LAGO DEL VALLE ROUTE

The Lago del Valle route (PR.AS-15.1) climbs from the village of Valle de Lago to the largest lake in Asturias. It is an out-and-back walk along the same valley: 6 km and two and a half hours up according to the official sheet, which makes the whole outing about 12 km and about 5 hours.

Split times

Times from Valle de Lago, according to the official trail sheet:

Point	Time
Turn-off to Murias Llongas	1 h 10 min
Pradera del Valle	1 h 20 min
Lago del Valle	2 h 30 min

Where it starts and where to park

The route starts in Valle de Lago, a village at 1,200 metres reached from Pola de Somiedo by eight kilometres of steep road. It is a long, strung-out village divided into four neighbourhoods: Ribaluenga, La Caleya, La Quintana and L’Auteiro. The track that climbs alongside the Valle river starts from the last one.

The track is suitable for vehicles, but traffic is restricted to livestock farms and Park management: you walk up to the lake. Leave the car in the village car park, before reaching L’Auteiro. In summer and on long weekends it fills up early, so it pays to arrive first thing.

The route and its two variants

The track climbs between the hay meadows on the valley floor and a dense beech wood on the slope across the river, less exposed to the sun and damper. It continues through a wooded area and passes a path that goes off to the left. A second fork soon follows, where you have to choose:

• Left, the direct path. It leads to the Pradera del Valle and, after a short climb, to the lake.
• Right, the shady path. On very sunny days this one is better, longer but less tiring: it crosses the river and climbs below the beech wood on the left-hand slope of the valley, along the path to the braña of Murias Llongas. Without going as far as the braña, you leave the main path at a sharp zigzag, beside a stone wall, and go down the footpath that ends at the lake’s retaining wall.

If you choose the second variant, respect private property and do not cross meadows where the grass is long.

By either path, the lake cannot be seen until you reach it.

Lago del Valle

Lago del Valle, also known as Lago del Ajo, is, at 24 hectares, the largest in Asturias by surface area. It lies at 1,580 metres, at the foot of a splendid glacial cirque from which a tongue of ice once flowed down the valley: hence the U shape of the valley. Its present size is due to the works that raised its level for hydroelectric use at the La Malva power station.

The park’s other lakes are in the lakes of Somiedo.

Wildlife you can see

It is easy to spot chamois on the slopes beside the path, roe deer in the meadows and birds of prey overhead, mainly buzzards and sparrowhawks.

Extending the walk

The track to the Saliencia lakes across the Camayor and Cerveriz meadows also starts in Valle de Lago: it is the Somiedo Lakes route walked in reverse, a 14 km traverse. And the El Puerto – Valle del Lago route reaches the village from the Puerto de Somiedo pass.

Download the route map (PDF, in Spanish)

Where to stay

If you sleep in Valle del Lago you can set off on foot without taking the car or depending on the car park. The other convenient base is Pola de Somiedo, eight kilometres away.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to walk up to Lago del Valle?

Two and a half hours from the village of Valle de Lago (6 km), according to the official sheet. With the return, about 12 km and about 5 hours.

Can you drive up to the lake?

No. Traffic on the track is restricted to farmers and Park management. Leave the car in the village car park.

Where do you park?

In the Valle de Lago car park, before the L’Auteiro neighbourhood, where the route starts. In summer it fills up early.

Is it the largest lake in Asturias?

Yes. At 24 hectares, Lago del Valle is the largest in Asturias by surface area.

Which of the two paths is better?

The left one is shorter. The right one, through the beech wood, is longer but shaded: it is the one to take on very sunny days.