The most beautiful section of the Bear Trail (Senda del Oso) is the Valdecerezales canyon, on the Entrago → Buyera ride. Near-vertical rock walls, the river running just below and several long tunnels of the old mining railway one after another: it is the postcard most people remember from the trail. If you can only ride one part, that’s the one.
That said, “the most beautiful” depends on what you’re after: canyon scenery, the bears, the tunnels carved into the rock, or the villages around the route. This guide runs through the prettiest sections with km, what you see on each and which one fits you best. Signed from Entrago, where we have spent more than 20 years renting bikes on the Bear Trail.
The most beautiful section: the Valdecerezales canyon
It’s on the Teverga side, on the descent from Entrago towards Buyera. For a few kilometres the greenway squeezes between two rock walls that almost meet overhead, with the Teverga river running at the bottom. In between, the trail runs through long tunnels of the mining railway, now with solar-powered lighting, alternating stretches of shade and light.
It’s the most photographed part of the whole route, and not by chance: it packs the most dramatic scenery of the trail into a few kilometres. It’s also downhill and flat, so you enjoy it without effort, with time to stop at the viewpoints.
The most beautiful sections at a glance
To decide fast, here’s what makes each one special:
| Section | Where | What makes it beautiful |
|---|---|---|
| Valdecerezales canyon | Entrago → Buyera | Vertical walls + long tunnels in a row. The most spectacular. |
| Peñas Juntas canyon | Entrago → Buyera | Second canyon, more open, with river and greenery. |
| Bear enclosure | near Proaza | The brown bears, symbol of the trail, in the Fernanchín enclosure. |
| Railway tunnels | several on the route | Carved into rock, lit, between the canyons. |
Both canyons are explained in depth on the Bear Trail canyons page, with how they formed and what to look for in each.
Peñas Juntas canyon
On the same descent from Entrago to Buyera comes the second canyon, Peñas Juntas. It’s a bit more open than Valdecerezales, with more greenery and the river more present. The beauty of this stretch is that both canyons are ridden one after another, no change of plan: you drop down from Entrago and link them up with the tunnels in between.
The bear enclosure and the tunnels
Near Proaza, a couple of minutes off the trail, is the bear enclosure, one of the great symbols of the route. It’s a short detour and the viewpoint is free open access. Seeing the bears is, for many people, the favourite stop of the day.
Spread along the route are also the tunnels of the old mining railway, carved into the rock and now lit. Riding through them, with the cool air inside and the light at the end, is one of the things kids love most. You’ll find every highlight on what to see on the Bear Trail.
What about the Quirós branch?
The trail has a second branch, the Quirós one (about 14 km), less busy and with fewer highlights bunched together. It’s pretty and quieter, but if it’s your first visit and you want the best in one morning, stick with the Teverga stretch: Entrago → Buyera. Save Quirós for a second visit if the trail wins you over.
How to ride the most beautiful section by bike
The plan almost everyone does is this: you pick up the bike at our shop in Entrago (the first departure is at 09:30) and ride the 18 km down to Buyera at your own pace, stopping at the canyons and the bear enclosure. It’s a relaxed 2-3 hours.
When you finish in Buyera you call us, we pick you up with the van and the bikes and take you back to Entrago: no pedalling back uphill. The return transfer is included in all our rates.
- Book your bike online, no upfront payment.
- Choose model and size in the bike rental: standard, electric, kids’ bikes, trailers and seats.
If you’d rather do a shorter version or compare distances, see the short routes of the trail and the guide to how many kilometres the Bear Trail is.
Our advice
“The most beautiful section is twice as good if you don’t rush”. Both canyons and the tunnels beg you to stop, take photos and breathe. Set off early, bring water and keep the morning free: this is not a route to time yourself on.
Mid-morning light reaches into the canyons better, so the 09:30 first departure usually gives the best photos. And if you come in summer, the tunnels are the best shelter from the heat.
