Cangas De Onis: Mountain Trails, Cultural Heritage and Festivals

At the foot of the Picos de Europa, Cangas De Onis lies in the valley formed by the Sella and Güeña rivers. Mountain scenery, rivers, protected natural areas and cultural sites shape the experience of a visit. Options range from hikes and mountain biking tours to archaeological sights and traditional festivals. If you are planning a hotel stay, you can first consider which of these themes are especially important for your trip.

Hiking trails, viewpoints and lakes

The Camín de la Reina is an easy hiking trail between Sotu and Cangas De Onis. It passes through meadows, villages and small chapels, following the route taken by Isabel II on her visit to Covadonga in 1858. Part of the trail runs through the Natura 2000 ZEC Río Sella protected area. Check trail conditions before setting out. The mountain biking route to the Mirador de Següencu offers a different perspective: it starts and ends in Cangas De Onis and opens up views of the Picos de Europa, the Cantabrian Mountains and a small stretch of coastline. The main differences between the two routes are therefore the activity and the landscapes described.

The Lagos de Covadonga comprise the lakes Enol and La Ercina in the western massif of the Picos de Europa. The Buferrera information point is located near the lakes, in the municipality of Cangas De Onis. The Buferrera recreation area is close to the Lagos and has tables, toilets, a water fountain and an arboretum. Check the local conditions for these facilities before your visit. During regulated access hours, private vehicles are not permitted to drive to the Lagos de Covadonga, except for vehicles expressly authorized to do so. As the regulation is seasonal and may change, check the national park's latest notices before setting out.

The Pedro Pidal Visitor Centre presents the history and natural values of the national park. Check its opening hours separately before visiting. This lets you plan excursions around specific destinations and current visitor information, without assuming a particular order for visiting the different places.

Cultural heritage and archaeological traces

The Capilla de Santa Cruz is protected as a Bien de Interés Cultural. King Favila had the Capilla de Santa Cruz built over a dolmen in 737. Separately, the Dolmen de Santa Cruz is dated to around the 3rd millennium BC; its chamber is decorated with geometric engravings and drawings. It is open to the public year-round, but closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. During Holy Week and in summer, several guided visits are offered each day, with limited places. As visiting arrangements may change, check visitor information before your trip.

The bridge over the Sella is another landmark structure: it now has six arches.

Regional production and traditional festivals

Gamonéu del Valle is produced year-round in the lower-lying areas of Onís and Cangas De Onis. The two recurring festivals also offer different opportunities to include local traditions in your travel plans. The Fiesta del Pastor takes place in the Vega de Enol. It features rural games, regional dances, handicraft sales and a council of shepherds. The festival in honor of Saint Anthony is celebrated on June 13 and is considered the most important traditional festival in Cangas De Onis. Check the current event program for your travel dates.

Specific visitor conditions and event dates are useful points of reference when choosing your travel dates. These include the access regulations for the Lagos, the dolmen's opening days and the festival programs. When looking for a hotel in Cangas De Onis, you can also decide whether hiking trails, the lakes, cultural heritage or traditional events will be the focus of your stay.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Mestas De Con, Cardes, Covadonga, Peruyes, Soto De Cangas, Cangas De Onis, Arriondas, Perlleces, Caño, Soto De La Ensertal, Corao, Llenín, Beceña, Igena, Labra, Tornín, Nieda.

For the regional travel overview: Asturias.