The road to Valdecebollas is not for the faint of heart

Valdecebollas is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.141m (7,024ft) above the sea level, located in the province of Palencia, autonomous community of Castile and León, Spain. It’s one of the highest roads in the country.

Valdecebollas

Tucked away in the Cantabrian Mountains, in the eastern part of the Fuentes Carrionas and Fuente Cobre-Montaña Palentina Natural Park, the rough road to the summit is totally unpaved and very rocky, with loose stones. 4x4 vehicle with high clearance required.

Located on the eastern side of the Palentina Mountain, the road to the summit is very steep. Starting from Brañosera (the oldest town in the country), the ascent is 10.6km (6.58 miles) long. Over this distance the elevation gain is 958 meters. The average gradient is 9.03%, hitting a grueling 17.9% through some of the ramps.

When the snow falls - which it does in the winter – things get tough and slippery. The summit is crowned with a small stepped cylindrical stone tower, with a plaque, a mailbox, and a geodesic vertex, known as "Torreón". The views at the summit are stunning. It’s possible to admire Espigüete and Curavacas peaks, the reservoir of Aguilar de Campoo and Picos de Europa range on a sunny day.
Road suggested by: jorge manuel gómez sánchez
Pic&video: amigobicimontana