Hiking Trails from Casa De Pastores
Casa de Pastores is an ideal starting point for discovering some of the most spectacular landscapes in the Picos de Europa. From the refugio, you can enjoy a wide range of hiking routes, from short and easy walks around the Lakes of Covadonga to longer and more demanding routes through high mountain terrain.
On this page, you will find different hiking options with Casa de Pastores as your base. Each route includes practical information such as distance, estimated duration, difficulty level, and recommendations to help you choose the route that best matches your experience, fitness level, and available time.
Mountain weather can change quickly. We recommend wearing suitable footwear, carrying water, sun protection, warm layers, and checking the conditions before setting out, especially for longer or more difficult routes.
Below you will find a selection of routes, ranging from short and easy to long and challenging.
Easy Trails
Ruta | Distancia | Tiempo | Descripción | Enlace |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mirador del Rey | 5.2 km / 3.3 mi | 1 h 30 min | Easy trail, over a wide trail, pasing the beautiful Vega La Cueva with the authentic pastor cabins from the Picos De Europa mountains. Incredible views. Easy to extend to Pan de Carmen where the path ends. | Google |
Mirador de Entrelagos | 4.4 km / 2.7 mi | 1 h 30 min | Short loop with two options:
Perfect to combine taking one option and returning using the other | Google |
Palomberu Forest | 2.3 km / 1.4 mi | 1 h | A short loop from the Refugio that pases antique pastor cabins and then continues to the Palomberu Forest, a magical place where ancient trees grow from rocks. A landscape sculpted through 5000 years of small cattle cattle herding. | Wikiloc |
Porra de Enol | 1.6 km / 1 mi | 1 h | A short hike to the Porra de Enol, a 170m elevation gain. Its a legendary hike thats short and easy. Every year at the Fiesta de Pastor in July athletes compete running this trail. Amazing views from the top. |
Difficult Trails
Ruta | Distancia | Tiempo | Descripción | Enlace |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Lago de la Ercina-Pico Jultayu | 18.6 km / 11.5 mi | 10 h | Trail to Pico Jultayu (1950m) pasing the Refugio Vega De Ario. Elevation gain of 1050m / 3400 ft. | Wikiloc |
Mirador de Ordiales | 20.3 km / 12.6 mi | 7 h | A long hike with elevation gain of 850 m / 2800 ft. | Wikiloc |
Lago Ercina - Refugio Vega De Ario | 14.4 km / 8.96 mi | 6 h 30 m | A long hike from Lake Ercina to the Refugio Vega de Ario. Elevation gain of 655 m / 2150 ft. | Wikiloc |
Refugio Vegaredonda | 13.7 km / 8.5 mi | 7 h | Hike to Refugio Vegaredondo. Elevation gain of 525m / 1720 ft. | Wikiloc |
La Ruta de la Reconquista (GR-202)
The GR-202, known as the Route of the Reconquest (Ruta de la Reconquista), is one of northern Spain's great historic trails. It follows the path of the retreating Muslim army after their defeat at the legendary Battle of Covadonga in 722 AD — the moment traditionally regarded as the beginning of the Spanish Reconquista. The trail covers 113 km through the heart of Picos de Europa National Park, with 6,300 m of cumulative elevation gain, typically split into five to seven stages.
Refugio Vega de Enol: the natural end of Stage 1
Stage 1 starts at the Sanctuary of Covadonga (260 m) and climbs to the Lakes of Covadonga (1,100 m) — a demanding ascent that ends exactly where we are. Casa de Pastores is effectively the only lodging on the trail at this point, which makes us the logical place to rest, eat a hot meal and prepare for the next stage toward the Cares Gorge.
What we offer Reconquista hikers
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Bed and half-board. A hearty dinner on arrival and a substantial breakfast before you set out for the next stage.
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Flexible arrival. If you're coming up on foot from Covadonga, don't worry about check-in times. Arrive when you arrive.
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Drying space for clothes and gear. Essential if you've had a day of rain or mountain mist.
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Kitchen open for hikers on hiker schedules. If you arrive late, we'll serve dinner. If you leave before dawn, we'll prepare something for the trail.
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Packed lunches. So you don't have to carry extra weight from Covadonga.
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Local trail knowledge. We know every meter of the path toward the Cares and can advise on trail conditions, weather forecasts and options based on your fitness level.
Book Ahead
Stage 1 of the Reconquista is popular with both Spanish and international hikers, and our 16 beds fill quickly — especially in spring and autumn. If you're planning to walk the GR-202, we recommend booking several weeks in advance, particularly for groups.
A bit of history for the trail
The chronicles tell that in 722 AD an Asturian leader named Don Pelayo, commanding a group of mountain fighters, defeated the Muslim army of Alkama at the Battle of Covadonga — an event traditionally seen as the start of the Reconquista. The survivors fled north through the only escape route available: climbing Mount Auseva and crossing what is today the Lakes of Covadonga, the Cares Gorge, Poncebos and the Áliva passes, ending at Cosgaya. The Route of the Reconquest follows that exact path. Walking the GR-202 is, in a sense, walking thirteen centuries of Asturian history.