The hardest hikes in Picos de Europa National Park, by the numbers
Of the 19 trails in Picos de Europa National Park in our dataset, 13 (68 percent) rate strenuous or very strenuous on the gain-and-distance scale we use and run 3 to 30 miles with at least 1,500 ft of climb; all 13 are listed here, highest rating first.
Jou de los Cabrones leads with 6,443 ft of gain over 5.6 miles, 1,151 ft per mile, with a steepest pitch of 68 percent.
Across the 13, gain runs from 2,020 to 6,443 ft and distance from 3 miles to 9.6 miles; the median gain is 2,865 ft and the median distance 6.9 miles.
7 of the 13 are point-to-point routes; the rest are out-and-back (2) or loop (4).
| # | Trail | Miles | Gain (ft) | Ft per mile | Max grade | Elevation (ft) | Rating | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jou de los Cabrones | 5.6 | 6,443 | 1,151 | 68% | 733 to 6,828 | 268.6 | |
| 2 | Refugio de Ándara - Canal de San Carlos - Argüébanes | 6.5 | 5,109 | 786 | 56% | 1,622 to 6,744 | 257.7 | |
| 3 | Vega de Liordes | 7.7 | 3,329 | 432 | 57% | 3,589 to 6,681 | 226.4 | |
| 4 | Vega de Urriellu | 6.2 | 3,734 | 602 | 36% | 2,859 to 6,484 | 215.2 | |
| 5 | Senda del Mercadillo | 7.8 | 2,865 | 367 | 39% | 3,023 to 5,857 | 211.4 | |
| 6 | Senda de Caoru | 6.2 | 3,587 | 579 | 37% | 468 to 4,061 | 210.9 | |
| 7 | Macizo de Ándara | 9.6 | 2,153 | 224 | 32% | 3,570 to 5,636 | 203.3 | |
| 8 | Panderruedas-Posada de Valdeón | 7.9 | 2,386 | 302 | 28% | 3,009 to 4,786 | 194.2 | |
| 9 | Buferrera-Ordiales | 6.9 | 2,550 | 370 | 36% | 3,399 to 5,688 | 187.6 | |
| 10 | Monte Camba | 8.2 | 2,020 | 246 | 41% | 2,222 to 4,045 | 182 | |
| 11 | Ruta del CaresCantabria Llanes | 6.5 | 2,448 | 377 | 59% | 957 to 1,656 | 178.4 | |
| 12 | Vega de Llós | 7.2 | 2,192 | 304 | 38% | 3,026 to 5,181 | 177.7 | |
| 13 | Collado Jermoso | 3 | 4,464 | 1,488 | 72% | 2,824 to 6,812 | 163.7 |
How this list is ranked
Rating = the square root of 2 x elevation gain (ft) x distance (miles), the gain-and-distance formula Shenandoah National Park publishes for its own trails. Bands: under 50 easiest, 50 to 100 moderate, 100 to 150 moderately strenuous, 150 to 200 strenuous, 200 and over very strenuous.
This list: band strenuous (150 to 200) or very strenuous (200 and over), 3 to 30 miles, at least 1,500 ft of gain, ordered by rating desc, gain per mile desc, capped at 25. The rating column is computed from the miles and gain printed in the same row, the numbers each trail page uses, so every row can be checked from the row itself. The rating says nothing about exposure, scrambling, altitude or conditions.
Only trails with a full page count, so "Picos de Europa National Park" here means the 19 trails in Picos de Europa National Park in our dataset, not every trail in Picos de Europa National Park.
Each trail page shows the full elevation profile behind these numbers and the same data drawn as a topographic print, made to order. Start with Jou de los Cabrones.
Hardest hikes elsewhere.
The same ranking for other parks in our dataset.