Hike Spain’s Picos de Europa – Ring of Peaks, Three Massifs
Hiking Collection by Ana- Remoteana
8
Tours
52:21 h
72.1 mi
24,725 ft
This circular 120-kilometre (74.5 mi) route gives you a spectacular perspective over the Picos de Europa National Park, with around 8,000 metres (26,246 ft) of elevation gain. The hike links nine mountain refuges, visiting incredible places along the way: dreamlike mountains, green meadows, lofty views, narrow gorges, winding paths, magical forests and charming villages lie en route.
The three rocky massifs (Western, Central and Eastern) that make up this rugged terrain will show you their wildest side on every stage. I’ve divided this adventure into eight days, but you can complete it in more or less depending on your fitness level. For the itinerary I’ve suggested here, you need to be in good shape.
As water sources are scarce in the park, you need to carry enough water with you. You’ll be rewarded for the extra weight by landscapes that will be hard to ever forget. The terrain on this adventure requires good hiking boots (rather than trainers). Walking clothing will also help you to stay comfortable.
You can do this hike from mid-spring (although you may encounter snow) until September or October, depending on the year. The weather in the high mountains can change quickly. Fog is the biggest enemy in the Picos de Europa. Make sure you book your overnight stays in refuges in advance too.
The start and finish line is in Posada de Valdeón. You can start and finish at any point en route, but Posada de Valdeón is a charming village and offers a great place to sleep the first and last night. There’s a parking area just before the most central square where you can leave your car, as public transport doesn’t run to Posada de Valdeón. It's time to enjoy a great adventure in Picos de Europa!
On The Map
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Last updated: March 10, 2023
Tours
- 04:515.07 mi1.0 mph3,825 ft250 ftExpertExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
The first part of the stage takes you to Cordiñanes de Valdeón, one of the most beautiful villages in the valley, leaving Posada de Valdeón and Los Llanos de Valdeón behind. Always very close to the Cares River, you will follow several detours and leave behind the recreational area near the Cordiñanes…
- 05:087.10 mi1.4 mph1,525 ft2,750 ftExpertExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
Spectacular second stage of the Tres Massizos Ring! It is recommended to see the sunrise from the starting point, they are unique! The first part is very calm and I can enjoy the views offered by the hills and the Horcados Rojos area. Later you enter a quiet, shady and very lonely area, passing through…
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- 06:148.27 mi1.3 mph3,575 ft3,250 ftExpertExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
This third stage is hard. During this day, it is worth noting the difficulty of the Jidiellu channel since it is quite demanding, and even more so if the fog sets in, which is very typical in these places in the Picos de Europa. The first part of this day is simple, with a 1,000-meter uneven channel…
- 06:349.55 mi1.5 mph3,850 ft2,975 ftExpertExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
After completing the first three stages with a reputation for being complicated, today you will have a small break in terms of hardness. It is not like that in terms of kilometers but it is in terms of unevenness and the less technical type of terrain. Despite this, I have to say that you will once again…
- 05:416.78 mi1.2 mph1,075 ft5,475 ftExpertExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
This fifth stage is to live it, not to be told about it. Walking through the heart of the Urrieles massif, climbing and unclimbing, reaching the most inaccessible refuge in Picos, descending dizzying channels and visiting spectacular places along the way make this a complete day.
Also enjoying one of…
- 07:099.29 mi1.3 mph5,175 ft2,000 ftExpertExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
This sixth stage is another of the hardest and most spectacular routes of the Ring of Picos de Europa Tres Macizos. Long, demanding and beautiful, the route leaves you with your mouth open again. It is worth mentioning the Texu channel and the Cares route, which despite all the people who are doing it…
- 05:069.27 mi1.8 mph1,650 ft2,125 ftExpertExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
The seventh day will give you joy because it is the easiest stage of the entire Ring of Three Solid Peaks. The lakes of Covadonga and the beautiful trails take center stage during the day. The lakes are Enol and Ercina, of glacial origin located in the Western massif.
There is a third lake, the Bricial…
- 11:3816.7 mi1.4 mph4,025 ft5,825 ftExpertExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
The eighth and last stage becomes very special. This Route will remain marked forever in your mind as the views towards the Cornión and Occidental massif are to leave you speechless for hours.
Long, technical and, once again, hard day. You will return to your starting point Posada de Valdeón, but not…
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Collection Stats
- Tours8
- Distance72.1 mi
- Duration52:21 h
- Elevation24,725 ft
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