The bears of the Ruta del Oso

Molina the bear among the chestnut trees of the Fernanchín enclosure, right by the Ruta del Oso

70%

Chance of seeing Molina from the free viewpoint

The viewpoint of the Fernanchín bear enclosure beside the trail

Molina has lived in the Fernanchín enclosure since 2013

Are there wild bears on the route?

The short answer: they are out there; seeing one from the trail, almost never. These valleys are historic territory of the Cantabrian brown bear, but wild bears steer clear of people: crossing paths with one while pedalling is a lottery you will not win.

What you will get is a real bear right by the route: at km 19, next to Buyera, the trail passes the Fernanchín enclosure — 40,000 m² of hillside where Molina, rescued in 2013, lives in semi-freedom.

  • Free outdoor viewpoint, right beside the greenway
  • From Buyera: 800 flat metres, 10-15 minutes on foot
  • From Proaza, a 2 km stroll; from Tuñón, 5 km through the gorge
  • Best 9-11 am and 5-7 pm: at midday in August she will be in the shade, as you should be

With a dog, take turns

Dogs are not allowed into the viewpoint area: their presence stresses the bear. The visit takes 15-20 minutes.

Who runs it

The Asturias Bear Foundation manages the enclosure's opening times and the visits at the neighbouring Bear House in Proaza.

Plan your visit

The ones who gave the trail its name

Paca and Tola, the bears of the enclosure

Before Molina, it was them. Paca and Tola, two orphaned cubs rescued in Tineo in 1989 after their mother was killed by a poacher, arrived at the trail's enclosure on 26 May 1996 — the same summer the great stretch of greenway between Caranga and Entrago made its debut.

For almost three decades they were the ambassadors of the Cantabrian bear: whole generations of Asturians learned to look at bears without fear by peering over their hillside.

Tola died in 2018 and Paca on 10 April 2025. Today the enclosure is home to Molina, who arrived in 2013, and the story of the two sisters is still the best explanation of why this trail is called what it is called. The full biography is in Paca and Tola, the bears of the Ruta del Oso.

The full story

1989 · The rescue

Two orphaned cubs picked up in Tineo after their mother was killed by a poacher.

1996 · Arrival at the enclosure

They landed on the trail on 26 May, the same summer the great Caranga–Entrago section opened.

2013 · Molina arrives

A rescued female bear who cannot return to the wild and who is now the tenant of the hillside.

2018 and 2025 · The farewell

Tola died in 2018 and Paca in 2025, after almost three decades as ambassadors of the Cantabrian bear.

The guides in this section

A bear for every plan

Families watching the bear from the viewpoint of the Fernanchín bear enclosure

Bear House in Proaza

Opening times, tickets and what to see at the headquarters of the Asturias Bear Foundation, with the enclosure viewpoint a stroll away.

Read the guide
Molina the bear among the chestnut trees of the Fernanchín enclosure

Paca and Tola

The story of the two orphaned cubs rescued in 1989 who gave the trail its name, and of the enclosure where Molina lives today.

Read the guide
Wild brown bear at dawn on a hillside in Somiedo

Bear watching in Somiedo

Viewpoints, the best time of year and tips for seeing wild brown bears 45 minutes from the trail.

Read the guide

Brown bears in the wild

Bear watching in Somiedo

If the enclosure leaves you wanting more and you want to see brown bears in the wild, the destination is Somiedo Natural Park, about 45 minutes from the trail (45 km on the AS-265 and over the San Lorenzo pass).

It is one of the best places in Europe to watch brown bears, and the plan is very different from the enclosure: an early start, a telescope and patience.

The keys we always share: go with a local guide (they know which hillsides the bears are using that week and carry serious optics), aim for dawn or dusk, and choose the season — late summer, with the bears gorging on bilberries on the high slopes, and late spring are the strong moments.

Observation is always at a distance, from viewpoints: you never seek a bear out at close range, and you never call to it.

The full guide — viewpoints, seasons and how to choose a guided outing — is in bear watching in Somiedo. If yours is a one-day trip, our honest recommendation: do the trail in the morning, visit Molina's enclosure early, and save Somiedo for a getaway with an overnight stay.

The Somiedo guide Where to stay

Common questions

Bear questions

Yes. The viewpoint of the Fernanchín enclosure sits right on the trail, next to the Buyera recreation area, and access is free. The chance of seeing Molina the bear is around 70%, best in the cool hours.

In the cooler hours: early morning (9-11 am) and late afternoon (5-7 pm), when she comes close to the feeding points. In the midday heat of summer she is usually tucked away in the shade.

No: pets are not allowed into the viewpoint area, so as not to stress the bear. The usual routine is to take turns — the visit lasts 15-20 minutes — while someone waits with the dog.

In Somiedo, about 45 minutes from the trail over the San Lorenzo pass. With a guide and a telescope, at dawn or dusk, the best seasons are spring and the end of summer.

Families watching the bear enclosure from the viewpoint on the trail

Rental questions?

They will help you when booking

The next step

Seeing Molina, done right

A free viewpoint right on the trail, a 70% chance in the cool hours and the rest of the day for tunnels, gorges and villages. Sort out times and parking before you come.

Plan your visit See the sections
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