Spain - Picos de Europa National Park - IBP 70-100+

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IMPORTANT: Limited slots available. We accept bookings on a first pay, first serve basis. We need 8 participants for this event, otherwise the event will not take place. In case we don't have 8 participants all paid sums will be refunded.

Popularly known for Camino de Santiago, Spain has much more to offer to the avid hiker, holding the title of the second most mountainous country in Europe after Switzerland and with more than 80,000 km of official hiking trails.

Picos de Europa - Peaks of Europe - stand tall over the Cantabrian Sea, connected to the Atlantic Ocean. It was named by the Spanish explorers, as its majestic peaks guided the seafarers back home. The first mountain range to be declared a national park in Spain in 1918, Picos de Europa has more than 360 peaks of more than 2000 meters altitude and offers a true mountain immersion experience with its canyon-like valleys. Mountain goats graciously guide hikers along the mountain huts.

Our journey begins in Madrid, from where we’ll travel north by van to the tiny village of Caín de Valdeón, tucked deep within the limestone canyons of Castilla y León. This will be our mountain home for the week. From here, we’ll venture into soaring valleys, cross narrow gorges, and hike toward panoramic ridgelines where the views open endlessly over Spain’s northern ranges.

We’ll begin our hiking adventure with a day route to get accustomed to the terrain — a climb toward Torre Bermeja. The path rises from the valley floor through alpine meadows and rocky slopes to the ridgeline at around 2,600 m, with roughly 1,500 m of elevation gain. It’s a steady, confidence-building introduction to the limestone landscape of the Picos, where sharp peaks and green basins alternate in every direction, and the sound of cowbells echoes through the valleys.

Next, we set out on a two-day journey into the wilder side of the park. The Canal de Trea begins just outside Caín de Valdeón at 450 m and ascends more than 1,200 m in only seven kilometres, following a narrow, stony channel that winds through the heart of the massif. It’s one of the classic ascents of the Picos — steep, exposed, and deeply rewarding. The effort brings us to a remote mountain hut (refugio), our home for the night, where mountain goats wander the ridges and the only sounds are wind and distant cowbells.

At dawn, we descend by the Canal de Culiembro, a gentler trail that threads through terraces and gullies carved by water and time. Wildflowers and the faint call of goats accompany us as we return to the valley.

The following hike takes us to the high plateau of Vega de Liordes, a demanding yet magnificent route of about 20 km and 1,500 m of elevation gain, unfolding across open alpine ground ringed by summits. For those preferring a moderate day, the Alto Cares route offers a 14-kilometre traverse with about 850 m of ascent, tracing panoramic ledges high above the gorge.

To close the trip, we head to Majada de Moeño, a traditional shepherd meadow perched around 1,350 m, reached by a trail that climbs roughly 900 m through forests and open pastures. It’s a tranquil finale — the softest light, the quietest path, and the sense of having truly walked inside the mountains.

While we’ll pass near well-known landmarks such as the Ruta del Cares and Lakes of Covadonga, we’ll avoid these overcrowded routes. Instead, our paths follow the more authentic, mountaineers’ trails — quieter, higher, and closer to the true spirit of the Picos de Europa.
This trip is ideal for those who seek a deep mountain experience.

Weather in the Picos can change quickly, bringing sudden mist or bursts of sunshine within the same hour. For those who crave the mountain’s raw presence, Picos de Europa is the perfect blend of challenge and serenity.

IMPORTANT: Make sure you have a gps navigation app (like ~in alphabetical order~ AllTrails (paid version), Gaia, Hiiker, Komoot, Maps.me, OSMAnd, Wikiloc,...) installed on your phone and make sure that it is working properly. If you don't have an app installed yet, we suggest to use Hiiker to start with. Once you have downloaded the offline map of Spain, you can easily import and navigate any gpx file. More info can be found in the Knowledge Base sub Event Information (general) - How to prepare myself for navigation...?

Do not come to the venue if you have not pre-installed a gps navigation app at home, or have not downloaded the map of Spain at home, or have not opened the test gpx file at home. Especially iPhone users are urged to make sure that they can open the test gpx file at home and are able to navigate.

Although there will be guides, this still remains a self-guided hike. You will receive a gpx file in advance and you will have to navigate yourself. There will be no paper markers.

!!! Do note that we will perform a check of the mandatory items right before the start of the trek. Those who are not in the possession of all mandatory items will not be allowed to start the hike. !!!

For more details and procedure, follow this link.

IMPORTANT: keep in mind that there is always a chance that we are not allowed to hike due to dangerous weather or other conditions (eg heavy rain, flood, earthquake, landslide, health measures...) - we cannot be held responsible for such cancellation.