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Difficulty-Remarkable
7:00 h.
22.5 km.
Difficulty-Remarkable
7:00 h.
22.5 km.
The Redes Natural Park has great natural wonders criss-crossed by hiking routes that are imposing and beautiful, almost in equal parts. One of the most fascinating itineraries in Redes and Asturias is perhaps the route of the Gorge of Arrudos and Lake Ubales. A path that takes us through lush beech forests, green meadows and an impressive limestone gorge where water is one of the protagonists. This adventure can be said to consist of several sections, a short route that takes us to La Fontona or Fuentona, another long route that climbs up to Lake Ubales and there is even the option of a circular route that takes us to the village of La Infiesta, but from there we will still have about 5Km by road to return to Caleao, our usual starting point.
To find the starting point of the Gorge of the Arrudos route we have to go to the Asturian village of Caleao. To get to Caleao we have to follow the road which joins Pola de Laviana with the Port of Tarna, on the border with the province of León. It is at Coballes, at the head of the Tanes reservoir, where the road leading to Caleao awaits us. Once there we have the option of parking our vehicle in the village itself or just before arriving we can take the turning which leads to the nearby Hermitage of San Antonio where we can also park and begin our route.
If our starting point is the village of Caleao we will have to follow part of the road by which we arrived to take the detour that leads to the Hermitage of San Antonio. Our route is marked by the indications of the PR-AS 61 la Path of the Arrudos. Once at the hermitage we must continue walking along the track, going up the stream of the Arrudos. Soon the green meadows take us to the stream bed, which we cross several times to reach the renovated Corones Mill. The slope begins to become more evident, making us gain altitude in exchange for some beautiful views. The Aguamayo fountain, one of the different fountains we will pass, invites us to take a break along the way to replenish the energy we have spent.
Our track gradually leads us into a beautiful beech forest as we follow the capricious flow of the Arrudos stream. The Fuminosa bridge marks the beginning of a beautiful and demanding stretch of our route that runs between the walls of the mountains that mark it.
A stretch that takes us to the green meadows of Majada de Prendoriu. These meadows are just a beautiful mirage as our path quickly leads us back to another gorge. The Calabaza bridge marks the true beginning of the Gorge of Los Arrudos, surely the most spectacular stretch of the whole route. After crossing the bridge we begin a tough climb up the stairs carved into the rocks of the walls that delimit the gorge. These stairs alternate with less demanding stretches of cobbled path. Another wooden bridge allows us to cross the stream bed again to begin another demanding ascent along the characteristic stairs carved into the rock of the Gorge of Los Arrudos route. After overcoming this beautiful and demanding stretch we reach El Collaín, where this part of the ascent ends. Not far from there we reach La Fontona (2h 30min), which we reach by crossing a small wooden bridge.
Arrudos Gorge-CC/Nachway
The Fontona-CC/Alejo Concheso
Arrudos Gorge-CC/Alejo Concheso
Arrudos Stream-CC/Martin Alvarez
Many people put an end to their route through the Gorge of Arrudos here, retracing their steps back to Caleao. If you are still feeling energetic you can continue the route to Lake Ubales following the signs for the PR-AS 61 la Path of the Arrudos. The path forces us to continue ascending, entering the beech forest of Los Arreballaos. A beautiful stretch that takes us to the Roxecu sheepfold, where the remains of the old huts that once stood here await us. We cross the stream that gives it its name to begin the ascent that separates us from the Llede and Moyones sheepfolds. The landscape has changed, allowing us to contemplate the mountains that surround us. In the distance we can already see the Ubales pass towards which we are heading. It is not without effort that we reach this mountain pass that offers us an unbeatable panoramic view. After recovering some energy we continue the route following the path that ascends the slope of Peak Cascayón. Luckily we soon begin a downhill stretch that brings us to the beautiful Lake Ubales (5h 00min), where we enjoy a well-deserved rest.
