Ruta del Cares from Poncebos to Caín and back

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Closed sections marked 2.3 km from the start (October 2025).

The Ruta del Cares is undoubtedly the most beautiful route in the entire Picos de Europa mountain range, also known as Garganta Divina (Divine Gorge in Spanish).

This path, carved into the rock on the mountainside, overlooks the Rio Cares for more than 10 kilometres. It will take you from Poncebos to Caìn through a breathtakingly beautiful gorge.

N.B. The total elevation gain is overestimated: expect around 700 metres.

Details

n°904478
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 20.36 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 14h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 2,942 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 2,935 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 530 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 256 m
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Photos

Barriers preventing passage.
Footbridge
Ruta del Cares
Ruta del Cares

Description of the walk

Park on the small road near the La Jaya bridge.

(S/E) Leave the car park and head south-west along the unpaved path. Walk for about 250 metres.

(1) Then turn right and climb up the paved path, Ruta del CaresPR®®-PNPE 3. This is the most difficult part of the route... Continue westwards along the path, which becomes stony.

Pass the ruined building via the winding staircase. Reach Los Collados and begin the descent. Leave the Canal del Escalero, continue and cross the Riega del Saigu ford.

(2) Go through the tunnel, continuing towards Caìn. Pass La Viña. Further on, the path widens for a few dozen metres and runs alongside the canal.

Leave a bridge (Puente Pando) below and the Canal de Culiembro on your right. A little further on, there is another bridge (Puente de los Papos) in ruins. Continue through a series of tunnels.

(3) Pass the De Los Martinez footbridge, built following the collapse of a tunnel. About 400 metres further on, you will reach the end of the province of Asturias and the beginning of the province of Castilla y Leon.

(4) Leave the Cabrerizas Canal on your right and cross the Cares River via the bridge (Puente Bolin) to reach the right bank. Continue for about 250 metres.

(5) Take the bridge (Puente de los Rebecos) to return to the left bank.

(6) Go through a long tunnel (a torch may be useful) with large openings that leads to the Caín dam. Cross the dyke and continue on the right bank.

(7) At Los Pinderos, leave thePR®®-PNPE 3, cross the bridge and turn left towards Caín.

(8) Begin the return journey via the same route.

(7) On leaving Caín, cross the bridge and follow thePR®®-PNPE 3. Then take all the bridges and tunnels you took on the way there, continuing without leaving this path.

Leave Llano de la Sota on your left. Pass El Roblo and begin the climb towards Los Collados, then descend towards Poncebos. As you pass the recycling bins, you can dispose of any rubbish.
Reach the Pont de la Raya bridge (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 256 m - Raya Bridge
  2. 1 : km 0.11 - alt. 257 m - Start of paved trail
  3. 2 : km 4.24 - alt. 435 m - Tunnel
  4. 3 : km 6.3 - alt. 414 m - Los Martinez footbridge
  5. 4 : km 8.04 - alt. 466 m - Puente Bolin
  6. 5 : km 8.41 - alt. 455 m - Puente de los Rebecos
  7. 6 : km 8.94 - alt. 472 m - Long tunnel
  8. 7 : km 9.7 - alt. 460 m - Los Pindéros - Bridge
  9. 8 : km 10.18 - alt. 460 m - Caín
  10. S/E : km 20.35 - alt. 257 m - Raya Bridge

Notes

Warning! You must remain very vigilant during this hike, especially if you have children with you. This trail runs along a precipice and has no protective barriers.

Watch out for goats grazing above you, as they can cause rockfalls. In the late afternoon, goats invade the trail to reach the valley.

The route is easy except for the first two kilometres, which have an elevation gain of about 250 metres. Do not rely on the elevation curve (on this steep terrain, the altitude differences have been overestimated); in reality, the elevation gain is about 700 metres.
Allow 6½ hours for the round trip, plus time for breaks.

Bring plenty of water, as there is no drinking water along the route. On the way back, you can refill your water bottles in Caïn

Avoid July, August, Holy Week and long weekends. You have been warned!

This route takes you from Poncebos to Cain, where you will find bars, restaurants and hotels at both ends.

If you are tempted by this hike but find the 22-kilometre distance too long, you can take a shuttle bus from Poncebos to Cain, from where you can return to Poncebos via the Ruta del Cares, an 11-kilometre walk in the easiest direction. It costs around €35 and takes between two and two and a half hours. For shuttle bus information, please enquire before setting off.

Worth a visit

In Cain, try the Crema de Queso (cream cheese made from cow's and goat's milk).

