Fuente Dé: Cable Car, Mountain Trails and Glacial Landscape

Fuente Dé combines a cable car in the heart of the Picos de Europa National Park with several hiking trails and a striking high-mountain landscape. When planning your trip, it is helpful to distinguish between the different types of routes: Horcados Rojos is a there-and-back route from the upper station, Puertos de Áliva is a descent, and Vega de Liordes is a circular route. If you are looking for a hotel in Fuente Dé, these excursion plans can shape the focus of your stay.

Cable Car and Views

The cable car covers an elevation difference of 753 metres and takes passengers to 1,823 metres in four minutes. The PR-PNPE 23 Horcados Rojos route starts at the upper station. This 11.4-kilometre there-and-back route passes high-alpine limestone formations. Before planning a specific ride, check the cable car’s current operating status.

Next to the upper El Cable cafeteria is a south-facing balcony viewpoint overlooking the Cantabrian Mountains. From the upper cable car station, you can also see across the upper basin of the Deva River. The upper station is 800 metres from Fuente Dé.

Hiking Trails: Circular Route and Descent

The PR-PNPE 24 Puertos de Áliva route is 14.5 kilometres long and descends from El Cable to Fuente Dé. It is therefore longer than the Horcados Rojos there-and-back route; the routes also differ in type: this one heads downhill, while the other returns to its starting point. The Puertos de Áliva route passes through extensive mountain meadows between the Central and Eastern Massifs of the Picos de Europa. Its final section leads through beech and oak forests.

The Vega de Liordes circular route starts on the road south of Fuente Dé, in the direction of Pandetrave. There are also six short PR hiking trails in the vicinity of Fuente Dé, integrated into the Liébana hiking trail network. Conditions in the mountains can vary during hikes; check the latest conditions before setting out.

Glacial Landscape and Nature

The Circo de Fuente Dé is the source of the Deva River. The Fuente Dé-Pido glacier complex is located in the Picos de Europa National Park and is of particular geomorphological and scenic interest. The landforms in this area were shaped mainly by the glaciations of the Quaternary period. Both the river’s source and the traces of glaciation therefore form part of the geological context of the landscape.

The Vega de Liordes route passes through an area of particular ecological value in the national park. Cantabrian brown bears, wolves, deer, wild boar and chamois are among the animals found there. Sightings of individual animals are not guaranteed. The national park also offers guided and interpretive routes led by its own park guides. Before your trip, check whether these tours are available during your travel dates.

Fuente Dé Recreation Area

The Fuente Dé recreation area is located in the La Dehesa car park, next to the national park information point. Facilities include tables, a water source and information boards; some facilities may be temporarily unavailable. The area therefore complements your route planning with a dedicated place to find your bearings and relax.

Discover more destinations: Turieno, Espinama, Cosgaya, Lon, Pembes, Pido

For the overview of the wider area, see: Camaleño.