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Refugio Vega de Ario

  • Author: TrailExplorer

Refugio Vega de Ario

This walk, in the western part of the Picos de Europa, takes you along Lake Ecrina on a stony path to the refugio Vega de Ario. Along the way you have beautiful views and you pass typical shepherd's houses that are still in use. On the Collado El Jito you have a beautiful view of the massif of Urielles and there is an orientation table indicating all the surrounding peaks.

Distance: 15 km.

Time: 4h30.

Grade: Heavy.

Type: Back and forth.

Gps Track: Yes.

Route description: No.

Wheelchair: Not suitable.

Dog: Allowed.

Height gain: 660 meters.

Trail: 99% unpaved.

Marking: PR PNPE 4 | White - Yellow.

Hiking shoes recommended.

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El Jito.

You leave at the end of the parking lot and take the stairs up. You will soon arrive at the Pedro Pidal visitor center. Beyond the visitor center more stairs await and you pass the beautiful site of the old iron mine of Buferrera. After the mine you arrive at the parking lot of Lago Ecrina. You go from the parking lot in the direction of the old glacial lake. You go up left in a south-southeast direction and follow the well-marked path to the sheepfold Veguina. You continue through the corridor of Cuenye until you reach the sheepfold of Bobias. You go up between some rocks and after a short climb you see Redondiella sheepfold on the left. You now follow a stony path that descends in the direction of Jou de Llaguiella. You cross the river of the same name and start a steep climb to Reblagas. This is the toughest climb of the walk. After the climb, the trail climbs steadily past Campizas and Los Abedules at an altitude of 1400 meters to the El Jito pass at an altitude of 1540 meters. Here you have a beautiful view of the Urielles massif and the main mountain peaks in the area are indicated on an orientation table. Fifteen minutes later you reach the refugio Vega de Ario. You return to the starting point via the same route. We did not walk back from the refuge to the El Jito pass, but went straight down over the top. This very steep descent is not recommended, so it is better to descend back via the El Jito pass. See WP3 on the map.

Refugio Vega de Ario

You can drive to the departure point if you pass the barrier in Covadonga before 8.30am. If not, you have to take the Shuttlebus in Covadonga.

Map & Poi's.