Trekking in the Mampodre Regional Park and Riaño Mountain
- Type of activity
Trekking
- Meeting place
- Duration
- Kilometers
- Unevenness
- Number of People
- Difficulty
Trekking in the Mampodre Regional Park and Riaño Mountain
The Riaño and Mampodre Mountain Regional Park is located in the eastern part of the León Mountains. It's a very beautiful place in an excellent state of preservation, due, among other things, to depopulation and a lack of investment and infrastructure in the area, caused by the neglect of the emptied Spain. From a natural perspective, this perhaps deserves gratitude, but not from a health, education, communications, and other perspectives, to which the population who choose to make or continue their lives in this and other similar places is subjected. But there's much more here than just the landscape; there are centuries of history written in the villages, in the valleys, in the churches, in the mountain huts, and on their paths, but also in its people, settlers who, over the centuries, have combined their lives with the conservation of nature. Settlers without whom these lands would not be what they are today, and for whom we should be grateful.
With a unique geological landscape formed by a compact mass of limestone, its rugged and spectacularly shaped terrain. Its distinctive landscape is the result of two types of erosion: glacial and karst. In the Riaño and Mampodre Mountain Regional Park, you can enjoy nature in its almost pristine state, with a rich and varied fauna, including bears, wolves, chamois, eagles, vultures, Egyptian vultures, eagle owls, roe deer, wild boars, badgers, and even European bison in the Anciles Valley.
Beech forests make up the main woodland, although holly, yew, chestnut, oak, and birch trees also appear. The Lillo Pine Forest is very interesting, but with restricted access. We can also enjoy riparian vegetation in the meadows and along the rivers.
For four days, we'll explore this beautiful area of León Mountains, its most unique corners and its most important peaks: Gilbo, Yordas, Peñas Pintas, and La Cruz, which will offer us some of the most beautiful panoramic views of the Cantabrian Mountains and the neighboring Picos de Europa.
Trekking Itinerary
On our first day we travel to the town of Liegos, which we will cross to the Loris pass, from where we will depart to ascend one of the most representative peaks of the Riaño and Mampodre Mountain Regional Park, the Yordas Peak (1,957m). We will walk through the valley of San Pelayo to enter the beautiful Tendeña beech forest, to reach the Tejal spring and then to the Baguyoso pass from where we turn off towards the summit of Pico Yordas. After enjoying its views, we will return to the pass again to descend the south face towards the Burín pass, from which a small descent takes us back to our starting point, from where we will travel to the Maraña Hostel to spend our first night.
Distance: 14 km. Elevation: +860 m -860 m
On our second day of trekking, we will depart from the town of Maraña towards the nearby Mampodre Massif, to do the comprehensive of said massif, ascending its most important peaks, La Polinosa and La Cruz (2,197m), the highest point of the massif, the Pico Salamanquino and the Cervunal and visiting its glacial cirque, through which we will walk to go to the two summits that close it on its eastern side, the Pico Mediodia and the Valjarto making a circular route that we will close descending towards the Mampodre lagoon and the top of Loma del Acebal, from where after a short descent we will return to the Maraña hostel, where we will spend our second night.
Distance: 14 km. Elevation: +1,520 m -1,520 m
Today we will approach the town of Las Salas, where we will take a circular route to the Pintas Rocks, peaks closest to the Riaño reservoir dam. We will set off towards the village of Salamon along a beautiful path through beech and oak forests. Before reaching Salamon, we turn off towards the Anciles Valley, along a track that ascends towards the Anciles pass. We will skirt Peñas Pintas on its northern slope, to ascend a channel that leaves us on its crest, which we will follow to reach its two main peaks and enjoy its impressive views. We descend towards The Rooms, where we will pick up the cars to return to the Maraña hostel, after a beautiful route.
Distance: 15 km. Elevation: +1,530 m -1,530 m
Ascent to one of the most emblematic and representative peaks of the Riaño Mountain, the Gilbo Peak and although with a modest height (1,678m) it is undoubtedly the most beautiful. A truly desirable summit for any mountaineer, due to the silhouette it presents from the village of Riaño, similar to the Cervino or Matterhorn, hence the nickname of this mountain, “The Leonese Matterhorn” with exceptional views towards the town of Riaño, the Anciles valley, Peñas Pintas, the reservoir's water mass and the unmistakable Espigüete, symbol of the nearby Macizo de Carrionas Fountains. Return to the parking lot and end of this beautiful and unforgettable adventure.
Distance: 9 km. Elevation: +650m -650m
What the trekking includes
- Mountain Guide Service with AEGM-UIMLA accreditation.
- Three nights of accommodation in shelters.
- Three half-boards (dinner + breakfast) in the shelters.
- Collective safety material.
- Accident and liability insurance.
What the trekking does not include
- Transport.
- Any other concept not mentioned as included.
To take into account
- At the hostel you can buy a picnic for each day, avoiding carrying heavy loads.
- There are blankets at the shelter. A light sleeping bag or sleeping bag is sufficient.
- The route may be subject to changes depending on weather conditions, shelter availability, and/or other circumstances, always keeping the safety of the group in mind.
- Group of 4 to 8 people.
- Picos Outdoor only obtains benefits from the guiding service.
Mampodre Regional Park Trekking
and the Riaño Mountain
- Accredited expert guide
- Groups of 4 - 8 people
- Accident and liability insurance
