leave a sign in your car or tell your plans to your family

• in summer, pack a jacket because mist often rolls in during the afternoon and brings cold air
• in spring & fall, pack a rain jacket in prevision for the rain showers
• in winter, bring reliable snow-hiking boots
• most animals in the park are very friendly, but they remain wild animals; don’t disturb them
• it’s forbidden to swim in the lakes & rivers of the park outside of the designated swimming areas
• please collect your garbage with you and don’t throw it out in nature

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:

Discover another gem of Asturias: Somiedo Natural Park

See all the BEST things to do in Asturias

Looking for a stunning beach? Check out the Playa del Silencio

Spain Guides:

Discover the 27 Best Things to do in Toledo, next to Madrid

In love with castles? Here are the 36 Best Castles in Spain!

Go from Madrid to Segovia on an amazing day trip

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.

Photo credits: 3 | 4 | 5 | 31 | 32 | 43