Top 14 Gorges around Onís

The Cares Gorge (Garganta Divina) is exceptionally popular, known for its dramatic trail carved into limestone cliffs. Visitors particularly enjoy the initial 6 kilometers from Cain, which offer spectacular views and nature. Another unique feature is the Dwarves' Tunnels on the Cares Trail, a series of 71 man-made tunnels along the route.

Yes, the Xanas Gorge, often called the 'mini Cares,' offers a beautiful and less crowded hiking experience suitable for a wider range of ages and physical conditions. Its 7.6 km round trip trail features tunnels, bridges, and rich vegetation, making it an excellent alternative for families seeking stunning scenery in a tranquil setting.

You will encounter deep river-carved gorges, towering limestone massifs, and dramatic cliffs. The Cares Gorge, for instance, features a path hewn into sheer rock faces with dizzying views of the Cares River below. You can also find crystal-clear streams, like one near the Cares River where you can take a dip on warmer days, and rich vegetation including beech, chestnut, birch, and hazel trees in areas like the Xanas Gorge.

The best time to visit the canyons for hiking and canyoning is generally during the warmer months, from late spring to early autumn. This period offers more stable weather conditions, making trails more accessible and water activities more enjoyable. However, some gorges like Vallegón Gorge have year-round water flow, making them suitable for canyoning even outside peak season.

Beyond hiking, the region is excellent for canyoning. Vallegón Gorge is a popular spot for low-to-intermediate canyoning, featuring natural water slides, jumps, and abseiling. For more challenging experiences, Viboli Gorge offers advanced canyoning with narrow passages, high jumps, and multiple rappels. You can also find various hiking routes, mountain hikes, and gravel biking trails in the wider Onís area.

Yes, for experienced adventurers, Viboli Gorge in the Ponga Natural Park offers a more challenging canyoning experience, rated as level 3 difficulty. It features narrow passages, imposing chutes, natural slides, high jumps (up to 6 meters), and multiple rappels ranging from 8 to 24 meters, requiring prior canyoning experience.

The Cares Gorge trail, while dramatic, has a relatively flat gradient for much of its length, making it accessible to most hikers. It was originally built as a maintenance path for a hydroelectric plant. The path includes tunnels carved into the rock and bridges. Access points are typically from Poncebos in Asturias or Caín in León. It's a well-traveled path, so expect other hikers, especially during peak season.

The Xanas Gorge is often less crowded than the Cares Gorge, offering a similar spectacular hiking experience in a more tranquil setting. For canyoning, Vallegón Gorge is a popular but accessible option, and its year-round water flow makes it a consistent choice. Viboli Gorge, being more challenging and often requiring authorized active tourism companies, tends to have more restricted access, which helps preserve its pristine character.

The duration of canyoning experiences varies by gorge and operator. For example, the upper section of Vallegón Gorge, a popular choice for beginners, is approximately 1300 meters long with a 140-meter vertical drop, which can take a few hours to navigate depending on group size and pace. More challenging gorges like Viboli will likely require a half to full day.

The Cares Gorge offers breathtaking views at every turn, with its path hewn into sheer cliffs overlooking the river. The Bolín bridge on the Cares path is a landmark that provides spectacular panoramic views. The Xanas Gorge also features impressive vertical drops of almost five hundred meters, offering stunning vistas of the sculpted landscape.

The dramatic landscapes of the Picos de Europa, including its canyons, are home to diverse wildlife. Along trails like the Cares Gorge, you might spot wild mountain goats (chamois) navigating the steep cliffs. The rich vegetation in areas like the Xanas Gorge also supports various bird species and other small animals.