We are looking to take about 1/2 day hike in the Picos de Europa which at worst would be moderate in being strenuous. We are not sure whether to stay at near Congas de Onis or Fuente de. La Ruta de Cares looks interesting but the lack of shoulders along the trail seems a bit frightening.

Any personal experience? We have found a few sites in both Spanish and English, but....

Thank you in advance for your answers.

Stay in Fuente de, Potes or at Hotel del Oso, which lies in between. You'll find many great walking trails, some easy, some not quite.

You might find some good info on hikes here:
http://www.walkingasturias.com/lakes...circular-walk/
And be sure to look at other walks described on that same web-page.

I stayed in Potes, rather than Congas de Onis and Fuente de, but stopped in both of those places and noted that I was glad I did not stay in Fuente de -- even on a bright, sunny day, it seemed gloomy. I would think Congas de Onis could be a good base, but be aware that traffic can be horrendous. Granted, I was there on a gorgeous Sunday rather early in May, so I'm sure it had a LOT more traffic than normal.... JMO.

Thank you for your suggestions.

Updated by users and you can use apps if so inclined.
http://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/find....icos+de+Europa

Thank you Ribe.

Does anyone have a trail that they prefer?

that is going to depend a lot on ability and where you are going to be based.
Flat walking around the lakes of Covadonga.
http://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=3263630
http://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=185562
It can get busy and now in peak season you have to take a bus up to the lakes.
If the weather is good then something more strenuous could be done.
http://www.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=7524318
None are very long.

Thanks. That flat walk around the lakes of Covadonga seems appealing. We will there in the middle-late September, when I assume there will be less damn tourists like myself.

Depends, the fist week (sometimes the second too)of September is still school vacation time in some parts of Spain.
This information has never been updated for 3 years. But it shows that visitors can access the lakes only using the bus service until the first week in Sept.
http://www.lagoscovadonga.com/acceso-horarios.php

Found a link with last years dates for the bus service. Still cannot find 2016 yet and Easter is nearly upon us. That is when the service usually starts.
http://www.consorcioasturias.com/es/...entificador=45

Thanks again Ribe. I am hopeful that we can visit you during our trip.

Sounds good, but we do not serve Bonka coffee!