What to pack for the Ruta del Oso

Essentials for going by bike

By bike, the backpack stays basic: water, food, a rain layer and an extra garment for the tunnels. The helmet, map, insurance, tools and on-route assistance come included with the rental bike, so do not carry any of that.

You do not need technical clothing either. The classic plan is 18 km from Entrago to Buyera in 2-3 hours, with a 1.5% average gradient of gentle descent and a compacted gravel surface: any comfortable sportswear will do, no padded shorts or jersey required.

And the return transfer from Buyera is also part of the rental, so logistics take up no room in your backpack.

• Water: at least 750 ml per adult. There are four fountains on the route (Entrago, Proaza, Buyera and Tuñón), but not one every kilometre.
• Simple food: a sandwich, fruit or nuts. The Buyera bar is seasonal; outside summer, do not count on it.
• A light rain layer, always. It is the item people forget most and this is Asturias: the morning's blue sky promises nothing.
• Thin long sleeves: the trail crosses more than 30 tunnels and inside them the temperature drops 4-5 degrees.
• Sunscreen and sunglasses: the open sections of the valley catch the midday sun head-on.
• A charged phone: for the photos at the bear enclosure and to call the assistance if you puncture or run into trouble.
• A minimal first-aid kit: a few plasters weigh nothing and solve the chafing of a day in the saddle.

If you go with kids, add a change of clothes and extra snacks: they get dirty, they sweat and they eat more than planned. The kids' trailer (ages 1 to 5, two seats and up to 30 kg) and the baby seat are rented along with the bikes; the options are explained in the guide to going with kids.

Essentials for going on foot

On foot, the gear changes little: trainers with a decent tread are enough, because the compacted gravel surface and the 1.5% average gradient do not call for mountain boots. What does change is the amount of water and food, because you will spend more hours on the trail.

Match the backpack to the section: the Proaza loop is 5 km and an hour and a half; Entrago to Buyera, 18 km and 4-5 hours; the full trail, 22 km and 5-6 hours. The times per section are broken down in how long it takes.

• Broken-in trainers: debuting new footwear on an 18 km walk is the classic recipe for blisters.
• Water by distance: 750 ml covers the short loops; for the full trail, double it, because there are several kilometres between fountains.
• A sandwich for the long versions: the picnic tables at Buyera, at km 18, are the natural lunch stop.
• Rain layer and long sleeves, same as by bike: the tunnels are just as cool on foot.
• With a baby, an all-terrain stroller with wheels of 30 cm or more; a small-wheeled urban one struggles on the gravel. More detail in the trail on foot with kids.
• With a dog: a leash (mandatory, with fines of up to €300), extra water, a folding bowl and bags. The full rules are in the dog guide.

What you can leave at home

As useful as the list of what to bring is the list of what to skip. The Ruta del Oso is a flat, car-free greenway, not a mountain route, and the rental already covers half the gear.

• Helmet, map and insurance: they come with every bike, as do the tools and the on-route assistance.
• Headlamp or torch: the tunnels have solar lamps, including the longest, at around 300 m.
• Knee and elbow pads: with a 1.5% average gradient, you will not need them.
• Clip-in shoes: any trainer grips well on the compacted gravel.

With the backpack sorted, all that is left is to set a date and book. The rates for every bike and add-on are on the prices page, and pick-up happens at a single point in Entrago, at the Polígono de Pradacón.