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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Reviews and comments

4.9 / 5
Based on 14 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
craco.35
craco.35

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

This hike is extraordinary! But... due to fires and landslides, it is closed 2.3 km from the start in Pôncebos. There is a sign indicating this at the start. Two barriers prevent you from continuing. For how long? Some people cross these barriers at their own risk.

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Thierry et Claudine
Thierry et Claudine

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

An exceptional hike. A little difficult at the start, then mainly flat. A beautiful site. Caution for those prone to vertigo, but the path is wide enough to move away from the edge. Also be aware that it is 12 km there and 12 km back. Park at Las Arenas and take the bus for £3/person return. It will take you to the start of the hike.
Not to be missed.

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BrunoFlyman
BrunoFlyman
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 07, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike (one of the most beautiful we have done in Spain, along with Congost de Montrebey), but we did a round trip starting from Cain because we were coming from the south. This is not a bad idea, as the main climb is halfway along the route in this case.

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Tatananou
Tatananou

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

We set off against the current from Cain... unfortunately only a short way, as the weather was unfavourable and we quickly turned back! We will return, hoping for better weather

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Olivier-rlv
Olivier-rlv

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 14, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The walk should be done from Cain to Poncebos, if it fits into your trip to the Picos de Europa.
For a shorter stay, start in Poncebos, which is 30 minutes from the motorway exit.
Also take the walk to the Enol and Ercina lakes.
And again, if you have time, go to Fuente Dé, take the cable car up and walk down - 4 hours.
You can skip the Bulnes funicular.

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jeje0208
jeje0208

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 22, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Superb hike with lots of people at this time of year

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longinus42530
longinus42530

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 07, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A walk that is perfectly accessible for good walkers; there were also children present
Do not take into account the advertised duration and elevation gain
We did the Poncebos-Cain section in 3 hours (steep climb at the start, closer to 700 m elevation gain)
The same for the return trip
Very crowded in August

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Netra
Netra ★

Hello Philou, thank you for your comments.

There is a "recalculate elevation gain" function: I just activated it and the elevation gain went from 3,458 to 1,800 metres...

That's still far too much, but the author took care to write in bold in the introduction that the elevation gain was overestimated. He suggests around 700 m.

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Philou.47
Philou.47

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 07, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hiking enthusiasts, you won't be climbing Pic d'Aneto, as the 3,548 m elevation gain is PARISH SPECIFIC TO BRITTAIN...
For this hike, you should expect an elevation gain of around 450 metres...

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Aquacyclopode
Aquacyclopode

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 05, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

There are many hikers on this trail. It's a pleasant walk. You really must go to the village of Cain, which is worth visiting for its scenery and refreshments. Note that the first part is quite steep and can be difficult in hot weather. The solution: set off at dawn (fewer people and cooler temperatures).

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perpat1960
perpat1960

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 27, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

very long hike: 3 hours 15 minutes one way, so allow 6 hours 30 minutes for the round trip.
you need to set off early; around 8 a.m. is good because in the afternoon the weather becomes overcast with a risk of rain or thunderstorms.
there is no water on the trail and no shade
otherwise, the best part is at the end, with footbridges and a tunnel
it gets very busy in the afternoon

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bastlidou
bastlidou

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 26, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

The mountains, the river, the lack of tourists for such an incredible place. A path carved into the stone. Time stands still.
Don't overlook the surrounding area, as the Asturias region is simply magnificent. (Covadonga (lakes + town) / LLanes / Gijon / Oviedo / Somiedo Natural Park / Cider and nature).

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BG30
BG30

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 24, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Without a doubt one of our most beautiful hikes! A must-see! A site to recommend not only for the beauty of the canyon but also to appreciate the work that went into creating the canal. We chose to do the round trip from Cain. We set off early to avoid parking problems, enjoy the cool morning air and have fewer people on part of the route, and we didn't regret our choice! For those who want to avoid steep slopes, you should start from Cain and turn back at the pass just before the descent to Poncebos. For other hikes in the Picos de Europa, don't hesitate to visit the Park's information offices for advice, hiking maps and information on the geology. All the trails shown on these maps are very well marked, as we discovered for ourselves. Please note that there are no petrol stations near Posada de Valdeón and Cain, so remember to fill up beforehand. There are also few grocery stores, but there are restaurants!

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visorandofredo
visorandofredo

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 20, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Hello, magnificent hike, there and back from Poncebo; may seem long to some, especially in hot weather!
The route is particularly busy on the Caïn side, but what a landscape! You can't help but be amazed by the courage of those who carved out this canal and this path! A must-do!

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Danaso
Danaso

hello, I can confirm that the path is well marked and the view is magnificent, but the problem is that there are a lot of people.
kind regards.

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