Routes for mountain biking in the province of Cantabria

Rutas para salir en bicicleta de montaña en la provincia de Cantabria

Cantabria is a paradise for bicycle lovers, offering a wide variety of routes perfect for mountain bikes and road bikes. From more accessible routes near the coast to challenging trails in the Cantabrian Mountains, which include technical and physically demanding paths at altitudes close to 2,000 meters. For cycle tourists, Cantabria is ideal, with the Camino de Santiago crossing the region via the Northern Way. In addition to enjoying its scenery by bike, you can explore charming mountain villages, savor its delicious local cuisine, and relax on its beaches and cliffs. Without a doubt, a complete cycling holiday.

Los 10,000 del Soplao Route

The route of this trail corresponds to the first part of the massive MTB cycling event Los 10.000 del Soplao
, one of the most famous in Spain. This is only the first part of the event’s full course, but it accumulates more than 1,600 meters of positive elevation gain in just 62 km, so you need to be in good physical shape to complete it. Nevertheless, the effort is worth it for the incredible landscapes around Cabezón de la Sal, the Sierra de Cabuérniga, etc. One of the most common sights you’ll encounter along the route are green mountain pastures populated by cows or horses grazing. You’ll also pass by the famous Soplao caves, some of the deepest and most attractive in northern Spain, with spectacular stalactite and stalagmite formations that are well worth a visit.

Pinar de Liencres

From the mountainous area of Cabezón de la Sal we move to the outskirts of Santander to do this 44 km coastal route. We cross the Pinar de Liencres, as well as its beautiful natural beach, which is well known by surfers in the area. From there, we will travel along the western coast of Santander, keeping the Cantabrian Sea to the left on the outbound section until we reach Playa de la Maruca, where we will turn around to return to the starting point. The route is mostly flat, although there are some tough short climbs, especially concentrated in the initial part.

  • Difficulty: Moderate
  • Type: XC
  • Distance: 44.3 kilometers
  • Elevation gain: 580 meters
  • Route type: Circular
  • Start/end: Santa Cruz de Bezana
  • Track of the route

Saja Besaya Natural Park

An alternative and gentler route than Los 10.000 del Soplao to discover the surroundings of the Sierra de Cabuérniga and the valleys of the Saja and Besaya rivers, which make up the Saja Besaya Natural Park. On this occasion, you have to complete almost 32 kilometers with two significant climbs, which together accumulate 950 meters of elevation gain. The landscapes we cross are exceptionally beautiful, with mountain trails surrounded by lush oak and willow forests and a multitude of streams and rivers.

Tour of the Eastern Massif of Picos de Europa

A visit to the high mountains of Cantabria is a must, especially concentrated in the area near Potes, within the Picos de Europa National Park. We depart from the beautiful and touristic town of the Liébana valley to do an exhausting circular route of 60 kilometers and over 2,000 meters of positive elevation gain. Much of the eastern massif of the Picos de Europa is crossed by rocky high mountain trails, with exposed sections and tough climbs, but the natural surroundings and the views are well worth the effort. This route can only be done well into spring, summer, or autumn. In winter, much of the route is impassable due to accumulated snow. We recommend getting a full suspension bike
or, if you're not in great physical shape, doing it with a e-bike of type trail or enduro
.