Somiedo Natural Park

The Somiedo Natural Park is a nature reserve in the Cantabrian Mountains in Asturias, declared a Natural Park since 1988 and Biosphere Reserve since 2000. It is without doubt one of the most spectacular parts of the Cantabrian Mountains.

It consists of four main valleys that take their name from the four rivers that flow there: the Somiedo, the Pigüeña, the Valle and the Saliencia. It is also home to several lakes and lagoons, the most distinctive of which are the Lagos de Saliencia and Lago del Valle. Lago del Valle is located at 1,580 meters and is the most extensive of Asturias.

The height of the park ranges from 400 meters in Aguasmestas to 2,194 meters at the top of El Cornón, a spectacular peak where hikingiberia has a hike to. The area is extremely green and has a great variety of forests, meadows, brañas and mountains.

The park is home to the brown bear (Osos Pardo) as well as all the large mammals of the Cantabrian Mountains, along with many species of small mammals, more than a hundred birds and about twenty amphibians and reptiles.

Since the area was declared a Natural Park and later Biosphere Reserve, it has grown in popularity among tourists. There are two campsites and several hotels and casas rurales, as well as many excellent hiking trails.