Hikes in Ponga

Through the magical beech forest in the Ponga Nature Park Ponga is a remote municipality and an exemplary well-maintained nature reserve in the southeast of Asturias, right next to the Picos de Europa, whose foothills we will see on our tour. The hike takes us through a beech forest that is lush green in spring and summer and red-orange in autumn. We also have an interesting view of the Picu Zorru, whose summit we can climb with the tour »Picu Zorru, 1844 m«.

Every summit is unique The ascent to Picu Zorru is characterized by idyllic meadows and forests of the Ponga Nature Park. From the 1844 m high summit, we can enjoy a unique view: it extends over the wonderfully intact forests of the region, including the Peloño forest (see tour »El Bosque de Peloño«), up to the Cantabrian mountain range with the striking Picos de Europa. Another highlight is the distinctive shape of the Recuencu summit (1642 m), which we keep in sight for a long time: it looks astonishingly like a pinecone. The neighboring summit of Picu Zorru, Pico Luengu (1785 m), and its surrounding route also illustrate how diverse and unique summits can be.

Rubriellos is a tour that families and children will love. Not only because of its fascinating destination—a genuine ghost town—but also because of its starting point, Puente Vidosa, which is practically a small amusement park. If you have time and are willing to pay the admission fee, you can spend a nice day on the numerous climbing structures around the entrance to the gorge. This has the advantage of allowing you to “legally” use the limited parking spaces at the hotel and restaurant. > We start our hike right in front of the restaurant at Puente Vidosa 1, following the wide footpath past several suspension bridges and climbing structures into the gorge. If you’d rather avoid the crowds, you can take the path to the left at the top of the parking lot in front of the restaurant and hike around through the woods. Both route options lead up a bend or two to a small waterfall—above which is another, larger waterfall. If the stream is flowing strongly enough, this offers a spectacular natural sight. We cross the stream on a bridge 2 below the waterfalls and enter the dense forest, where the beautifully laid-out, winding trail leads us steadily higher. To the right and left, paths branch off to several zip lines (“Tirolinas”) spanning the gorge, which may only be used with the appropriate equipment and when accompanied by trained staff. The vegetation provides shade throughout, and the trail’s incline remains moderate, so the ascent never becomes strenuous. We pass through beautiful clearings and a large, abandoned stone house with an attic and a barn. This is the first outpost of Rubriello 3, whose ruins appear another 200 meters further on in the dense forest. Only a few former granaries and stables still stand on their own; most of the buildings have been virtually swallowed up by the jungle-like undergrowth.If you peer into the dark corners and interiors, a slight chill sets in as soon as you think of the ghosts that might be haunting the place at night. We take the same route back.

ruta sencilla circular

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