Peña Cabarga is one of Spain's toughest cycling climbs

Peña Cabarga is a mountain peak at an elevation of 560m (1,837ft) above sea level located in the autonomous region of Cantabria. It’s said to be one of Spain's toughest cycling climbs.

How long is the road to Peña Cabarga?

Set high in the northern part of the country, the road to the summit is fully paved but brutally steep, with narrow sections.  It’s called CA-412. Starting from Heras, the ascent is 5.9km (3.66 miles) long. Over this distance, the elevation gain is 543 m. There is little traffic on this climb.

How steep is the climb to Peña Cabarga on Spain’s north coast?

The climb is short and horrible at only 6km in length, but averaging almost 10%. There's a real sting in the tail too as the final 2km average 11.5% and including slopes up to 19%. It has been featured in the Spanish Vuelta race. Notable winners here include Chris Froome and Joaquim Rodríguez - suggesting that despite its short length, it is certainly an ascent for proper climbers. It’s one of Chris Froome's favorite climbs.

Is Peña Cabarga in Cantabria worth the drive?

Set high in the Sierra de la Gándara mountain range, the summit is home to a few communication facilities, a big parking lot and Monumento al Indiano y a la Marina de Castilla, a tower located at 569 meters high, with great views of Santander and the Cantabrian bay.

 

 

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