Mountain Passes
English

Spain · Asturias · Picos de Europa

Picos de Europa Climbing Loop

Northern Spanish climbing at its cruellest. Alto de l'Angliru, Lagos de Covadonga, and the Mirador del Fito in a loop from Cangas de Onís.

Route plate for Picos de Europa Climbing Loop
Elevation © NASA SRTM · Roads © OpenStreetMap contributors

Three famous Spanish climbs strung into a compact loop from Cangas de Onís in the Picos de Europa. None of them are traditional passes in the Alpine sense, they are dead-end roads to summits, but each is Vuelta-grade and each has a distinct character. The Angliru is cruel, Lagos de Covadonga is beautiful, and the Fito is the one you climb for the view.

At roughly 120 km and 3,200 m of climbing, the loop is realistically two days. Covadonga and Fito fit comfortably into day one, leaving the Angliru as a standalone day of reckoning.

The route

  1. Start

    Cangas de Onís

  2. Covadonga Sanctuary

    Basilica and Santa Cueva cave

  3. Lagos de Covadonga

    1100 m · Spain

  4. Lake Enol

    First glacial lake at the summit

  5. Lake Ercina

    Second lake, 10 minute walk from Enol

  6. Mirador de la Reina

    Panoramic overlook on the descent

  7. Stop

    Arriondas

    Valley stop before the Fito climb

  8. Mirador del Fito

    Viewpoint with Picos and coast views

  9. Stop

    Infiesto

    Valley town on the approach to Angliru

  10. Stop

    Riosa

    Base of the Angliru climb

  11. Alto de l'Angliru

    1573 m · Spain

  12. La Vega viewpoint

    Halfway up the climb

  13. 23.5% final ramp

    The cruellest section

  14. Finish

    Cangas de Onís

Who it's for

  • Cyclists: the Spanish pilgrimage. The Angliru sits on every serious climber's bucket list, with Covadonga as the classic "I rode a Vuelta climb" moment.
  • Motorcyclists: Covadonga and Fito are enjoyable rides. The Angliru's narrow sections above 20% gradient are not motorcycle-friendly.
  • Drivers: Covadonga is a must. Angliru is only worth attempting with a small car and a lot of patience.

Practical notes

  • Base: Cangas de Onís, central to all three climbs, a historic town with good hotels and restaurants.
  • Season: all three are open year-round in practice. April to November is the most reliable window.
  • Weather: north-facing Atlantic coast means frequent rain, even in summer. Morning fog is common and usually lifts by mid-afternoon.
  • Food: Asturian cuisine is heavy and excellent. Fabada (white bean and sausage stew) is post-Angliru fuel of choice, sidra is the local drink.
  • Variant: in July and August the Lagos de Covadonga road is sometimes restricted to shuttle buses. Check the local tourism site before planning.

Passes on this route

Picos de Europa Climbing Loop — quick answers

How long is the Picos de Europa Climbing Loop?
120 km with 3,200 metres of climbing.
How long does the Picos de Europa Climbing Loop take?
1–2 days. Cyclists, motorcyclists and drivers pace it differently; the route itself is designed around that timeframe.
How hard is the Picos de Europa Climbing Loop?
Difficulty: Severe. The rating reflects cycling effort. For motor vehicles it is a purely scenic drive.
Which passes does the Picos de Europa Climbing Loop include?
Lagos de Covadonga, Alto de l'Angliru.
When is the best time to ride the Picos de Europa Climbing Loop?
April to November. High passes carry snow into early summer; confirm opening dates close to your trip.
Is the Picos de Europa Climbing Loop paved?
Yes, the Picos de Europa Climbing Loop runs entirely on paved roads.