Peña Ubiña

2,417 m

Spain

Elevation: 2,417 m
Prominence: 1,123 m
Difficulty: 3/10; Mountain hike
Best Season: Jul–Sep
Routes: 2

Routes

3D Preview

SACT3ScrambleNormal route

Sources differ: dificultad alta (park route sheet) (Parque Natural Las Ubiñas-La Mesa)

The Asturian classic and the park's official route: 50 minutes on good paths to the staffed Meicín refuge, then a traverse via the Collada Terreos into León to the Collado del Ronzón (1,978 m) and a cairned limestone path with some hands-on scrambling up the south side to the summit crest. 11.8 km and about 1,200 m return, 7 hours.

Elevation Profile

approximate line

Distance: 6.3 km; one way
Ascent: +1,233 m; start → summit
High Point: 2,417 m
Time Up: 4h 57m; DIN 33466
Time Down: 3h 20m; DIN 33466 · same way back

Start in Tuíza de Arriba (about 1,210 m) behind the natural park information centre, where there is a large car park. Two paths lead to the Meicín refuge: the summer path and the winter path, which avoids avalanche slopes and should be used whenever there is snow. Both reach the Refugio del Meicín (1,560 m) in the glacial Vega del Meicín in about 50 minutes. Above the refuge the path climbs steadily, past a small lake on the right, to the Collada Terreos (about 1,888 m) on the Asturias–León border. Cross into León and traverse the hillside south-west to the Collado del Ronzón (1,978 m), between Peña Ubiña and Peña Ubiña Pequeña. Waymarking above the refuge is patchy, with cairns missing at some junctions; the park describes this half of the route as high-mountain terrain, partly unsigned, on scree, crests and gullies. From the Ronzón a well-trodden, cairned path climbs the south face, about 450 m, needing hands in places but never long or exposed, to a foresummit; then follow the crest a short way to the top, with big drops into the gullies on both sides. Descend the same way. A direct gully from the Collada Terreos is sometimes used but is prone to rockfall in summer and several parties can end up stacked in it; the Ronzón line is safer.

Start

Tuíza de Arriba1,209 m

No bus to Tuíza de Arriba was found; the nearest towns with public transport are Campomanes and Pola de Lena. A taxi or car is needed for the LE-8 road up the valley.
Parking at the trailhead

Stages

Day	Stage	km	m ascent	m descent	Time
1	Tuíza de Arriba → Peña Ubiña	6.3	1,233	25	4h 57m

Waypoints

Parking:
Tuíza de Arriba1,209 m
Car park and park information centre; bar in the village
Hut:
Refugio del Meicín1,545 m
Col:
Collada Terreos1,883 m
Asturias–León border
Col:
Collado del Ronzón1,941 m
Junction with the route from Torrebarrio
Summit:
Peña Ubiña2,417 m

Key Passages

Collada Terreos (border col)
Traverse to the Collado del Ronzón
Cairned scrambling up the south face
Short summit crest with drops on both sides

Equipment

0/5 packed

Technical

Ice axe and cramponswhen snow covers the upper slopes (typically November to May)Required

Safety

Helmetloose stones on the south face on busy daysRecommended

Footwear

Mountain bootslimestone scree and scrambling above the RonzónRequired

Clothing

Waterproof and warm layersfast-changing Atlantic weather and cloudRequired

Navigation

Map, compass or GPS trackpatchy waymarking above the refuge; frequent fogRequired

Downloads

Route confidence 80%

Download GPX Download KML

Overview

The great limestone tower of the Ubiña massif (2,417 m) on the Asturias–León border, one of the highest summits of the Cantabrian Mountains west of the Picos de Europa. The normal routes are long hill days with a cairned, hands-on finish up the south face.

Peña Ubiña rises at the heart of the Las Ubiñas-La Mesa Natural Park and Biosphere Reserve, on the watershed between the Asturian valleys of Lena and the high pastures of Babia in León. With the twin tops of Los Fontanes just to the north it forms the highest ground in the western Cantabrian range, and Camptocamp notes there is no higher summit to the west before the Atlantic.

The two classic approaches meet at the Collado del Ronzón (1,978 m) on the south side: from Tuíza de Arriba in Asturias via the staffed Meicín refuge, the park's official route, and from Torrebarrio in Babia. Both are long walks of 1,200 m or so of ascent on paths and cairned limestone, ending with about 450 m of steeper ground where hands are needed in places and a short crest with steep gullies on both sides. In good summer weather it is a demanding but non-technical ascent for experienced walkers; in winter and spring the same slopes become a snow climb.

The massif saw fighting in the Spanish Civil War, and machine-gun posts, trenches and shell fragments remain on the crests and near the Meicín. Chamois, birds of prey and wallcreepers live on the massif.

Climbing Notes

Allow about 7 hours for the round trip from Tuíza de Arriba (11.8 km, about 1,200 m of ascent, per the park's route sheet), or a little longer from Torrebarrio. You need to be sure-footed on limestone scree and comfortable scrambling on easy ground; the park rates the route 'high difficulty' and not suitable for people without mountain experience. Navigation matters: waymarking above the Meicín is patchy and fog is frequent.

The Meicín refuge, open all year, lets you split the walk or start early. Avoid the direct gully from the Collada Terreos in summer because of rockfall; the cairned south-face path from the Ronzón is safer. Snow often lies on the upper mountain from late autumn to late spring; then ice axe, crampons and the ability to use them are essential, the summer path to the Meicín is exposed to avalanches and the winter path should be used. Summer weekends are busy.

Season

Best Jul–Sep

January: Not advisable
February: Not advisable
March: Not advisable
April: Possible
May: Possible
June: Good
July: Best (best window)
August: Best (best window)
September: Best (best window)
October: Good
November: Possible
December: Not advisable

Jan: Winter mountaineering only; avalanche risk; use the winter path to the Meicín
Feb: Winter mountaineering only; avalanche risk
Mar: Snow on the upper mountain; for experienced winter parties
Apr: Spring snow; ice axe and crampons
May: Lingering snow in gullies and on the upper slopes
Jun: Usually snow-free by late June; flowers
Jul: Main season; busy at weekends
Aug: Main season; afternoon storms possible
Sep: Often clear and quieter
Oct: Shorter days; first snow possible
Nov: Snow and ice likely on the summit slopes
Dec: Winter conditions

Access & Permits

Hut Booking

Refugio del Meicín (1,560 m): 54 places, open all year, managed for Lena council; book in advance with the warden (phone +34 609 969 916, refugiodelmeicin@gmail.com, or refugiodelmeicin.es).

Rules

Las Ubiñas-La Mesa Natural Park: the summit area lies in a zone of special restricted use on the park map; stay on the marked routes
In snow, use the signed winter path from Tuíza to the Meicín; the summer path is exposed to avalanches

Getting There

Pola de Lena and Campomanes (Asturias); San Emiliano for Torrebarrio (León)

Asturias Airport (OVD)

Car (Asturias): from Campomanes take the LE-8 to Tuíza de Arriba, where there is a large car park
Car (León): via the Babia valley to Torrebarrio (San Emiliano)
No bus to either trailhead was found

Hazards

Rockfall
Exposure
Weather
Avalanche

Huts & Shelters

Refugio del MeicínRefugeStaffed
54 beds · Open all year
Book Refugio del Meicín Website of Refugio del Meicín
1,560 m