After enjoying this spectacular spot in the Redes Natural Park, we must return to the Ubales pass. Once there, we will have to decide whether to head towards Caleao, retracing our steps so far, or to head towards La Infiesta, thus making a circular route. If this is the case, we will start to descend the opposite side of the pass in search of the Carbaza sheepfold, where we will join the old route of the Camín de Castilla. The path turns to the left, taking us to the opposite slope of the mountain we are crossing. We then begin the ascent that will take us up to the Collada de la Canalina, whose gradient has nothing to do with the ramps we have already overcome. The path that we are following makes us lose some height again and once again forces us to make a new effort that brings us closer to Pandu Vallegu. From there we only have to resume the long descent, sometimes quite steep, that will take us to the pretty village of La Infiesta (7h 00min), where this PR-AS 61 la Path of the Arrudos ends. Once in the village we must return to Caleao following the approximately 5 km of road that separates it from La Infiesta, which is in addition to what we have done so far.
1-In order to protect the valuable ecosystem surrounding Lake Ubales, bathing in the lake is prohibited.
2-The flight of stairs should be taken slowly, both on the way up and on the way down, especially if the rock is wet.
3-This is a mountain route where the weather conditions have a significant impact on the challenge and difficulty of the route, with the possibility of snow avalanches in winter affecting the route.
4-From La Infiesta you have the possibility of returning by taxi to Caleao, although you must book in advance. Although it may be better to park your vehicle in La Infiesta and have the taxi take you to Caleao to start the route, this way you are not subject to a set timetable.
5-The short route to La Fontona is a magnificent option that should not be underestimated as the distance, there and back, and the difference in altitude are remarkable.
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| 1-Caleao | 0:00h | 660m | 0Km | 30T 303888 4780720 |
| 2-The Fontona | 2:30h | 1060m | 2,6Km | 30T 303375 4776354 |
| 3-Lake Ubales | 2:05h | 1688m | 13,3Km | 30T 308485 4774956 |
| 4-The Infiesta | 2:40h | 840m | 22,5Km | 30T 306734 4779765 |
Coordinates UTM Datúm WGS84
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Distance: 22,5Km
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Time: 7:00h
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Difficulty: Remarkable
Slope: 2475m
Slope +1320m
Slope -1155m
Maximum altitude: 1755m
Minimum altitude: 650m
This schematic with the path is approximate and has been created from the derived cartographic base © Instituto Geográfico Nacional "Cuadrante 79-1 y 79-2 1:25.000".
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¿Did you know that...
The Arrudos were the old holly sticks used by muleteers and locals to cross and climb up the gorge thanks to the rudimentary steps they had.
Don't miss out...
The magnificent views that can be enjoyed throughout the route, not only of the gorge and the different valleys in the area, but also of the Peaks of Europe, the Tiatordos, the meadow of Brañagallones or the Cantu l' Oso.
From the commitment of SENDITUR with Nature and the respect to the balance of the environment, SENDITUR urges you to travel in a responsible way, with low environmental impact and respecting at all times the Natural, Cultural and Social environment wherever you go.
Besides sharing with all of us your experience on the route we would be grateful if you could write to us to inform us of any erroneous or outdated information you may have found, or simply to let us know what you think at Thank you.
Route information updated on 20-06-2021. The route may vary greatly depending on the time of year, weather conditions and terrain, as well as the actions of third parties and the evolution suffered in the natural environment where it is located. All opinions, advice and/or assessments made by SENDITUR in their descriptions are for guidance only and are subject to and/or refer to the specific conditions of the specific day of the route, referring to that specific day, taken from trained people, with the appropriate experience and with a high level of physical and technical preparation as a reference, as well as correctly equipped.
All the times are approximate and take an orientative character, the stops have not been taken into account, no matter how small they are. All the information related to the route, texts, images, videos, maps, diagrams, tracks, towns, and places of tourist interest are published as a guide, and may not coincide with the current state of each place. Before undertaking any activity, assess your technical knowledge, your physical condition, find out about the weather and the variations that the route may undergo, equip yourself correctly, be prudent and responsible at all times, and do not exceed your capabilities. SENDITUR is not responsible for any misuse or inappropriate use of the comprehensive guides of its routes and/or publications as well as its electronic guides, nor for any variations in their descriptions for the aforementioned reasons, and recommends that everyone be responsible and prudent in carrying out the activity. We also encourage you to read books and specialised guides to complement the information described above.
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