From the Vegabaño Refuge to the Collado Jermoso Refuge

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A long stage that begins with a climb through a beech forest, then turns towards Posada de Valdeón to follow a gently sloping valley, before tackling the very difficult climbs of the Canal de Asotín, El Berón and the Canal de Congosto. Finally, you arrive at the magnificent site of Collado Jermoso, where the refuge is perched.

This walk is part of a multi-day hike: Anillo Extrem – The Picos de Europa Circular Route in Spain

Details

n°905690
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 18.84 km
  • ◔
    Duration according to the author: 10 hrs 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Extremely difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: No
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,770 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,044 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,045 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 816 m
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Photos

Sunset
Safe passage
Asotin Canal
Piedras Aristas

Description of the walk

(S) Leave the refuge by going round it to the left, then head south-east. Cross a bridge and start the climb along a wide path. Ignore all paths to the right and left. Continue towards Dobre, Valbeon and Panderruedas.

(1) Leave the track and turn left to follow a small ascending path. Cross a clearing (Vega de Dobres) and follow the Valle de Valdeon. Reach the highest point.

(2) Ignore the paths to the right and left and begin the descent towards Valdeon opposite, passing between two cairns.
Continue the descent through the forest. As you emerge from the forest, the path widens and joins a track where you will find a fountain below the path.

(3) Follow the track downwards to the right.

(4) At a place called el Curriello, go through a gate and leave it in the position you found it.
Continue until you reach the tarmac road.

(5) Leave Caldevilla de Valdeon on your right. Continue straight on, following the Posada de ValdeonPR®-PNPE-12 route, marked in white and yellow.
In Soto de Valdéon, turn left onto Calle Capilla, opposite an Orrio (granary on stilts).
Pass in front of the Ermita de la Virgen Blanca.

(6) At the next junction, turn left, ignore all side streets and continue until you reach the main road at K.14. Follow this road to the left and enter Posada de Valdeón.

(7) Take Calle Salvador on the left just after the Town Hall, then follow the street to the left of an Orrio. At the next junction, keep left and reach another Y-junction.
Turn left, cross a bridge and, immediately afterwards, keep to the right. Pass the dam of a small hydroelectric power station on your right.
At the next junction, keep right and follow the Camino de BustioPR®-3.
Reach a road and cross it, then continue along the path leading down opposite.

(8) At the car park, head down to the right towards Cordiñanes and cross the bridge over the River Cares. Just after the bridge, follow the path on the right and reach a road. Follow it to the left.
At the first junction, turn left onto Calle Cares and negotiate a sharp right-hand bend.

(9) Leave the road on the left and take a wide, ascending path,PR®-PNPE-16, marked in yellow and white.

(10) Turn right towards Refugio Collado Jermoseo. Very quickly, the path climbs and reaches a vertical rock face where a narrow path secured by ropes provides access to the Canal de Asotin. Take care, this section is very tricky.

(11) Begin a gentle descent and enter the forest. The path becomes steeper, crossing the Hayedo de Asotin. Further on, cross an old glacial flow and reach Vega de Asotin.

(12) Turn left and begin the difficult climb up El Beron.

(13) Turn right and follow the Traviesa de Congosto.

(14) Follow the path on the left.

(15) Turn left to climb up the Canal de Congosto.

(16) At the top of the Canal de Congosto, turn left towards the Collado Jermoso Refuge (E).

Waypoints

  1. S : km 0 - alt. 1,313 m - Head south-east to the left of the refuge
  2. 1 : km 0.75 - alt. 1,456 m - On the left, a small path
  3. 2 : km 2.84 - alt. 1,548 m - Downhill on the face
  4. 3 : km 5.13 - alt. 1,181 m - Descent on the right
  5. 4 : km 6.97 - alt. 1,016 m - Barrier
  6. 5 : km 7.93 - alt. 973 m - Straight ahead
  7. 6 : km 8.61 - alt. 947 m - On the left
  8. 7 : km 10.06 - alt. 919 m - On the left, Calle Salvador
  9. 8 : km 13.34 - alt. 820 m - Car park
  10. 9 : km 13.73 - alt. 860 m - Wide path on the left
  11. 10 : km 13.94 - alt. 886 m - Turn right towards Refugio Collado Jermoso
  12. 11 : km 14.63 - alt. 1,001 m - Gentle descent
  13. 12 : km 16.3 - alt. 1,393 m - Left: ascent
  14. 13 : km 17.06 - alt. 1,594 m - On the right: Traviesa de Congosto
  15. 14 : km 17.64 - alt. 1,722 m - Path on the left
  16. 15 : km 18.23 - alt. 1,798 m - On the left: Congosto Canal
  17. 16 : km 18.67 - alt. 1,990 m - Turn left towards the refuge
  18. E : km 18.84 - alt. 2,038 m - Collado Jermoso Refuge

Notes

Please note that the water in the Picos de Europa contains virtually no mineral salts. To stay properly hydrated, you must bring mineral salts to add to the water you collect along the way.

Map and compass essential. Map 1 Map 2

It is essential to book your mountain hut; to do so, visit the website.
Do not attempt to book by telephone.
For €3, you can purchase a Picos de Europa passport, which you should remember to have stamped at each refuge.

Remember to pack warm clothes as it gets quite chilly in the evenings. Carry the telephone numbers of the refuges with you so you can report any incidents, as well as the mountain rescue numbers.

This route includes some very tricky sections, so please be careful.

Stay very careful throughout your hike; do not stray from the path.

Tel: Possada de Valdeon Medical Centre 00 34 987 74 05 06

Tel: Collado Jermoso Mountain Hut 00 34 636 99 87 27

Picos de Europa National Park Information Office 00 34 985 84 86 14

Emergency services:

GREIM (Mountain Rescue and Intervention Group *) 00 34 985 84 80 56 or 112

Mountain Rescue and Intervention Group (Asturias)
GREIM (Mountain Rescue and Intervention Group *) 00 34 942 73 00 07

Mountain Rescue and Intervention Group (Cantabria)
Red Cross * 00 34 987 74 05 04

Red Cross (León).

In all cases, always let someone know the route you are taking and avoid setting off alone.

Worth a visit

Posada de Valdeón is a small mountain village (altitude 930m) with around 500 inhabitants; there are hotels, bars, restaurants and various shops.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

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