Picos de Europa by Motorcycle: Routes, Passes and the Picos Triangle
The Picos de Europa pack more great motorcycle roads into a small area than almost anywhere in Europe: limestone peaks rising straight out of green valleys, a 21 km gorge, two high passes and the Cantabrian coast less than an hour away. This guide covers the best Picos de Europa motorcycle routes, starting with the famous Picos triangle, plus the passes, gorges and side trips worth adding, and how to ride them from Bilbao.
These are the roads our northern Spain tours are built on: Picos Express over a long weekend, the 7-day Picos de Europa tour, and The Great North, which carries on to Galicia and Portugal.
The Picos triangle
The loop most riders come for links Potes, Cangas de Onís and Riaño. It is about 200 km and takes a full day with stops, and it is often called one of the best motorcycle loops in Europe. Riding it from Potes, it goes like this:
- Potes to Panes: north on the N-621 through the Desfiladero de la Hermida.
- Panes to Cangas de Onís: west on the AS-114 along the northern edge of the massif, following the rivers Cares and Casaño.
- Cangas de Onís to Riaño: south on the N-625 through the Desfiladero de los Beyos and over the Puerto del Pontón.
- Riaño to Potes: east on the N-621 over the Puerto de San Glorio and down through the Liébana valley.
Which way round? Both. The climbs, the light and the views are completely different in each direction, which is why our 7-day Picos de Europa tour rides the triangle clockwise one day and anticlockwise another.
Desfiladero de la Hermida
Between Panes and Potes, the N-621 follows the river Deva through the Desfiladero de la Hermida, the longest gorge in Spain at around 21 km, with rock walls up to 600 m high. It is slow, shaded and spectacular. In summer, expect coaches and campervans, and be patient behind them, as there are few safe places to overtake.
Puerto de San Glorio (1,609 m)
The highest pass on the triangle links León province with Cantabria. The southern side climbs from the Riaño area through open high pasture; the Cantabrian side drops through a long run of hairpins into the Liébana valley towards Potes. Near the summit, a short, narrow side road leads up to the Mirador de Llesba, one of the best views of the whole massif.
Puerto del Pontón (1,280 m) and Riaño
The Pontón marks the southern edge of the Picos de Europa National Park. On the way down to Riaño, the reservoir and the peaks behind it make one of the most photographed views in northern Spain. Riaño itself is a good coffee and fuel stop before San Glorio.
Desfiladero de los Beyos
North of the Pontón, the N-625 follows the river Sella through the Desfiladero de los Beyos, a deep, narrow gorge between Oseja de Sajambre and Cangas de Onís. The road is tight and often damp in the shade, so ride it at a relaxed pace and enjoy it.
Ride the Picos triangle with Adventura
Picos Express: 4 days from Bilbao, 2 nights at the Parador de Fuente Dé, a full day on the Picos triangle and a BMW GS with unlimited mileage. From €1,270 per rider.
See Picos ExpressBeyond the triangle
Lakes of Covadonga
From Covadonga, the CO-4 climbs about 12 km to the glacial lakes Enol and Ercina, high in the western massif. It is steep and narrow, with cows, goats and horses on the road. Access is restricted on busy dates: in 2026 the road is closed to private vehicles from 1 June to 15 October, over Easter, on weekends in May and October and on several public holidays. Outside those dates you can ride up, and it is worth an early start. Check the current dates with Turismo Asturias before you plan around it.
Fuente Dé
At the head of the Liébana valley, a short ride up from Potes, the road ends at Fuente Dé beneath a wall of rock. The cable car climbs 753 m to an upper station at 1,823 m, with views across the central massif. Picos Express and The Great North both stay at the Parador de Fuente Dé, right at the foot of the cliffs.
Puerto de Piedrasluengas (1,355 m)
On the CA-184 and CL-627 between Cantabria and Palencia, Piedrasluengas is a quieter alternative way into or out of Liébana, with a viewpoint by the village looking straight across to the Picos. Combine it with San Glorio for a second loop south of Potes.
Cangas de Onís and the Asturian side
Cangas de Onís, with its Roman-style bridge over the Sella, is the best base on the Asturian side of the Picos, and the cider houses in town are part of the experience. It is also a short ride from Covadonga and the Asturian coast.
Getting to the Picos from Bilbao
Bilbao is the easiest airport for the Picos, and the ride west is a highlight in itself if you stay off the motorway. On Picos Express and The Great North, day two runs around 311 km from Bilbao to the Parador de Fuente Dé, past the viewpoint over the source of the río Asón, the caves of Ojo Guareña and the source of the Ebro, with big views from the Balcón de la Cardosa and the Mirador Asomada del Ribero. The return to Bilbao, around 293 km, takes in the Mirador La Piquera, Mirador de Vega de Pas and the Puerto de Orduña viewpoint.
For more on the city and the roads around it, see our guide to motorcycle tours from Bilbao.
Picos de Europa motorcycle tours from Bilbao
All three tours start and finish in Bilbao, avoid motorways and tolls, and include a BMW F 450 GS, with upgrades to larger BMWs available.
| Tour | Days | Riding days | Distance | From (per rider) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Picos Express | 4 | 3 | approx. 900 km | €1,270 |
| Picos de Europa | 7 | 5 | up to 1,300 km | €2,225 |
| The Great North | 8 | 7 | approx. 2,400 km | €2,545 |
Picos Express is the long-weekend version. The 7-day tour gives you time to ride the triangle in both directions and add the coast. The Great North continues west across Asturias to the Galician coast and Portugal’s Peneda-Gerês National Park, staying mostly in Paradores.
When to ride the Picos de Europa
Our Picos tours run from May to October. June and September are the sweet spot: long days, green valleys and quieter roads than in August. This is Atlantic Spain, so the weather can change fast in any month. Low cloud on the passes, fog in the gorges and rain showers are all part of riding here, so pack proper waterproofs. San Glorio and the other high passes can hold snow into late spring.
Tips for riding the Picos
- Livestock: cows, goats and horses graze freely on the high roads, especially around Covadonga and San Glorio. Expect them round blind bends.
- Fuel: fill up in Potes, Cangas de Onís, Panes or Riaño. There is little in between.
- Surfaces: generally good, but damp and mossy in the shaded gorges. Watch for gravel and cow muck on the passes.
- Traffic: August is busy, especially in the Hermida gorge and around Covadonga. Start early to get the roads to yourself.
- Food: try fabada and cider in Cangas de Onís, Cabrales blue cheese on the Asturian side, and cocido lebaniego in Potes.
Picos de Europa FAQ
What is the Picos triangle?
A loop of about 200 km linking Potes, Cangas de Onís and Riaño, using the N-621, AS-114 and N-625. It includes the Hermida and Beyos gorges and the Pontón and San Glorio passes.
How long does it take to ride the Picos triangle?
About six hours with stops, so plan a full day.
Can you ride a motorcycle to the Lakes of Covadonga?
Yes, outside the restricted dates. In 2026 the road is closed to private vehicles from 1 June to 15 October and on many weekends and holidays, so check Turismo Asturias before you go.
Where is the best base for the Picos de Europa?
Potes or Fuente Dé for the Cantabrian side and San Glorio, Cangas de Onís for the Asturian side and Covadonga. Our tours use both.
Which airport is best for the Picos de Europa?
Bilbao. All our Picos tours start and finish there, and the ride west on back roads is part of the trip.
Plan your Picos ride
Choose Picos Express for a long weekend, the Picos de Europa tour for a full week, or The Great North to add Galicia and Portugal. For more ideas, read the complete guide to motorcycle tours in Spain or our guide to self-guided motorcycle tours.
