Picos de Europa Anillo trek in the Western Massif

Meeting up with the leader in Cangas de Onis. Check equipment and transfer to Covadonga Lakes. This is a classic walk in the Western massif of the Picos de Europa. We start walking from Pan de Carmen (just beyond Lake Enol) until Vegarredonda Refuge, is about one and quarter hours from Pan de Carmen and just before you reach the refuge many of the higher peaks of the western massif become visible. From the refuge onwards, there is a section of this walk which is slightly rockier though the path is well defined all the way. From here onwards, we often see chamois and at times they can be quite close to you. We soon come to the Ordiales refuge and beyond this point the path is slightly less obvious. Then, almost without realising it, we’re at the Mirador de Ordiales where Pedro Pidal (the founder of the National Park Picos de Europa in 1918) was buried. Look over the top & marvel at the breathless views and 1,000m sheer drop down to the Angon Valley below. Now, we can be starting the ascent to the Cotalba peak. There’s an interesting little scramble just before we reach the top. Once on the summit the high peaks of the western massif are almost close enough to touch, the lakes can be seen in the distance and the Ponga Mountains look as fantastic as ever. After taking full advantage of the vistas around us, we retrace our steps until Vegarredonda Hut. Dinner and overnight at the refuge.

Gradient: +950m -650m | Distance: 13 Km |Duration: 6-7 hours.

Breakfast. Today, it’s the hardest stage. When we leave the shelter, we go up until we reach Collado Les Merines (2.100 m). The green colour under our feet turns into grey rock in an enormous limestone world through the Pozas Jou (karstic pothole). We will take a rest to drink some cool water from the Prieta spring. From one “jou” to another, we will cross stony ground before we reach the enormous Vega Huerta. We will continue along the marked path that takes us southwards down the Canal del Perro to the Frade shelter. From there we just have to make the easy descent among the beech trees that surround the Vegabaño shelter, where we will encounter some indescribable beauty spots such as the source of the Dobra River and the thousand-year-old oak tree of Vegabaño. Dinner and overnight stay at the refuge.

Gradient: + 1.000 m – 1.100 m Distance: 16 Km Duration: 8-10 hours.

Breakfast. We leave the Vegabaño shelter behind us and enter the beech grove, and going up a gentle slope we will pass the home of the capercaillie. Continuing through the virgin woodland we will go up the Dobres rock and we will start our descent into the Valdeon valley, among brooks, until the path starts to get wider and becomes a track that will take us to the village of Caldevilla. Having reached this point, we will follow the course of the Cares River to the village of Posada de Valdeón. At Posada de Valdeon we stop to have lunch and then we continue until the small village of Cain, which is the gate to the famous Cares Gorge. Dinner and accommodation at Albergue Diablo La Peña.

Gradient: + 300 m – 1.100 m Distance: 17 Km Duration: 5-6 Hours.

Breakfast. We start walking into the famous Cares Gorge, crossing tunnels and bridges. Just before Bolin bridge, a sign indicates the start of the harsh Canal de Trea, a ravine that offers no respite until we reach the meadows of Vega de Ario, where we will take a well-earned rest and finish the stage. The impressive views of the central massif are a due reward for such a sacrifice. Dinner and overnight stay at the refuge.

Gradient: + 1.300 m
Distance: 7 Km
Duration: 7 hours.

Breakfast. To finish this incredible trek we will climb to the summit of Jultayu (1,940 m). If there is another privileged place in addition to the Ordiales viewpoint in the Western Massif, it is the Jultayu Peak, where we will have incredible views of the entire Central Massif with its highest peaks, Torrecerredo, La Bermeja, Picos de los Cabrones, etc. depth of the Cares Gorge below them. We return again to the plain of Ario and from here the route is simple, practically all of it downhill and along a marked path. First a false plain to the Collado del Jito with magnificent views of the Central massif and then we cross the Jou Llaguiellu, the Bobias sheepfold until we reach Lake Ercina, where our vehicle awaits us to take us back to Cangas de Onis. RING OVERCOME!

Gradient: + 350 m – 900 m- Distance: 10 Km Duration: 5-6 hours.