15 Little-Known Mountain Passes for Cyclists in Asturias

Asturias, a land of majestic mountains and captivating landscapes, holds a hidden gem for cycling lovers: its little-known mountain passes.

Beyond the well-known and challenging giants, winding roads lead to passes that are less busy but just as impressive. These routes give cyclists the chance to discover the region’s untouched beauty, with wild landscapes, lush forests and breathtaking panoramic views. These little-known mountain passes in Asturias are a treasure waiting to be discovered, challenging the legs and the adventurous spirit of those who seek unique places in their pursuit of new thrills on two wheels.

Casielles

The Puerto de Casielles is a mountain pass located in the eastern part of Asturias. It is a demanding and spectacular climb in the municipality of Ponga, reminding cyclists of other legendary climbs in Europe such as the Stelvio in Bormio or the Alpe d’Huez in France, because of its beauty and challenge. 

Casielles is a small village in Asturias with very few inhabitants. It is reached via this mountain pass, whose climb begins at kilometre 131 of the N-625 national road. The national road runs from Cangas de Onís towards the Riaño area in the province of León, through the marvellous Los Beyos gorge. The start of the climb is beside the La Agüera bridge, offering cyclists striking views of the Ponga Natural Park during the ascent. 

A beautiful setting close to the Picos de Europa, for a climb that is not very long, about 4 kilometres, but which hides in its 23 hairpin bends an average gradient of no less than 12%, with some ramps close to 20%. 

Vega Bobies 

Could the mythical Angliru have a “little brother”? If it did, it would be Vega Bobies. 

This pass is a climb in the Sierra del Aramo, near the Las Ubiñas-La Mesa Natural Park, and has several starting sides, such as Alfilorios or Cardeo. 

In both cases, we are talking about a climb that is not very long, just over 5 kilometres, but with an average gradient of more than 11%. You will meet a wall of 14% before reaching La Vara. After passing through this village, forget about resting. The gradient levels off at around 13% with a stretch at 15%.  

As we go on, the woodland disappears and the climb becomes ever more majestic. From here we can enjoy marvellous views of the Monsacro, the Naranco and the whole central area of Asturias as we pedal slowly towards the summit. The ramps become harder and progress is difficult, which reminds us of the same feeling you get on the Angliru.  

La Teyerona

The Puerto de la Teyerona is another of the strongest candidates to one day become a stage finish of the Vuelta a España. Its beauty, toughness and the finish at the picnic area make this climb very interesting. 

The climb to the Puerto de la Teyerona has two main sides, from La Llonga and from Mieres, the latter being the harder, with an average gradient of almost 9% and sections exceeding 15%, passing along the road heading to La Matiná. The first part of the ascent has better asphalt and a wider road. Then both its width and the quality of the surface decrease. 

It is a demanding climb, but worth it for the impressive views of the surrounding mountains, such as the Sierra del Aramo.  

Note that the picnic area is also a waypoint on the Anillo Ciclista de la Montaña Central en Asturias for mountain biking. 

Monte Deva

In the area near Gijón you will find another mountain pass for cyclists, offering spectacular views of the city and the Asturian coast. 

Mind you, although it is a short climb, you can encounter ramps of almost 30%, and a kilometre with an average above 18%. On top of that, it has a concrete surface that makes it even harder for your bike to roll well. 

Still, the views from the summit, taking in Gijón, El Musel and the Cantabrian Sea, make the climb worthwhile. 

The side from El Cruce is recommended for road bikes. Via Villares de Caldones, despite having more manageable ramps, the surface is worse. 

Jitu de Escarandi

Lagos de Covadonga has always been one of the best-known climbs in Asturias, with its own cycle tour and as a regular stage finish in the Vuelta or the Vuelta a Asturias. But very close by lies another spectacular pass, which we could not fail to tell you about: the Jitu de Escarandi. 

Between the Picos de Europa and the Sierra del Cuera, starting from the town of Poncebos (the other side is already in Cantabria) towards Sotres and Tresviso, this pass of special category begins, with about 15 kilometres at an average above 7%. 

