Vía ferrata of Valdeón
One of the best Ferrata roads in Spain
Vía ferrata of Valdeón
One of the best Ferrata roads in Spain
Vía ferrata of Valdeón
Inaugurated in July 2016, the Vía Ferrata de Valdeón is the first installation of this type within the territory of the Picos de Europa National Park. Due to its length, the slope to be saved, the demanding route and the spectacular aerial itinerary in full Picos de Europa, is already one of the referent ferratas of all the Cantabrian cornice.
The Ferrata
The Vía Ferrata de Valdeón is listed as K4 (High difficulty) on the Hüsler scale, so it is preferable to refrain from doing the route autonomously if you do not have a medium-high level of preparation. In this case, the best way to do it is to hire the services of a professional mountain guide.
IMPORTANT.- In order to access the Vía Ferrata de Valdeón you must apply for the corresponding permit from the Town Hall of Posada de Valdeón by filling in the Via Ferrata Reservation Form. The price is 6€
The Ferrata
The Vía Ferrata de Valdeón is listed as K4 (High difficulty) on the Hüsler scale, so it is preferable to refrain from doing the route autonomously if you do not have a medium-high level of preparation. In this case, the best way to do it is to hire the services of a professional mountain guide.
IMPORTANT.- In order to access the Vía Ferrata de Valdeón you must apply for the corresponding permit from the Town Hall of Posada de Valdeón by filling in the Via Ferrata Reservation Form. The price is 6€
VIA FERRATA ITINERARY
Vía Ferrata of Valdeón
View conditions of use of Vía Ferrata de Valdeón
Conditions of use of Vía Ferrata de Valdeón
In order to give effect to the right of preference, in particular during periods when there may be a restriction (1 March to 31 July), the Municipality will set up a confirmation system on its website or through the system chosen, in such a way that the reservation will specify the required confirmation that will be an enabling requirement for use.
- In all cases, access and use is prohibited for all children under the age of 10. And from that age until they reach the age of majority, they must be accompanied by a person who has parental authority or a professional monitor duly authorized by the above.
- Groups using the via ferrata as such shall not consist of more than 6 members and shall maintain a space of 15 minutes between each in order to avoid accumulation and to maintain the necessary order to safeguard the security conditions.
- Public institutions, entities of such character and active tourism enterprises shall have insurance policy of civil liability that covers sufficiently any event from which such responsibility arises as a consequence of the activity. Individuals who enter without a monitor assume civil liability as a result of the activity.
- The use of artificial sound sources and the emission of voices or shouts which may disturb existing fauna shall be prohibited. In particular, the conditions laid down for this purpose in the posters in the installation must be fulfilled.
- The minimum equipment necessary and essential for the use of the via ferrata will consist of helmet, harness with anchorage with double carabiner equipped with energy adoption system and suitable footwear.
Working hours of use
- The via ferrata can be used from one hour after sunrise to one hour before nightfall, according to the official tables of Orto and Ocaso of AEMET.
Other general conditions of use.
- Comply with the instructions on the installation posters.
- Do not progress more than one person by the same stretch of lifeline.
- Go anchored at all times with one or both nails of the dissipating tape.
- Do not abandon the itinerary at any time except by an escape route.
- Do not make overtaking.
- Do not throw away papers, wrappers, food or any other kind of garbage.
- Present their authorization to carry out the activity to the officials of the authority who require it.
With a route of 1,200 metres and an approximate drop of 300 metres, the Via Ferrata de Valdeón starts with a spectacular suspension bridge 35 metres long and 30 metres high over the Cares River. After crossing the bridge is the first vertical wall of the route, 50m of wall that once overcome allows you to reach a second suspension bridge* or Tibetan bridge of 30 metres in length (* recently installed).
After crossing this second bridge, the route continues along an 80-metre high wall, a demanding stretch due to its verticality and length.
Once this wall has been overcome, the degree of difficulty is considerably reduced as you reach an area of 130 meters in length with a minimum height difference, and that is the anteroom of the second sector of the ferrata, a 60-meter ascent stretch, which is considered as K4 on the Hüsler scale (High Difficulty), the hardest of the entire course by including several meters of crash.
After this second wall, the route begins, after a descent, towards the third and last section of the road that leads to a wall of 40 meters in length in the northwest part of the «Pica del Castro» or «Aguja Mari Carmen», from where you can contemplate the most spectacular views of the Western Massif and also perceive the real dimension of the ascension.
After descending from the “Needle” you walk along an edge 80 meters long that leads to the end of the Way to connect with the “Reins of Asotín” and start the descent towards the town of Cordiñanes.
Escape routes
For those people who want to leave the route of the ferrata without having completed it, between sectors 1 and 2º, and the 2º and 3º, there is the possibility of doing it by two escape routes that descend towards the south face. However, both routes remain for all intents and purposes Via ferrata, which requires continuing to meet the appropriate standards of progression and safety. Special attention should also be paid to avoid causing the accidental fall of loose stones, present in part of the sections of both options, during the descent.
VIA FERRATA VIDEO
REQUEST FOR ACCESS
In order to access the Vía Ferrata de Valdeón, it is mandatory to request the corresponding rating and to respect the conditions of use. You can process the request at the following link. The price is 3€
SKETCH VIA FERRATA
LOCATION FERRATA
The access to the Via Ferrata is made from the vicinity of the viewpoint of Tombo, near the town of Cordiñanes. Due to the difficulties of parking near the access to the ferrata, the recommendation is to leave the vehicle in the village of Cordiñanes, since it will be the point to be reached by the Path of the Reins after completing the road.
