The Ruta del Cares trail in Spain

The Ruta del Cares, also known as the Divine Gorge, is an impressive path carved out of the limestone rock on the side of a canyon, along the banks of the River Cares. This hiking trail is one of the most spectacular and popular in the Picos de Europa. It is undoubtedly one of the most popular routes in the massif, due to its undeniable beauty.

It takes 12 kilometres to reach the remote village of Caín from Puneto Poncebos. Between 1915 and 1921, a wide canal was dug to supply water to the Camarmeña hydroelectric power station, near Puente Poncebo. The inaccessible terrain of the narrow gorge made the work extremely difficult, requiring the use of dynamite and the workers to hang from a rope into the void. Some 500 workers took part in the work, 11 of whom died, mainly from falls. At the same time, a path was built to maintain the narrow canal. It was widened between 1945 and 1950 to facilitate access and maintenance of the canal.

In 2011, a section of the cliff collapsed at the level of a tunnel, causing the temporary closure of the path and the construction of a footbridge over the void.

Discover this trail with the Tour of Picos de Europa guidebook.