Riaño Mountain
Where Nature Sculpts Legends and Wildlife Dances to the Rhythm of History.
The wolf track
The tourist destination Riaño Mountain is located in the northeast of the province of León, being delimited in its northern part by the Cantabrian mountain range, and more specifically by the largest limestone massif of Atlantic Europe: The Picos de Europa, which were so named for being the first image of the Old Continent that could be seen from the sea.
The orogenic movements and the course of time have originated a perfect territory for the fauna of the Cantabrian mountain range, deciding to inhabit or return to it, procreating in its mountains (wolf, bear, bear and other animals).The orogenic movements and the passing of time have created a perfect territory for the fauna of the Cantabrian mountain range to live or return, breeding in its mountains (wolf, bear, chamois, roe deer...) and nesting in its cliffs (bearded vultures), allowing us to observe, with respect and without interfering in their activity, their behavior and organization in herds or in families.
The wolf track is not only the protagonist of stories and legends and the inducer of engineering in the Riaño Mountains, such as the Chorcos de Valdeón and Prioro, but it has also been captured in the history of the region.The four river basins that cross the territory from north to south (Cea, Esla, Porma and Curueño), which together with the riverbanks, form the five wolf track pads.
To these river basins must be added those that flow into the Atlantic (Sella and Deva), forming a perfect habitat for trout and a paradise for river fishing enthusiasts.
A different climate for each season of the year and four seasons a year that will allow the whole family to enjoy enchanted forests inhabited by mythological characters, cliffs and valleys where you can observe large mammals in freedom, landscapes and hidden treasures shaped by the force of water, a gastronomy based on a pantry full of top quality local products and routes and trails for all ages and especially for the youngest members of the family.The gastronomy is based on a pantry full of top quality local products and routes and trails for all audiences and especially for the youngest members of the family, who through the interpreted routes, will become true explorers of the territory, learning to love and respect these spaces.
The León side of the Picos de Europa National Park offers a wide variety of hiking routes that adapt to the preferences of each person, their physical conditions and abilities. From relaxed and gentler walks through valleys or forests to challenging mountain ascents. There are alternatives to suit all tastes. Some popular routes that we highly recommend are the Ruta de la Garganta del Cares, the so-called Ruta de los Pueblos de Sajambre that goes through beech forests with a level of difficulty very affordable for all audiences, or the Anillo de Picos, a route that runs through all the shelters of the Picos de Europa (Asturias, Cantabria and León).
During the summer months, the National Park's own guides offer guided and interpreted routes in small groups, for which it is recommended to bring hiking boots, water, a hat and sun protection, as well as a warm jacket or raincoat.
The most ecological way to discover the Regional Park Riaño Mountain and Mampodre is through hiking, direct contact with nature through the footprints, footprints that will leave a mark in your memory. The Regional Park provides the visitor, on the one hand, dozens of routes and approved routes, with multiple alternatives so that, step by step, you can discover a territory where the eye does not rest to find places full of history, beauty and nature in its pure and wild state, and on the other hand, unique and inéLuriana (Portilla de la Reina), a real garden for rock tea or oregano, traditional culinary elements in the preparation of drinks and products derived from the slaughter of pigs, or as Mental, Mirva or the Valley of San Pelayo where lately it is inhabited with Bison in semi-freedom.
In the Biosphere Reserve there are multiple bicycle routes and hiking trails for all audiences and all motivations. The Paradise Route will allow you to discover the Vegarada Causeway and all the bridges and pontoons that cross it. With the Route of the Forts you will experience and discover the warlike past of the territory or the route of the Faro River that will meet the Curueño, being a great excuse to get to know and discover the collection of waterfalls that are being created, whose sound will help us to connect with nature in its wildest state.
Much of our time is spent looking for experiences and magical places around the world and it turns out that these experiences and places are closer than you think.
Plan your next trip to Riaño Mountain
Montaña de Riaño is located in the northeast of the province of León, bordering the Montaña de Riaño y Mampodre Regional Park, in its easternmost part, with the provinces of Cantabria and Palencia.The Mojón Tres Provincias is the natural boundary between the three provinces and the second highest peak (2,460 m.) of the mountain range of Riaño and Mampodre, in its easternmost part, with the provinces of Cantabria and Palencia, being the second highest peak (2,460 m.) of the mountain range of Riaño.460 m.) of the mountain range that limits the provinces of León, Cantabria and Palencia.
