Dayhike Spain's Picos de Europa

The national park of Los Picos de Europa (Peaks of Europe) is located in northern Spain, with a mild climate dominated by its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean’s Bay of Biscay. The Asturias, the northern portal to the park, is the greenest part of Spain and also the country’s principal cheese producing region, earning the nickname of Pais de Quesos, Land of Cheeses. Asturian apple cider, along with the cultural framework that surrounds it, has been proposed as an UNESCO candidate of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humankind. The park also lies within the Cantabria and Castilla y León regions, to the east and to the west; hence, there are various portals to the park. As Spain’s first national park of Spain, Picos de Europa NP it is not all mountains, peaks and massifs. The park is the result of interaction of multiple variables: geology, climate, flora, fauna and people. Four pristine rivers flow through deep ravines and canyons of the park. Cattle graze on green pasturelands and rural villages exist in the midst of the imposing limestone peaks. The national park also contains hill forests, beech forests, oak groves and heathland. Idyllic lakes dot the park with Covadonga Lakes being the most famous. People have not only exerted an effect on the park, they also live in it all year round, as they have before the current park and its predecessor were granted their status. The region has embraced adventure tourism and balances this with conservation and socioeconomic factors.

Mountaineering and winter activities along with day hiking are amongst the possible active adventures. With regard to day hiking and other activities in the park, information is available on the park’s website (https://parquenacionalpicoseuropa.es/english/) and also on the Spanish Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge website (https://www.miteco.gob.es/es/parques-nacionales-oapn/red-parques-nacionales/parques-nacionales/picos-europa.html).

• Suitable Activities: Day Hiking, Global Adventures
• Seasons: Year-round
• Weather: View weather forecast

• Difficulty: Moderate, Moderate/Strenuous, Strenuous, Very Strenuous

• Land Manager: Land Manager Varies
• Parking Permit Required: see Land Manager
• Recommended Party Size: 12
• Maximum Party Size: 12
• Maximum Route/Place Capacity: 12