Anillo Picos de Europa hut to hut. The most popular Trek in the Picos de Europa. Hike a stunning landscape affords unique views in the heart of the Picos de Europa.
Day 1. FROM COVADONGA LAKES TO MIRADOR DE ORDIALES & COTALBA PEAK. Gradient: +950m -650m Distance: 13 Km
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, about one and a quarter hours from Pan de Carmen. Just before you reach the refuge, many of the higher peaks of the western massif become visible. From the refuge onwards, a section of this walk 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 start 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.
Day 2. FROM VEGARREDONDA REFUGE TO VEGABAÑO REFUGE. Gradient: + 1.000 m – 1.100 m Distance: 16 Km
Breakfast. Today, it’s the most challenging 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 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 have to make the easy descent among the beech trees surrounding 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.
Day 3. FROM VEGABAÑO REFUGE TO CAIN. Gradient: + 300 m – 1.100 m Distance: 17 Km
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 start our descent into the Valdeon valley, among brooks, until the path gets 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 will stop to have lunch and continue to the small town of Cain, the gate to the famous Cares Gorge. Dinner and accommodation at Albergue Diablo La Peña.
Day 4. FROM CAIN TO VEGA DE ARIO REFUGE. Gradient: + 1.300 m Distance: 7 Km
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.
Day 5. FROM VEGA DE ARIO REFUGE TO COVADONGA LAKES INCLUDING JULTAYU SUMMIT. Gradient: + 350 m – 900 m- Distance: 10 Km
Breakfast. To finish this incredible trek, we will climb to the summit of Jultayu (1,940 m). Suppose there is another privileged place beside 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, the depth of the Cares Gorge below them. We return to the plain of Ario, and from here, the route is straightforward, 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!
