Senda del Oso (Bear Trail)

Asturias, Spainactivities

The Senda del Oso follows a decommissioned narrow-gauge mining railway through the Trubia and Quirós river valleys, and the conversion has been done properly — smooth tarmac, gentle gradients almost throughout, and a surface that lets you pedal easily with your eyes up on the landscape rather than down on the road. The whole 30 kilometres sit at comfortable valley floor elevation, hugging the river and threading through chestnut and oak woodland with limestone peaks closing in above. It is one of the few rides where I genuinely forgot I was working. The bear sanctuary near Proaza is the obvious centrepiece, and if you time it right in the morning you will catch the Cantabrian brown bears active along the riverside enclosure fencing. The route passes directly alongside, so there is no detour required. Villages along the way — Villanueva, Tuñón, Proaza — are small and authentic, untouched by any tourist polish, and the cafés serve good bocadillos and proper café con leche at honest prices. Most riders complete the out-and-back in a single day, though spending a night in Proaza or Quirós adds real pleasure and lets you explore the upper valley at a slower pace. Bike hire is available in Oviedo, roughly 30 kilometres north, and the regional ALSA bus network can get you close if you are coming without your own wheels. The surface is entirely paved and well-maintained, though a few short sections feel exposed to valley winds that can flip direction on you by afternoon. Go between May and October for reliable conditions; spring brings the river running high and the woodland genuinely green, while August gets busy with Spanish families, which suits the atmosphere but fills the small accommodation quickly.

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