GPS COORDINATES: 43.173857, -4.901412
PRECAUTIONS
Do not access the via ferrata if there is an electrical storm forecast. Remember that you are in a high mountain area and the evolution of storms can be very fast. In any emergency call 112
ACTIVE TOURISM COMPANIES
If you wish you can count on guide services for your adventure activities. In the valley there are several companies specialized in activities like treking, hiking, ferrata, climbing, routes 4×4. Find out
VIA FERRATA ITINERARY
Vía Ferrata of Valdeón
View conditions of use of Vía Ferrata de Valdeón
Conditions of use of Vía Ferrata de Valdeón
In order to give effect to the right of preference, in particular during periods when there may be a restriction (1 March to 31 July), the Municipality will set up a confirmation system on its website or through the system chosen, in such a way that the reservation will specify the required confirmation that will be an enabling requirement for use.
- In all cases, access and use is prohibited for all children under the age of 10. And from that age until they reach the age of majority, they must be accompanied by a person who has parental authority or a professional monitor duly authorized by the above.
- Groups using the via ferrata as such shall not consist of more than 6 members and shall maintain a space of 15 minutes between each in order to avoid accumulation and to maintain the necessary order to safeguard the security conditions.
- Public institutions, entities of such character and active tourism enterprises shall have insurance policy of civil liability that covers sufficiently any event from which such responsibility arises as a consequence of the activity. Individuals who enter without a monitor assume civil liability as a result of the activity.
- The use of artificial sound sources and the emission of voices or shouts which may disturb existing fauna shall be prohibited. In particular, the conditions laid down for this purpose in the posters in the installation must be fulfilled.
- The minimum equipment necessary and essential for the use of the via ferrata will consist of helmet, harness with anchorage with double carabiner equipped with energy adoption system and suitable footwear.
Working hours of use
- The via ferrata can be used from one hour after sunrise to one hour before nightfall, according to the official tables of Orto and Ocaso of AEMET.
Other general conditions of use.
- Comply with the instructions on the installation posters.
- Do not progress more than one person by the same stretch of lifeline.
- Go anchored at all times with one or both nails of the dissipating tape.
- Do not abandon the itinerary at any time except by an escape route.
- Do not make overtaking.
- Do not throw away papers, wrappers, food or any other kind of garbage.
- Present their authorization to carry out the activity to the officials of the authority who require it.
With a route of 1,200 metres and an approximate drop of 300 metres, the Via Ferrata de Valdeón starts with a spectacular suspension bridge 35 metres long and 30 metres high over the Cares River. After crossing the bridge is the first vertical wall of the route, 50m of wall that once overcome allows you to reach a second suspension bridge* or Tibetan bridge of 30 metres in length (* recently installed).
After crossing this second bridge, the route continues along an 80-metre high wall, a demanding stretch due to its verticality and length.
Once this wall has been overcome, the degree of difficulty is considerably reduced as you reach an area of 130 meters in length with a minimum height difference, and that is the anteroom of the second sector of the ferrata, a 60-meter ascent stretch, which is considered as K4 on the Hüsler scale (High Difficulty), the hardest of the entire course by including several meters of crash.
After this second wall, the route begins, after a descent, towards the third and last section of the road that leads to a wall of 40 meters in length in the northwest part of the «Pica del Castro» or «Aguja Mari Carmen», from where you can contemplate the most spectacular views of the Western Massif and also perceive the real dimension of the ascension.
After descending from the “Needle” you walk along an edge 80 meters long that leads to the end of the Way to connect with the “Reins of Asotín” and start the descent towards the town of Cordiñanes.
Escape routes
For those people who want to leave the route of the ferrata without having completed it, between sectors 1 and 2º, and the 2º and 3º, there is the possibility of doing it by two escape routes that descend towards the south face. However, both routes remain for all intents and purposes Via ferrata, which requires continuing to meet the appropriate standards of progression and safety. Special attention should also be paid to avoid causing the accidental fall of loose stones, present in part of the sections of both options, during the descent.
VIA FERRATA VIDEO
REQUEST FOR ACCESS
In order to access the Vía Ferrata de Valdeón, it is mandatory to request the corresponding rating and to respect the conditions of use. You can process the request at the following link. The price is 3€
SKETCH VIA FERRATA
LOCATION VÍA FERRATA
The access to the Via Ferrata is made from the vicinity of the viewpoint of Tombo, near the town of Cordiñanes. Due to the difficulties of parking near the access to the ferrata, the recommendation is to leave the vehicle in the village of Cordiñanes, since it will be the point to be reached by the Path of the Reins after completing the road.
GPS COORDINATES: 43.173857, -4.901412
PRECAUTIONS
Do not access the via ferrata if there is an electrical storm forecast. Remember that you are in a high mountain area and the evolution of storms can be very fast. In any emergency call 112
ACTIVE TOURISM COMPANIES
If you wish you can count on guide services for your adventure activities. In the valley there are several companies specialized in activities like treking, hiking, ferrata, climbing, routes 4×4. Find out.
