The Lakes of Somiedo

The lakes of Somiedo are four lakes and a lagoon, of glacial origin and found in two separate places: Lago del Valle, reached on foot from the village of Valle de Lago, and the Saliencia lakes (La Cueva, Cerveriz, Calabazosa and the Laguna de La Mina), reached on foot from the Alto de La Farrapona pass. Together they form the Somiedo lake complex, a protected Natural Monument.

You cannot drive to the shore of any of them, and the two groups lie in different valleys. It pays to decide which one you are going to see before you set out: this guide tells you what there is in each, how far you walk and where to leave the car.

Which are the lakes of Somiedo

• Lago del Valle The largest in Asturias by surface area: 24 hectares, at the foot of a glacial cirque. It is also known as Lago del Ajo. Its present size is due to the works that raised its level for the La Malva hydroelectric power station.
• Lago de la Cueva The first one you reach from La Farrapona, 20 minutes away: 7.5 hectares at 1,615 metres, in an enclosed basin. The Santa Rita iron mine worked beside it until a few decades ago and gives it its reddish tone; the mine entrances can still be seen.
• Laguna de La Mina Also called Laguna de Almagrera. It lies beside the old mine track, between La Cueva and Cerveriz, and dries up in the summer months.
• Lago Cerveriz Ten hectares at 1,635 metres, surrounded by meadows. Its water looks dark green, turning olive in autumn.
• Lago Calabazosa or Lago Negro The largest and deepest of the Saliencia lakes: 17 hectares at 1,610 metres, at the bottom of a large doline dissolved out of the limestone.

Between the two groups lies the high-mountain area of the Picos Albos. You can find them on the park map.

Which walk to choose

There are three ways to see them, from shortest to longest:

The Saliencia lakes, from La Farrapona

This is the shortest way to see four of the five. Drive up the Saliencia valley road to the Alto de La Farrapona, at 1,708 metres on the border with León, and leave the car there.

• Lago de la Cueva is 20 minutes away, along a gently descending track.
• The old mine track then climbs past the Laguna de La Mina and drops to the meadow and Lago Cerveriz, 1 hour 17 minutes from the pass.
• Calabazosa lies a little further on, 1 hour 24 minutes from the pass.

From Calabazosa you can return the same way, about 3 hours in all, or complete the circular walk: 7.6 km, 318 metres of ascent and between 3 and 5 hours, starting and finishing at La Farrapona.

In summer there is a food truck at the pass itself, the Wild Bar: see where to eat in Somiedo.

Lago del Valle, from Valle de Lago

You walk up from the village of Valle de Lago, eight kilometres from Pola de Somiedo. Traffic on the track that continues to the lake is restricted, so the car stays in the village car park, before the L'Auteiro neighbourhood.

It is 6 km and two and a half hours up; with the return, about 12 km and about 5 hours. There are two paths: the direct one, by the Pradera del Valle, and another through the beech wood on the opposite slope, longer but shaded. The split times and both variants are in the Lago del Valle route.

The traverse that links the two groups

The Somiedo Lakes route (PR.AS-15) leaves the Alto de La Farrapona, passes the Saliencia lakes, crosses the Cerveriz and Camayor meadows and descends to Lago del Valle and the village of Valle de Lago: 14 km and four and a half hours. It is linear and ends in a different valley, so you need to leave a car at each end or have someone pick you up.

Getting there by car and where to park

Both approaches leave Pola de Somiedo on different local roads, and to drive from one to the other you have to come back down. To get as far as Pola, see how to get to Somiedo.

• To the Saliencia lakes Along the Saliencia valley road to the Alto de La Farrapona, where it ends. You park at the pass itself.
• To Lago del Valle Along the road that climbs from Pola to Valle de Lago, eight steep kilometres. The village car park fills up early in summer and on long weekends.

When to go

The season for the walking routes runs from spring to autumn. In winter the road to the Alto de La Farrapona can be closed by snow: check its state before you drive up. With snow, the same itineraries become winter routes for snowshoes or ski touring.

You are in a Natural Monument and in the high mountains: carry water, food and warm clothing even in summer, keep to the paths and take your litter back down with you.

Frequently asked questions

How many lakes are there in Somiedo?

Four lakes and a lagoon, in two groups. On one side, Lago del Valle. On the other, the Saliencia lakes: La Cueva, Cerveriz and Calabazosa (or Lago Negro), plus the Laguna de La Mina, which dries up in summer.

Can you drive to the lakes of Somiedo?

Not to the shore. You can drive to the village of Valle de Lago, where the walk up to Lago del Valle starts, and to the Alto de La Farrapona pass, where the walk to the Saliencia lakes starts. The lake closest to a car park is Lago de la Cueva, 20 minutes from La Farrapona.

What is the shortest walk to see the lakes of Somiedo?

The Saliencia lakes from the Alto de La Farrapona. Lago de la Cueva is 20 minutes away, and the circular walk around all four is 7.6 km and takes between 3 and 5 hours.

Which is the largest lake in Somiedo?

Lago del Valle, which at 24 hectares is the largest in Asturias by surface area. Calabazosa, or Lago Negro, is the largest and deepest of the Saliencia lakes.

Can you see all the lakes in one day?

Yes, on the Lakes Route (PR.AS-15): 14 km and four and a half hours between the Alto de La Farrapona and the village of Valle de Lago. It is a linear traverse, so you need a car at each end or someone to pick you up.

Can you visit the lakes of Somiedo in winter?

It depends on the snow. The road to the Alto de La Farrapona can close in winter, and the routes become snowshoe or ski touring routes. Check the state of the road before you drive up.