Teleno
2,188 m
Spain
Also known as Picu TalenuAlso known as
Picu Talenu
- Elevation
- 2,188 m
- Prominence
- 1,088 m
- Difficulty
- 2/10
- Hike
- Best Season
- May–Jun
- Routes
- 1
Routes
1The usual way up the highest of the Montes de León, from La Cabrera on the south side, well away from the military firing range: from the LE-5228 above Corporales a cairned path climbs steadily through broom and then open, stony slopes above the Arroyo de Mascariel to the trig point and cross at 2,188 m. About 10–11 km return and close to 1,000 m of ascent; 3 hours up, 2 down.
Elevation Profile
- Distance
- 4.3 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +860 m
- start → summit
- High Point
- 2,188 m
- Time Up
- 3h 25m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 2h 16m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
Drive from Truchas to Corporales and continue up the LE-5228 towards the El Morredero pass and Ponferrada. About 2 km beyond Corporales the road crosses a small bridge and turns sharply left; a forest track leaves on the right, with room to park. Follow the track east for about 200 m, then take a path on the left through tall broom (long trousers help). The start is indistinct, but higher up the path is clear and well cairned and climbs steadily, without exposure or scrambling, onto the open upper slopes. The summit (2,188 m) has a geodetic vertex, a cross and a summit mailbox. As the highest point for a long way, it gives a wide view over La Cabrera, the Maragatería and El Bierzo; the slopes to the north-east, inside the military firing range, are out of bounds. Return the same way, or descend into the Arroyo de Mascariel valley to its source, follow a livestock path through pastures and finish near the Refugio Mascariel by the road, about 800 m by road from the start. The Mascariel valley itself is the line of the traditional route from the small refuge where the Mascariel meets the Eria. Weather on the open upper slopes can be severe: fog, freezing wind and snow in winter.
Start
Corporales road bridge1,328 m
- None practical to the trailhead; a car is needed.
- Parking at the trailhead
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Corporales road bridge → Teleno | 4.3 | 860 | 0 | 3h 25m |
Waypoints
- Parking: Corporales road bridge1,328 m
- Summit: Teleno2,188 m
Key Passages
- Indistinct start of the path in the broom
- Steady climb on the open upper slopes
Equipment
0/5 packedDownloads
Route confidence 65%Overview
The highest summit of the Montes de León (2,188 m), a broad, isolated peak between La Cabrera, the Maragatería and El Bierzo that dominates the western skyline of the León plain. A straightforward but steep walk from Corporales on the south side; the north-eastern slopes are a military firing range.
Teleno is the culminating point of the Sierra del Teleno, a north-west to south-east ridge of old quartzite and slate in the far west of León province. It stands well above the surrounding high moorland, and from the León plain it is the only prominent mountain on the western horizon. People in Valduerna, Maragatería and the Páramo traditionally read the weather and the seasons from it. Glacial cirques and moraines mark its flanks; streams drain south to the Eria and north to the Duerna and Jamuz.
The usual ascent is from Corporales in La Cabrera, on the south side: a steady climb of close to 1,000 m on a cairned path through broom and up open slopes to the trig point and cross, with no technical difficulty. Other routes start at Molinaferrera or Filiel on the Maragatería side, or follow the NW ridge from the road near the Portillinos pass.
The Ministry of Defence's Campo de Maniobras y Tiro de El Teleno, about 6,100 ha, occupies the north-eastern slope towards the Duerna valley, including a large projectile impact zone. Civilian access inside it is forbidden and unexploded ordnance lies on the ground; live firing has caused large fires, notably in 1998. Keep to the southern and western approaches and do not descend north-east from the summit.
Climbing Notes
A fit walker can do the Corporales route in 5–6 hours return. Wear long trousers for the broom and good boots, and carry water, as there are no reliable springs on the way. The upper slopes are very exposed: fog, wind and freezing temperatures are common outside summer, and in winter an ice axe and crampons may be needed. Hunters are active in the valleys in season. If approaching from the Maragatería side (Filiel, Molinaferrera), check firing days with the town councils of Luyego or Lucillo or the Santocildes barracks in Astorga, and watch for red flags; the published notices have not always been reliable.
History
The mountain was sacred to the pre-Roman peoples of the area: the local god Tilenus was assimilated by the Romans to Mars, and a silver plaque inscribed 'Marti Tileno' has been found at Quintana del Marco. Petroglyphs at points with good views of the mountain suggest it may have served as an astronomical reference. The firing range was created on expropriated land in the early 1980s and remains controversial with local communities.
Season
Best May–Jun- January: Possible
- February: Possible
- March: Possible
- April: Good
- May: Best (best window)
- June: Best (best window)
- July: Good
- August: Good
- September: Best
- October: Best
- November: Good
- December: Possible
- Jan
- Snow and ice; severe wind chill; firing possible on weekdays
- Feb
- Winter conditions
- Mar
- Snow on the upper slopes
- Apr
- Late snow possible
- Jun
- As a rule no live firing from June to September
- Jul
- Hot on the open southern slopes; start early
- Aug
- Hot; high fire risk
- Oct
- Live firing may resume; hunting season
- Nov
- First snow; hunting season
- Dec
- Winter conditions
Access & Permits
- Rules
- Campo de Maniobras y Tiro de El Teleno (Ministry of Defence, about 6,100 ha on the north-eastern slope towards the Duerna): civilian access is prohibited; do not pick up or move any projectile or fragment
- Live firing takes place on roughly 100 days a year; as a general rule (2005 agreement) not at night, at weekends or between 1 June and 30 September. Warnings are posted by the councils of Luyego and Lucillo and red flags are raised, but unannounced firing has been reported
- The sierra lies within the Natura 2000 site 'Montes Aquilanos y Sierra de Teleno'
- Getting There
Truchas; Astorga; Ponferrada
León (LEN); Asturias (OVD)
- Car: from Astorga or La Bañeza to Truchas and Corporales, then the LE-5228 towards El Morredero; or from Ponferrada over the Portillinos pass
- Public transport: none practical to the trailhead
Hazards
- Weather
- Remoteness