The Picos are a hiking and climbing destination above all else. The Cares Gorge trail is the most famous walk — a spectacular path cut into the walls of a kilometre-deep gorge, 12 km end to end. For the best views without serious hiking, the Fuente Dé cable car rises 753 metres to the high plateau in minutes.
The Covadonga sanctuary and the glacial lakes above it form the most visited part of the western massif — accessible to all, beautiful, and genuinely impressive. For the full mountain experience, base yourself at Sotres or take the funicular to Bulnes for access to the Central Massif interior and the approach to Naranjo de Bulnes, Spain's most celebrated rock climbing peak. Year-round, the park's wildlife rewards patient observers — chamois, eagles, vultures, and occasional encounters with bears or wolves in the remoter areas.