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Direct Route (Pidal-Cainejo Route)

5A | TD | V Edit route
This is the classic and historic line on Naranjo de Bulnes, first climbed by Pedro Pidal and Gregorio Pérez "Cainejo" in 1904. It ascends the great west face of the peak and is one of the best-known alpine climbs in Spain. The route is a serious limestone mountaineering ascent with sustained technical climbing and significant exposure. Conditions can vary greatly with weather, rock quality, and route-finding. It is generally treated as a major alpine rock climb rather than a hiking objective. The route is widely documented in guidebooks and climbing literature for the Picos de Europa.

Route Outline

Base of the west face / base of the route
Steep limestone wall and cracks
Upper headwall and summit ridge
Summit of Naranjo de Bulnes
Descent by the normal descent route or rappels, depending on conditions

More routes on Naranjo de Bulnes

South Route (South Face / South Ridge Route)

4A | D | IV
The south-side ascent is another established route on Naranjo de Bulnes and is commonly described in climbing sources for the peak. It is a serious alpine rock route on compact limestone, with route-finding and exposure playing a major role. The climbing is less famous than the Pidal-Cainejo line but remains a recognized summit route. As with many routes on the Picu, rockfall and weather can make the climb hazardous. The route is documented in the main climbing literature for the mountain. Exact time and length figures are not consistently published in a single standard source.
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North Face Route

5A | TD | V
The north face of Naranjo de Bulnes is a major alpine objective and is documented as a classic hard route on the peak. It is a steep limestone wall climb with sustained technical difficulty and serious exposure. The line is subject to loose rock, changing conditions, and complex route-finding. It is generally considered a demanding mountaineering ascent rather than a straightforward rock climb. The route is well known in Picos de Europa climbing references. Published quantitative data such as ascent time or elevation gain is not consistently standardized.
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