Gravel through Valdeolea and Valdeprado from Mataporquera
By bicis.net community · Loop
In short: Circular gravel route of 70.6 km and +1,357 m starting and finishing in Mataporquera (Cantabria). It's very hard and will take you about 5 h 50; its hardest kilometre is at 12.5 % and 39 % is track or trail.
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Add to my calendar- Distance
- 70.6 km
- Elevation gain
- +1,357 m
- Max altitude
- 1,271 m
- Hardest km
- 12.5 %
- Difficulty
- Very hard
- Estimated time
- 5 h 50 min
17 water fountains within 250 m of the route, according to OpenStreetMap. Cycling map
Profile
Run your finger or mouse over the profile to see each point on the map.
Surface
Tarmac 61 % Track 39 % Trail 0 %
Mostly track: good for gravel or a mountain bike. Measured on OpenStreetMap; there may be recent changes on the ground.
The route
The route
A long loop through southern Cantabria, starting and finishing in Mataporquera: 70.6 km and +1,357 m between the Valdeolea and Valdeprado del Río valleys, in the Campoo area. You link small stone villages along farm roads, tracks between meadows and oak woods, and stretches of local road with very little traffic.
Watch the surface: the site measures 61% tarmac and 39% track, so four out of every ten kilometres are dirt. Many of the area's farm roads are concreted and count as tarmac. A gravel bike with 38-45 mm tyres works well.
Where it bites
There's no long climb, but plenty of short ones as you cross from one valley to the next. They add up: pace yourself, as the second half feels long. After rain the tracks can be muddy and full of puddles.
Where to stop
Mataporquera has bars and shops so you can set off fully stocked. Along the way the villages are small and there isn't always a bar open: bring two bottles and food for the whole loop.
When to go
May to October. You're at around 900-1,000 m: in winter it's cold, icy and it can snow, and autumn mornings are foggy. There's free-roaming livestock in the meadows: close any gates you open.
Getting there
Mataporquera has a station on the Palencia–Santander line, so you can come without a car; ask beforehand whether the train takes bikes. If you drive, park by the station. You'll find more rides in the bicis.net cycling routes.
Sources for this text: Turismo de Cantabria · Adif: estaciones · OpenStreetMap: pistas de Valdeolea y Valdeprado del Río
Track designed by our editorial team on OpenStreetMap (ODbL).
Frequently asked questions
- How much track is there?
- The site measures 39% track and 61% tarmac: four out of every ten kilometres are dirt. Many of the area's roads are concreted and count as tarmac.
- What bike do I need?
- A gravel bike with 38-45 mm tyres. After rain there's mud and puddles on the tracks.
- Can you get there by train?
- Yes, Mataporquera has a station on the Palencia–Santander line. Ask beforehand whether the train takes bikes.
- Are there places to eat along the way?
- The villages on the route are small and there isn't always a bar open. Leave Mataporquera with water and food for the full 70.6 km.
- What's the best time of year?
- May to October. You're at around 900-1,000 m: in winter it's icy and it can snow.
Before you set off, check the state of the road or track and follow the traffic rules. Enjoy the ride.
Got a gravel bike gathering dust?
People who ride tracks like this one look for second-hand gravel bikes, and right now very few are for sale. List yours for free and riders near you will see it.
Comments
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