A very irregular climb, combining short breaks with hairpin bends and ramps of up to 16% until reaching Sotres. From there, the hardest part of the climb begins, with a kilometre at 15% and ramps of 21%. A real wall that eases after La Caballar over the last 2 kilometres before the summit, with some switchbacks, combining short descents and short rises. 

A traditional Asturian landscape that captures the best of cycling passes. 

Alto de Muriellos

The Alto de Muriellos is one of the shortest on this list, but no less intense. The final surprise of its 22% ramps, with a concrete section, will test even the best-prepared cyclist. The southern side of the Sierra del Aramo hides challenges like this pass. 

The climb starts at the junction towards Muriellos, on the road to La Cobertoria. It has a very steady first part, between 9 and 11%, through dense forest, and even eases a little when passing Rano. 

On reaching Villarejo you will already see the majestic Gamoniteiro, but the grand finale awaits on arrival in Muriellos. A final concrete stretch, where the bike struggles more to roll, with almost impossible ramps, and which can be very hard if you do not save your strength during the early kilometres. 

Villamarcel

Not far from the Alto de Muriellos, we continue to find passes with a really tough profile. In this case, Las Brañas de Villamarcel, with an average close to 11%. 

This cycling climb starts in Bárzana de Quirós, at the turn towards Coañana and Villamarcel. We begin to climb through dense vegetation and manageable gradients. Once we reach Coañana, we find the first change, as the road keeps climbing at an almost constant gradient above 9%. 

But the great challenge awaits as we arrive at the village of Villamarcel, where we will enjoy and suffer in equal measure. The paved ramps of more than 20% combine with spectacular views, including of the giant Aramo, the Gamoniteiro and the Cobertoria. 

Just over 6 kilometres of climbing, which you could extend if you go on a gravel or mountain bike, as you could continue a little further along a dirt track. 

Collada Amieva

The Collada Amieva is a mountain pass that starts in the Asturian village of Precendi.  

We head on our bike towards Sames, the capital of the Amieva municipality, with a steady gradient of around 9-10%, where the steepest ramps are found during the first kilometre, until passing Carnes in the third, where the gradient is a little gentler. 

In San Román, we will even enjoy a short descent, before which we will see what awaits us. A final kilometre of madness, with an average of 17%, ramps of up to 22%, and an inevitable comparison with another of the historic segments of the Principality of Asturias, such as the Cueña les Cabres on the legendary Angliru. 

La Degollada

La Degollada is one of the least known passes in Asturias. It connects Grado with Avilés, and can be combined with other nearby climbs for a very demanding cycling route. 

We are talking about just over 4 very straight kilometres, with practically 11% on average, which speaks to its toughness. 

After the turn towards the La Degollá picnic area, we are welcomed by an infernal kilometre, with ramps of more than 22%. The road is narrow, with asphalt in fairly good condition but very steep and with only the occasional small break. The abundant vegetation along the way is appreciated, as is the fact that it eases in its final part, reaching the picnic area. 

La Bustariega

La Bustariega is a mountain pass in the Somiedo area, which starts after climbing a kilometre and a half of the Puerto de San Lorenzo, taking the turn towards Clavillas, Valcárcel and the village of Bustariega. 

Get ready to enjoy incredible landscapes, with some gentle stretches where you can take in the views. In the first part, after one of those little flat sections, we start to meet the first strong ramps. Between Clavillas and Valcárcel is the most manageable section of the climb, although we can also consider it a warning for the unwary. With an average of almost 8%, we know what awaits us until the summit. 

2 kilometres with ramps of 19%, hairpin bends and a climb that will test you as a cyclist. 

Before reaching La Bustariega, you will have 1,000 metres of calm, with small ups and downs, and spectacular views of nearby villages or mountain bike tracks. 

