ES Somiedo in winter and in the snow
In winter there is snow in the high parts of Somiedo and the routes are done on snowshoes or touring skis. This guide brings together 13 winter routes in the park, which start from five places: El Puerto, the Alto de La Farrapona, La Peral, Valle del Lago and Villar de Vildas. And what to check before you go up: the road, the weather and your gear.
- 13 routes for winter, each with its own trail sheet
- 7 routes can be done on snowshoes
- 3 routes of easy difficulty to start with
- 5 starting points in four valleys
The 13 routes, from easiest to hardest
All are loops except Braña Viecha, which returns the same way. Under each name, the mode given on its trail sheet: some only make sense on skis.
| Route | Difficulty | Distance | Ascent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Puerto - Peña Salgada Snowshoes and skis | Easy | 7 km | 450 m | 2 h 45 min |
| La Farrapona - Cuesta del Colladín - Los Corros Snowshoes and skis | Easy | 8 km | 800 m | 4 h 20 min |
| La Peral - El Mocoso Snowshoes and skis | Easy | 9 km | 550 m | 3 h 25 min |
| Villar de Vildas - Braña Viecha Snowshoes | Moderate | 6.5 km one way | 550 m | 3 h 45 min |
| El Puerto - Peña Salgada - El Diente Skis | Moderate | 9 km | 750 m | 4 h 15 min |
| El Puerto - El Robezo Snowshoes | Moderate | 10 km | 450 m | 3 h 25 min |
| Valle del Lago - Lago del Valle Snowshoes | Moderate | 13 km | 600 m | 4 h 30 min |
| Villar de Vildas - Lagunas del Páramo Skis | Moderate | 16.5 km | 1,000 m | 6 h 15 min |
| El Puerto - Pico El Cornón Skis | Moderate | 17.5 km | 1,000 m | 6 h 30 min |
| La Farrapona - Lakes - La Llávana Snowshoes and skis | Hard | 10 km | 500 m | 3 h 35 min |
| La Peral - La Gata - El Mocoso Skis | Hard | 10 km | 750 m | 4 h 25 min |
| El Puerto - Peña Chana Skis | Hard | 18 km | 700 m | 6 h |
| Valle del Lago - Lago del Valle - Peña Orniz Skis | Hard | 19.5 km | 1,100 m | 7 h 10 min |
Where they start
- El Puerto · 5 routes The village is at almost 1,500 metres, next to the Somiedo pass. From here start the easiest route, Peña Salgada (7 km), El Robezo on snowshoes and three ski routes, including the one to El Cornón, the highest peak in the municipality.
- Alto de La Farrapona · 2 routes At 1,708 metres, on the border with León, at the top of the Saliencia valley road, which is often closed in winter. The lakes route is rated hard and calls for care with avalanches and ice on the stretch to Lago de la Cueva.
- La Peral · 2 routes A former vaqueiro braña that is lived in all year round. The climb to El Mocoso is easy and can be done on snowshoes; La Gata is for skis only.
- Valle del Lago · 2 routes The climb to Lago del Valle on snowshoes (13 km) and the long loop over Peña Orniz on skis, the most demanding of all.
- Villar de Vildas · 2 routes Braña Viecha on snowshoes (6.5 km one way) and the Lagunas del Páramo on skis.
Before you go up
- The road. With snow, chains may be required on the Somiedo and San Lorenzo passes (as in December 2024), and the road to the Alto de La Farrapona is often closed. Closures and chain requirements are published by 112 Asturias (in Spanish).
- The weather. Check the AEMET forecast for Somiedo and avoid days of bad weather and high avalanche risk.
- Your gear. Snowshoes or skis and poles; crampons where the snow freezes, as on the stretch from La Farrapona to the lakes; and on ski routes with exposed descents, a transceiver, shovel and probe.
- The first time, with a guide. Civitatis sells a snowshoe walk through the park (page in Spanish) of four to five hours with a Spanish-speaking guide, starting from the San Lorenzo pass or Puerto Ventana (Teverga), with optional snowshoe and pole hire. Dates depend on there being snow.
Bears in winter
Winter is the worst time to see them: most bears hibernate. The best seasons are spring, from April to June, and late summer and autumn. Full details in bear watching in Somiedo.
Frequently asked questions
Is there snow in Somiedo?
In winter there is snow in the high parts of the park, which is where the snowshoe and ski routes start. On the north faces of the Picos Albos, above the Saliencia lakes, it lasts well into spring. The amount varies a lot from year to year: before you go, check the AEMET forecast for Somiedo and the state of the roads on 112 Asturias.
What snowshoe routes are there in Somiedo?
Seven of the thirteen winter routes can be done on snowshoes. The three easy ones are El Puerto - Peña Salgada (7 km, 2 h 45 min), La Farrapona - Cuesta del Colladín - Los Corros (8 km) and La Peral - El Mocoso (9 km). Snowshoes only: El Robezo from El Puerto, the climb to Lago del Valle and Braña Viecha from Villar de Vildas.
Can you drive to Somiedo when there is snow?
Yes, but check the roads before you set out. With snow, chains may be required on the Somiedo and San Lorenzo passes (as happened in December 2024, according to 112 Asturias), and the road to the Alto de La Farrapona is often closed in winter.
Can you see bears in Somiedo in winter?
It is the worst time to see them, because most bears hibernate. The best seasons are spring, from April to June, and late summer and autumn, from August to October.
Are there guided snowshoe walks in Somiedo?
Yes. Civitatis sells a snowshoe walk through the park with a Spanish-speaking guide, lasting four to five hours, starting from the San Lorenzo pass (between Teverga and Somiedo) or Puerto Ventana (Teverga), with optional snowshoe and pole hire. Dates depend on there being snow.