Puerto de Ancares (Piornedo)

Start Town	Altitude	Elevation Gain	Length	Gradient	Difficulty	Rating
Murias	1,670m	1,350m	39.0 km	3.5%	1,245	****

Climb Description

The Piornedo side is one of four ways up to Ancares. In our opinion, this is the least enjoyable of the four - but it is still an incredible climb in its own right. The scenery here is typically beautiful, as you climb into the Ancares National Reserve, and you repeatedly enter and leave forested areas.

This is another highly recommended climb, but if you are in the area we would advise climbing via Balouta as a first choice. The latter is just slightly better in terms of scenery, road surface and the challenges it poses.

Ancares can close in winter due to snow, but is usually open from mid-April to early December.

Roads & Traffic

The road is in good condition throughout. It is a well surfaced wide road at the bottom, but does become narrower and slightly rougher as you climb higher - leaving the villages behind.

There is little traffic on the climb.

Alternative Routes

This is one of three main ways to climb Ancares from the west.

The climb via Balouta.

While the hardest is the side used in the 2014 Vuelta - via Pan do Zarco this side also includes a short unpaved section.

From the east, it is possible to climb to Ancares from Tejedo.

Nearby Climbs

Puerto de Lumeras

Piedrafita

O Poio

Cruz de Hierro

Llano de las Ovejas

Cycling Holidays

We currently do not have any cycling holidays that include Puerto de Ancares. However, our Great climbs of the Vuelta and Camino de Santiago cycling holidays pass nearby and could be adapted to include the climb.

Find out more in the links below about these and other mountainous tours that we run nearby.