La Naturaleza de Espana - hike, camp, paddle?

[RojiBlanco34]

I am looking for suggestions of outdoor destinations in spain. I will be taking an extended trip there and am looking for camping spots youve loved, hiking trails along coastlines, mountain hikes, or rivers you have paddled. The more detailed/specific you can be, the better, as to facilitate making plans. Let me know what you got! :cool:

[Ben]

I really recommend the Picos de Europa (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Picos_de_Europa), a stunning mini mountain range in Asturias. One of the highlights here is the Cares Gorge (http://www.walkingeurope.info/walks/walksv01/vw010.shtml), an incredible walk through a long, impressive ravine. Best done during the week if you want it to yourself!

[Edith]

This website on Spain's Parques Naturales may be of some use to you:

http://www.parquesnaturales.com/

Sometimes, natural beauty can be found where you least expect it. The area around Roque Nublo on Gran Canaria, for instance, reminded me very much of Arizona's ponderosa pine forests, and it's only a couple of kilometers away from the island's busy beach resorts:

http://www.mytravelguide.com/attractions/profile-79493805-Canary_Islands_Gran_Canaria_Roque_Nublo.html

Pico del Teide on Tenerife is also a unique experience:

http://www.webtenerife.com/PortalTenerife/Home/Disfruta+sin+perderte+nada/Mas+sobre+Tenerife/Naturaleza/Espacios+naturales/Parque+Nacional+de+El+Teide/?Lang=en

I would also like to recommend Garajonay National Park on La Gomera, which is famous for its unique laurel oak forests. Don't expect any spectacular wildife there, but the scenery is awesome:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garajonay_National_Park

[Suze]

I agree with Ben; the picos de europa are beautifull. They are known for the misty weather though, so be carefull and make sure you know hoe to orientate yourself. make sure you go out of season because it can get really busy especially near the funicular up the mountain ( llena the oap's).
We spent some time in the valley the guadelest this spring > gorgious. Some great hiking and climbing. Stayed in a small non-touristy mountain village, called Abdet, where we rented a house (check out photo for the view from the roof).

Another stunning place is el choro > if you have enough nerves ( and a safety harnas or a klettersteigset) you can walk the famous caminetta del rey which crosses the gorge. The valley behind is beautifull.
The camping in the village is nice. If you don't want to camp you can rent a cabana > they are cheap and comfortable enough !
if you are into climbing it is a great area. Some exciting multi pitch routes.
The train stops right in the village !

[omeyas]

If you put "senderismo+espana" into google, you´ll have more links than you know what to do with!

[omeyas]

Another stunning place is el choro > if you have enough nerves ( and a safety harnas or a klettersteigset) you can walk the famous caminetta del rey which crosses the gorge. The valley behind is beautifull.
!

Have been in that area several times, but last year we stopped for some food at a place just below the gorge, and we nearly got eaten alive by flies and cats! The cats did well out of it, we left without finishing our food! :)

[eldeano]

and we nearly got eaten alive by flies and cats! The cats did well out of it, we left without finishing our food! :)

Always best to treat cats well. :D

[RojiBlanco34]

as for the Picos, which I am trying to decide on, I would like to do a three or four day hike through them, in the USA I enjoy carrying all of my stuff on my back, setting up camp, and cooking for myself and really roughing it. Are there suggested treks for this through the Picos that I could be in the wilderness?

I am getting the impression that camping is not really the same in Spain as in the US.