A paved road to Collado de Llesba with terrific views of Picos de Europa
Collado de Llesba is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,682m (5,518ft) above sea level, located in the west of the province of Cantabria, near Castile and León, in Spain.
Where is Collado de Llesba?
The summit hosts a natural viewpoint, also known as Mirador del Oso, located within Picos de Europa, a mountain range in northern Spain, near the border between Cantabria and Castile and León.
How long is the road to Collado de Llesba?
The road to the summit is paved (with a concrete section at the beginning) but very narrow. It’s 1.8 km (1.11 miles) long starting from Puerto de San Glorio. Over this distance, the elevation gain is 71 meters. The average gradient is 3.94%. It is a mostly flat paved road going less than 2 km from the Glorio pass. Drive carefully when approaching the summit. The road is intimidating: narrow with a large fall away on the right-hand side with no barriers.
Is Collado de Llesba worth it?
Set high in the northern part of the country, Collado de Llesba is a very popular place to visit for an exceptional view of the Picos de Europa from the east. There is a bear statue nearby - Monumento al Oso Pardo - that seems popular with visitors and a small parking lot on top. Furthermore, several hiking and mountaineering routes depart from Collado de Llesba, among which the ascent to Coriscao peak (2234 m) stands out. It is considered by the mountain community as one of the best viewpoints towards the three massifs of the Picos de Europa and other significant mountain systems in the Cantabrian mountain range located in Cantabria, Asturias, León, and Palencia.