La Bobia

In the Sierra de la Bobia we find not just one but several passes unknown to most cycling enthusiasts in Asturias. Many tracks give us 6 or 7 alternatives to climb to La Bobia, but we will highlight two in particular: the side from Molejón, and the one from Soutelo. 

On the first, we will find a real wall on a very narrow road with asphalt that we would practically only recommend for climbing. After passing through Molejón, there are just over 3 kilometres at an average above 12%. One of the hardest stretches we have seen on this list. 

On the second, very secluded, we must first go from Loujedo to Soutelo, also along a narrow track, to face a fearsome climb. The first 6 kilometres average 11.5%, with many sections at 14-15%. Yet the views, the route, which is concreted in parts, and the feeling of having conquered a pass of great difficulty will reward you. And in its final part it eases. 

Collada Taranes

We present to you the reputedly steepest paved or concrete climb in all of Asturias, and that, given the “puertacos” we find in the Principality, is saying a lot: the Collada Taranes. It is located in the Redes Natural Park, declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO, and connects the municipalities of Caso and Ponga. 

Although it has a lower overall coefficient than the Angliru or the Gamoniteiro, we are talking about a climb with two kilometres at 19%, ramps of 30%, and a kilometre averaging 21.6%. A true madness of gradient. 

It has a first part with good kilometres to warm up the legs, and a short break between Tanda and Taranes, before the real inferno begins. 

Walls between 23 and 30% make this climb a challenge few cyclists can manage without putting a foot down. During the ascent, cyclists can enjoy spectacular views of the Picos de Europa and the Cantabrian mountain range. 

Llomba Carqueixa

The climb of Llomba Carqueixa lies between the Alto de la Bobia and the Segredal, with a very misleading average, as it combines enormous ramps with a stretch that even goes downhill. 

You must take the turn between those two places to face a very hard first segment, in which you will climb up to 16%, with spectacular views of the coast and the sea. A brief descent follows, marking the general profile of this pass. 

And once we pass that moment of rest, we will again face ramps of 12 to 18%, before another descent, and the final effort touching 18% once more. 

If you continue for a few kilometres you will reach the Alto del Segredal. 

Banduxu

Banduxu is a mountain pass located in the village that gives it its name, in the municipality of Proaza, and which, like many other climbs on this list, is deceptive in its average, which is already tough in itself, with more than 8% over its 7 kilometres. 

The first 3 are above 10%, with ramps of 15-16%, until passing Proacina, where we cross a long flat stretch. 

Leaving the village we will again meet a kilometre at 10%, followed by a very steep descent and a short rise at 19% that welcomes us to the very tough final kilometres, with an average of more than 11%. 

The views exude pure Asturian mountain pass scenery. 

La Marta

On this occasion we will talk about the Alto de la Marta as an addition to one of the toughest passes in Asturias, the Alto de Bustantigo. 

In total they add up to 25 kilometres, with six of them downhill, on a really complicated profile that starts at Puente Polea. As far as Lendequintana we face 5 kilometres close to 10%. 

After passing this village and a descent, we find the two hardest kilometres, with ramps of up to 17%. 

Going down to Bustantigo, we then have 4 kilometres that are somewhat more manageable, until reaching the wind turbines of this Alto de Bustantigo, above 1,000 metres of altitude. 

After another descent, we head towards the Alto de la Marta, much gentler, especially in the section towards the Collado de Labradas, with a stretch at 12%. 

Llosa Alfonso

And to finish: are you ready to climb 320 metres in just 2 kilometres? This wall, called Llosa Alfonso, lies in the Caudal district and starts from the town of Loredo, being one of the toughest paved stretches in all of Asturias. 

We start the climb between Asturian hórreos (granaries), to face a very narrow road towards “Cuestes de Lloreo”. You will be looking at the sky, as its ramps of between 25 and 30% do not let up. 

Moreover, it is a very straight climb with just two bends, which makes it psychologically harder. 

More than 17% on average, to close this post with a grand finale. 

And you, do you know of more little-known climbs for the general cycling public in the Principality of Asturias? Which one do you miss on this list?