This is partly a love letter to Spanish national parks and mostly an appreciation post for two of my favorite Spaniards and hiking buddies, Noelia and José.

We all randomly met on a guided hike in Toledo when I first moved to Spain, and they ended up consistently showing up in my life. Noelia went to to music festival with me in Murcia in 2018. They showed my family around and let me hang with them multiple times in Madrid. Noelia’s family opened their home to me in Villanueva del Pardillo, and her mom taught me how to make tortilla and paella. Later, they both came to visit me in Oviedo.

On the day we met, Noelia told me about the trails near Huesca in the Aragonese Pyrenees, assuring me it was some of the best hiking in Spain. Two years later, we were all on a trip with my good friend Matthew and José’s friend Victor to Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park.

When they visited Asturias, we also took on the Ruta del Cares, one of the most popular routes in Picos de Europa National Park (aka my favorite national park of all time.)

Spain has about 15 designated national parks and many more natural parks throughout its 17 autonomous communities. Here my three favourite national parks, all worth a visit (or five)

Picos de Europa

Spain’s oldest national park, Picos de Europe, celebrated its 100-year anniversary in 2018. It has some of the most fascinating topography in the region and helps form the Cantabrian Mountains. I visited this park at least five times while I was living in Oviedo and can’t wait to return.

Well-known Route: Ruta del Cares

This 24 km route is growing in popularity and is achievable by hikers of all levels. Although it can be difficult for those who suffer vertigo as you spend almost the entire hike exposed on the side of a cliff, the trail is wide and you should have no problems.

Other routes: Lagos de Covadonga Route, Majada de Belbin, Ruta de Poncebos a Bulnes, La Padierna

Ordesa y Monte Perdido

It’s hard to put in words the spectacle that is Ordesa and Monte Perdido National Park. With routes that take you right into the Aragonese Pyrenees and allow you to hike in both Spain and France, this park is worth the trek out toward to Huesca to access it. When we went in late May, we nearly had the trails all to ourselves.

Well-known route: Cola de Caballo

This route was the one Noelia told me about the first day we met. It also has alternative branches you can take to add length to the trek and visit a refugio. We went in late May so part of the route was closed due to snow. This didn’t stop my friends who climbed the barriers anyway. The views were worth the struggle up the steep embankments, and we enjoyed multiple waterfalls along the trail.

Other routes: Valle de Otal, Senda de los Cazadores, Faja de las Flores, Refugio de Góriz

Cañadas del Teide

This park is found on the Spanish-held Canary Islands, off the coast of Africa. It is one of my favorite regions in Spain due to the welcoming people, incredible food and impressive biodiversity and hiking. Parts of the park look like the Southwest American desert while others reminded me of rain forests in Latin America.

While in Tenerife, I was able to visit my friend Laurie who rented a car and drove me and her friend Nelli throughout the gorgeous scenery of Teide National Park. Teide is the tallest mountain in Spain and was an active volcano. We passed through fog and clouds before finally coming out to bright blue skies at the top.

Well-known route: Montaña Blanca – Peak of Teide. If you want to access Teide’s peak, you will need a free permit which you can get on the park’s website. Try to make a reservation as far in advance as possible as spots fill up fast.

Other routes: Check this site for a variety of hiking options in the park.

Without the willingness and planning of my friends, I probably wouldn’t have been able to explore these national parks. I am excited to see which routes we tackle and where in the world we meet next. 🙂