The Ruta Del Cares, A Visual Spectacle In The Picos De Europa
One of the most beautiful hiking itineraries that can be done in Spain, and even in all of Europe, is the Ruta del Cares. A path that runs through a spectacular gorge within the Picos de Europa National Park. Without a doubt, every hiking lover has to, at least once in his life, follow this itinerary that will leave him speechless in more than one of its sections.
Previous recommendations
Before entering the Cares River route, several issues must be taken into account. In the first place, it is that it is a path of about 11 kilometers in distance, and that therefore the right footwear is required to do it. That is, the best are hiking boots.
Also taking into account the distance, you have to bring water, because it is not on the road, and the shade is only provided by the tunnels that are crossed. For the same reason, it is good to bring some food, so as not to be faint, and much more if you choose to do the round trip.
Because the ideal is to have two cars, and leave one at each end of the road so as not to have to duplicate the effort. Something that, however, can be detrimental to getting an experience as satisfactory as it deserves to travel the Ruta del Cares .
From León to Asturias (or vice versa)
The Ruta del Cares can begin in the Castilian-Leon province of León, specifically in the town of Caín. That is one end of the road, while the other is Poncebos, already in the Principality of Asturias.
From one or the other you can start the itinerary, but in one way or another, an overwhelming 11 kilometers await us, so much so that on many occasions this place is referred to as “The Divine Throat”.
The Cares River
The Cares River flows through the bottom of this gorge and is largely responsible for the appearance of the place, since its erosion as a mountain river has meant that for millennia it has been carving this gorge. However, to travel this beautiful natural landscape, the truth is that the path of the Ruta del Cares is artificial in nature.
History of the Ruta del Cares
This road was made between 1916 and 1921. At that time about two thousand men worked with the means of the time to open this road dug in the rock. But it was not the only objective, it was also a question of channeling the river at the same time to serve the hydroelectric development of the neighboring central Camarmeña.
An action that would hardly be done today, since this place is protected under the figure of the Picos de Europa National Park. But nevertheless, thanks to those works of the past, this is one of the most admired and traveled paths in Spain.
For any hiker
The great advantage of the Ruta del Cares, in addition to the impressive beauty of the landscape that is covered, is that it has almost no unevenness, so it is suitable for almost any hiker. All you need is to follow the recommendations at the beginning and have a little physical background. More if it is done there and back, which can take about six hours of walking.
However, if you do not have two cars, there are specialized taxis waiting for you at one end of the road, and even in summer there are buses to facilitate access and departure from this marvel of the Cantabrian mountains.
You’ve already seen it, if you want to enjoy one of the most beautiful trails in Spain, the Ruta del Cares is perfect. Thanks to its impressive landscape and a fairly not overly complicated path, you will be able to live an unforgettable experience.
