Peña Ubiña
- Tuíza Riba Central Asturias
- Distance: 10.6 kms
- Difficulty: Very difficult
- Cumulative difference in altitude: +1191 m
- Cumulative difference in altitude: -1191 m
- Maximum altitude: 2385 m
- Minimum altitude: 1206 m
- IBP index: 128
- Modality: Mountaineers
- Type of route: Round trip
- Route type: Mountain
- Return by Train: No
The route starts in Tuíza Riba (Lena), a small village at an altitude of 1,210 metres, nestled between the mountains of the Las Ubiñas-La Mesa Nature Reserve, declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. From the Nature Park Information Centre, the route crosses the village and enters the massif, offering two well-signposted variants for the first section: one in summer and the other in winter, designed to avoid areas at risk of avalanches in the snowy season.
The path ascends progressively between meadows and limestone walls, allowing you to enjoy the views of the peaks of the massif from the start. You soon reach the El Meicín mountain pass, where you will find the refuge of the same name, a regular resting point and base for several ascents in the area. From this valley you can already make out the imposing silhouette of Peña Ubiña, dominating the horizon over the high pastures.
The ascent continues to get steeper as we reach the Cuesta Terreros, a stretch with a sustained slope that requires us to make a measured effort. This section leads to Collado Terreros (1,933 m), the natural boundary between Asturias and León, from where the first panoramic views open up towards the Ubiña Pequeña, Peña Cerreos and the valleys to the south, as well as the dividing line between the councils of Mieres and Lena.
From the col, the route heads towards the East Channel, the most technical and demanding section of the ascent, which climbs directly to the summit between rocky outcrops and rocky reefs. This channel is the usual access for mountaineers who opt for the most direct route to the summit. There is also a somewhat gentler variant, which skirts the crag until it reaches Collado Ronzón (2,000 m) and from there goes up the superimposed channels to the summit.
Once the summit of Peña Ubiña is crowned, marked by the geodesic cairn and the mountaineer's letterbox, the reward is complete: one of the widest panoramic views in the entire Cantabrian mountain range, with views that take in the meadows of Riotuerto, the Somiedo Nature Reserve, the Luna reservoir and even, on days with good visibility, the Picos de Europa.
The descent can be made along the same path or, in its variant, along the south face to avoid the unstable rocks of the channel.
It is advisable to check the weather forecast, take the appropriate equipment for high mountains and be in good physical shape, as although the route does not present extreme technical difficulties (outside the winter season), it does require endurance and safety in the terrain.
The Peña Ubiña Route is an intense experience, one of the essential ascents for those who wish to discover the great mountains of Asturias, combining landscape, altitude and natural history in the heart of the Ubiñas massif.
- It runs through the Natural Park and Biosphere Reserve of Las Ubiñas - La Mesa, as well as through the Peña Ubiña SCI of the Natura 2000 Network.
- Its own signposting
Basic tips before going into the mountains
- If you go with a dog, always keep it on a leash.
- Avoid approaching livestock.
- If you find mastiffs protecting livestock, do not approach them, do not pet them and do not feed them. Do not allow them to follow you or stray from their herd. They are working.
- Don't leave a trail. Collect all your waste, including organic waste. Nature is not a dumping ground.
- Act with prudence. Plan your route well, take everything you need and make sure it is adapted to your physical capacity.
More recommendations for planning your route 
