The Lakes of Covadonga: an easy walk through glacial landscapes

The Route to the Lakes of Covadonga, in the Picos de Europa National Park, is one of the most popular and accessible trails in the Asturian countryside. This circular walk, approximately six kilometres long and of low difficulty, allows you to enjoy some of the park’s most iconic landscapes: glacial lakes, beech forests, spectacular viewpoints and the remains of the mining activity that shaped the area’s past.

The route begins at the Buferrera car park, the usual starting point for the walk, where a network of footbridges branches off; following these clockwise, you first reach the Pedro Pidal Visitor Centre, which provides information on the park’s history, geology and ecosystems. From here, the path climbs up to the Príncipe de Asturias Viewpoint, which offers a sweeping panoramic view of the surrounding valleys and mountains.

The route then descends to the Buferrera Mines, where traces of the former iron and manganese mining operations can still be seen. The trail continues towards Lake Ercina, one of the park’s two large glacial lakes, allowing for a detour beforehand to the Entrelagos Viewpoint, a prime spot from which one can simultaneously admire Lake Enol and Lake Ercina, separated by a narrow strip of land.

From Lake Ercina, the route continues along its shore, heading towards Lake El Bricial, which only reveals its waters during the thaw. Further on, the path enters the Palomberu beech forest, a small woodland that adds variety to the landscape before emerging onto the Vega de Enol, a wide meadow where the Buen Pastor Chapel and a mountain refuge stand.

The final stretch of the route runs alongside Lake Enol, the largest of the group, whose waters reflect the surrounding mountains, creating one of the most iconic views of the Picos de Europa. From here, the path leads back to the Buferrera car park, thus completing a circular walk that combines nature, history and rural culture.

The Route to the Lakes of Covadonga is ideal for families or for those seeking a leisurely hike in the high mountains – not particularly physically demanding but offering exceptional scenic rewards. An unmissable route for discovering the essence of Spain’s first national park and one of Asturias’ most iconic natural areas.