Autumn is probably one of the most special times of year to explore the Valdeón Valley and the Picos de Europa. The days become more peaceful, the mountains regain their silence after the summer, and the vast forests surrounding the valley begin to change.
Shades of green, yellow, ochre, orange and red blend together in the beech woods, whilst the peaks of the Picos de Europa rise above the landscape. The streams take centre stage once more, and walking through the woods, amongst fallen leaves and the sound of running water, becomes a completely different experience to that of summer.
And one of the great advantages of staying at our campsite is that you don’t need to take the car to enjoy it.
Various trails set off directly from the campsite, allowing you to discover some of the most beautiful spots in the surrounding area. From among them all, we’ve selected three of our favourite routes to follow in autumn: the Senda del Mercadillo, the Majada de Montó and the Vega de Pregó.
Three different routes to explore forests, sheepfolds, meadows, streams and some of the best panoramic views of the Valdeón Valley.
🍂 1. Senda del Mercadillo: woods, meadows and stunning panoramic views
The Senda del Mercadillo (PR-PN 15) is one of our favourite routes for exploring the area around Santa Marina de Valdeón and a superb choice during the autumn months.
It is a circular route that allows you to experience forests, meadows, mountainous areas and superb natural viewpoints over the valley, all in a single day.
From Camping El Cares, we’ll head towards Santa Marina de Valdeón to join the route. Along the way, we’ll pass places such as the Fuente del Rejo, the Collado Peranieva and the Fuente Torones, whilst we gain altitude and the views become increasingly sweeping.
In autumn, the landscape changes completely. The woods take on shades of yellow and red, and the contrast between the vegetation in the valley and the limestone cliffs of the mountains turns many points along the route into real vantage points.
At almost 13 kilometres long and with 682 metres of elevation gain, it is the perfect route for spending a good part of the day walking without having to undertake a high-mountain hike.
Distance: 12.4 km
Elevation gain: 682 m
Maximum altitude: 1,587 m
Route type: Circular
We recommend doing this walk in autumn, as it allows you to admire, from a certain height, the vast array of colours that the Valdeón Valley takes on. In the space of just a few kilometres, you’ll pass from the heart of the forest to open areas from which you can admire the mountains and the mosaic of meadows and woods that cover the valley, as well as visiting several villages in the area.
🌳 2. Majada de Montó: venture into the beech woods of Valdeón
If we had to choose a route that really lets you enjoy the woods in autumn, the climb up to Majada de Montó would undoubtedly be one of our favourites.
The route starts right at Camping El Cares and continues along the PR-PN 14 footpath.
Right from the start, we’ll be heading into a beech forest, one of the main highlights of autumn in the Picos de Europa. At this time of year, walking along these paths means walking beneath a vast canopy of yellow, copper-coloured and reddish leaves.
As we continue, the woodland gives way to clearings, small streams and patches of grassland. We’ll reach La Tienda, a small open valley from which the views begin to take centre stage, before continuing on to Majada de Bres.
From here, we’ll continue climbing until we reach our destination: the Majada de Montó.
The sheepfolds form an integral part of the history of livestock farming in the Picos de Europa. For generations, these places were used by shepherds to make the most of the mountain pastures during the most favourable months of the year.
From Montó, we’ll have fantastic views of Peña Gulugas, Peña Gabanceda and much of the valley, as well as being able to make out the chapel of the Virgen de los Pastores on the mountainside.
It’s one of those places where it’s worth stopping, taking something out of your rucksack and simply enjoying the silence.
To return, we can follow the same route or take one of the alternative routes that lead on to Prada or Posada de Valdeón.
Distance: 11.68 km
Elevation gain: 578 m
Maximum altitude: 1,568 m
Route type: Linear
🏔️ 3. Vega de Pregó: an easy route for everyone
Not all day trips have to be long to discover spectacular places.
The route from Camping El Cares to Vega de Pregó is one of the best options for those looking for an easier walk or who want to enjoy a peaceful autumn morning.
It is also a route that is particularly recommended for families, children and people travelling with pets.
The adventure begins practically within the campsite itself, next to our waterfall. From there, we’ll cross the River Arenal, gradually gaining height until we join the historic track leading to Pregó.
Once we’ve reached it, we’ll just have to go with the flow.
The path climbs gently through beech woods and damp areas, accompanied for much of the way by the sound of water and the birds of the forest.
At around kilometre 2.7, we’ll come to a fork in the road. The path on the left continues towards Pandetrave, whilst we’ll take the path on the right to head towards Pregó.
After following the course of a small stream for the last few metres and passing a small waterfall, the forest suddenly opens up.
And there, before us, lies the Vega de Pregó.
A vast expanse of grasslands surrounded by mountains, where it feels as though time stands still.
From here, we can admire various peaks in the surrounding area, including the unusual Peña de la Silla and Pico Miradoiro, whilst enjoying one of the most peaceful spots near the campsite.
What’s more, we are in wildlife territory. With patience, silence and a bit of luck, whilst walking through these high-altitude woodland areas, we may come across some of the valley’s inhabitants, such as roe deer or red deer.
Distance: 6.95 km
Elevation gain: 292 m
Maximum altitude: 1,500 m
Route type: Linear
All three routes start from the campsite, but each offers a different experience.
If you’re looking for a more challenging route, with a significant elevation gain and stunning panoramic views over the valley, our recommendation would be the Senda del Mercadillo.
If you want to immerse yourself in the forests and discover one of the traditional mountain pasturelands of Valdeón, choose the Majada de Montó.
And if you’d prefer a simple, peaceful walk that’s suitable for practically everyone, the Vega de Pregó is hard to beat.
Although, if you’ve got a few days… why choose just one?
September, October and the first few weeks of November treat us to some of the most beautiful scenery of the year in the Valdeón Valley.
It is also a time of year when conditions in the mountains can change rapidly. The days are getting progressively shorter, temperatures are falling, and rain can make some paths, rocks and streams more slippery.
That is why we recommend that you always check the weather forecast before setting off, wear suitable hiking footwear, take water, some food and a waterproof garment with you, and carefully calculate the hours of daylight available.
Particularly on the route to Pregó, where we’ll cross the river at the start and come across a few small streams along the way, it’s advisable to wear footwear that offers some water resistance.
And after walking for hours through beech woods, mountains and meadows, all that remains is to return to the campsite, relax and enjoy the tranquillity of the valley. Know more about this hikes and others here
Enjoy the autumn and make your booking here