Lagos de Saliencia
Recommended, and the walk to justify the whole trip. Start early; the cloud comes in after midday.
The best mountain walk in Somiedo, with lakes, limestone and no road noise at all.
At a Glance
- — You cannot walk an hour uphill, or you are here in thick cloud
The lakes of Saliencia sit in a hollow below the peaks at the eastern end of Somiedo, reached on foot in about an hour and a half from the road at the Valle del Lago, and they are the single best walk in the municipality: four sheets of still water in a green bowl, with limestone cliffs above and almost no tree cover to obscure them. There is a short circular route around the largest lake and a longer traverse over to the valley on the far side. In July and August the whole mountain is full of cows and their bells; in June the meadows are full of flowers and the paths are empty. Take water and weather.
How it got here
These mountain lakes lie within the Somiedo Natural Park, a territory defined by the slow transition from glacial ice to human transhumance. The high pastures of Asturias formed the backbone of the transhumance economy for centuries, as shepherds moved herds of cattle and sheep between the plains and these summer mountain grasses. This vertical migration shaped the social and physical structure of the Somiedo valley. Small stone huts known as teitos with thatched roofs scatter across the higher slopes, built by families who managed these lands through the seasonal cycles of the livestock trade. The geography maintains a harshness that limited permanent settlement to the lower valleys, preserving the high basins as grazing commons.
Where it sits
The lakes occupy a glacial basin carved into the limestone of the Cantabrian Mountains. The path climbs from the valley floor through beech and oak forests before breaking into open alpine meadows where cattle graze during the warmer months. Heavy winter snows render the high trails impassable for much of the year, leaving the basin silent. By late spring, the meltwater fills the four depressions, creating distinct, vivid pools. Exposed rock faces rise directly from the water, and the lack of tree cover leaves the terrain entirely open to the shifting mountain weather and sudden mists.
What to eat and drink
The cuisine of Somiedo relies on the resilience of mountain agriculture. Caldeirada, a traditional stew of local potatoes and river trout or beef, provides the weight needed for cold mountain evenings. Pote asturiano, a dense pot of white beans, cabbage, and chorizos, remains the staple of the inland villages. The region produces Cabrales and other strong blue cheeses aged in mountain caves where humidity fosters specific molds. Cider, the primary drink of Asturias, accompanies these meals, poured from a height to aerate the fermented apple juice. Local spirits include orujo, a potent pomace brandy that concludes meals throughout the province.
Asturias: the whole region
Asturias fits a whole coast, a mountain range and a serious kitchen into a province you can cross in two hours. Cider poured from a height, blue cheese, working fishing ports, and the Picos de Europa standing over all of it. It rains often…
Minimum 4 days · better 7 days · deep 10-12 days
Pair It With
In Asturias
In Asturias
In Asturias
Logistics are verified only. We don't publish schedules we haven't confirmed.
Experiences worth booking ahead
Spain Field Guide may earn a commission when you book through selected links. Recommendations are editorial and independent of commission.
Ready to build Lagos de Saliencia into a trip?
You've found a place worth going. When you're ready to turn discovery into an itinerary, Travel Itinerary Co picks up where the Field Guide leaves off — with your saved places already in hand.
Build this into a tripContinues on Travel Itinerary Co
Spain Field Guide may earn a commission when you book through selected links. Recommendations are editorial and independent of commission.