In the northernmost part of the territory is the Picos de Europa National Park, limiting this territory not only with the aforementioned Cantabria, but also with Asturias, in whose territory the Deva River and the Cares Gorge enter.
The western part of the territory is the domain of another protected area: The Argüellos Reserve. It limits the territory with the rest of the province of León and the neighboring Asturias.
The south of the territory is the domain of the banks of the rivers Esla and Porma and the closest part to the capital of the province: León.
How to get there?
Montaña de Riaño is a real crossroads between the provinces of Asturias, Cantabria and Palencia, so to reach the territory we have several alternatives, depending on where we are and the part of the tourist destination we want to reach.
To reach the Leonese side of the National Park of Picos de Europa from the capital of the province, it is essential to do it by one of the two ports that communicate this space with the rest of the tourist destination: Panderrueda and Pandetrave.
The entrance to this side of the National Park from neighboring Asturias or Cantabria, must be done through the Puerto de Tarna, in the first option or from the port of San Glorio in the case that we have our point of origin in Cantabria, to link with the mentioned Panderrueda and Pandetrave, in the case that our origin is Asturias or Cantabria.
For those travelers who want to visit the territory and have their origin in Palencia, the most logical entrance to this side of the National Park, would be through the port of Pandetrave.
The entrance to the Montaña de Riaño y Mampodre Regional Park for travelers from Asturias, Cantabria and Palencia, will be the same as described above to reach the National Park, except that, on this occasion, they will not have to link with the ports of Panderrueda and Pandetrave.
The entrance to the Regional Park from León can be made in the direction of Boñar, Cistierna or Riaño.
To reach the part of the Biosphere Reserve from León, it is essential to cross the Hoces de Valdeteja. A narrow road parallel to the Curueño River and the Calzada de Vegarada will not leave anyone who crosses it indifferent.
Given the orography of the territory, the most chosen option by visitors and tourists to enter the territory is by car and depending on our point of origin (León, Asturias, Cantabria or Palencia), the journey time can range between 1.5 and 3 hours.
If you are going to travel in your own vehicle, remember that the roads connecting Montaña de Riaño are narrow and curvy . Therefore, it is essential to drive carefully and attentively.
There are also alternatives such as bus services connecting Oviedo and León with Oseja de Sajambre, Riaño and Posada de Valdeón. The narrow-gauge railroad line (FEVE) leaving from León is another option for getting close to the Montaña de Riaño y Mampodre Regional Park or the Argüellos Biosphere Reserve, which will give us the possibility of getting to know the bordering territory on foot or by bicycle.
Visitor Centers and Park Houses
The protected areas of the Picos de Europa National Park and the Montaña de Riaño y Mampodre Regional Park have these spaces designed both to help us prepare for the visit to the territory and to deepen our understanding of what we are observing.
These spaces are made up of technical staff and informative material in the form of brochures, maps, audiovisuals, models... that will help us to understand the different geological, ethnographic and natural aspects... of the areas we are visiting.
- Picos de Europa National Park:
Visitors' Center of the "Fonseya" (Oseja de Sajambre).
Valdeón Visitor Center (Posada de Valdeón).
- Montaña de Riaño and Mampodre Regional Park:
Valdeburón Park House.
Puebla de Lillo Park House.
Help us conserve space!
Here are a series of rules that you should respect and take into account during your visit to the Picos de Europa National Park.
1.- Respect the nature of the areas you visit, the peace of these places and their cultural and natural values.
2.- Respect the plants, animals and minerals.
3.- Plan your excursions on foot and follow the established trails. Limit the use of vehicles to the roadways, do not park in meadows.
4.- Return garbage to the city and limit the use of containers and garbage cans.
5 . - It is forbidden to make fire without authorization.
6 . - In general, hunting and fishing are prohibited inside the National Park.
7.- Follow the instructions of the National Park staff.
Free camping is not allowed in the National Park. Bivouacking is allowed in areas above 1,600 m., and tents can be set up one hour before sunset and must be picked up one hour after departure.
In general, bathing in lakes and watercourses is forbidden.
Collaborate with the good maintenance of the Park, contribute suggestions and facilitate the fulfillment of its objectives.
Camping regulations in the Picos de Europa National Park:
1.- With theexception of campsites and bivouacking or overnight camping, free camping is not allowed inside the National Park.
Bivouacking or overnight camping is allowed at altitudes above 1,600 m., setting up the tent one hour before sunset and taking it down one hour after sunrise.
In the surroundings of mountain refuges, in addition to the above conditions, the number of tents may not exceed 10% of the capacity of the refuge.