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Doing the Ruta del Oso by bike with kids is a plan that almost always works out: 18 km from Entrago to Buyera on a gentle descent, an average gradient of 1.5% and not a single car the whole way. Here are the sections, ages and equipment.
Recommended sections for families
The section that works best with kids is Entrago–Buyera: 18 km of continuous descent, with about 200 m of drop in your favour and not one road to cross. With stops it takes 2-3 hours, and the average 1.5% gradient means a 6-year-old can ride the whole thing on their own bike.
The first stretch overlaps with the Entrago–Caranga section, the most spectacular in the valley.
The surface is compacted gravel, wide and even, fine even for the wheels of a 16-inch bike. Along the way you will ride through some of the more than 30 tunnels of the old mining railway: the 6-8 longest exceed 150 m, the biggest is around 300 m, and all of them are lit with solar lamps.
Ask any kid: the tunnels are the best part of the day.
The stops set the rhythm. At km 2 is the Prehistory Park; at km 14, Proaza, with the village centre 200 m from the trail; at km 16, the iron bridges over the river; and at km 18, the Buyera rest area, with picnic tables, a fountain and a seasonal bar — the natural place for lunch.
From Buyera, a 0.8 km stroll (20 minutes on foot) leads to the free viewpoint over the enclosure where Molina the bear lives: the chance of seeing her is around 70%, especially from 9 to 11 in the morning and 5 to 7 in the evening. Visiting hours are managed by the Fundación Oso de Asturias from the Bear House in Proaza.
And if your kids are not big pedallers, cut it short: Proaza–Buyera is about 4 km each way, flat and with the enclosure as the prize at the end. The full breakdown is in the section-by-section difficulty guide.
The perfect plan: leave Entrago between 10 and 11, roll the 18 km down to Buyera with a stop in Proaza, eat at the picnic tables and walk over to the Molina viewpoint. The way back is not pedalled: the transfer from Buyera is included with the rental.
Minimum recommended age
From 8-9 months old a baby can ride the trail in a baby seat, as long as they can hold their head up firmly. To pedal their own bike, a sensible age is 5-6; from there, the 18 km from Entrago to Buyera are doable in full.
- From 8-9 months to 3 years: baby seat with a 5-point harness, adjustable footrests and up to 20 kg.
- Ages 1 to 5: 2-seat trailer (up to 30 kg) with a canopy for sun and rain; they ride better protected and can nap along the way.
- Ages 4 to 8: tag-along hitched to the adult's bike (up to 35 kg); the child pedals, but the steering and braking stay with you.
- From 5-6 years: their own kids' bike in 16, 20 and 24 inch sizes.
With under-5s, plan breaks every 30-40 minutes and set off between 10 and 11 so you reach Buyera at lunchtime. There are fountains and toilets in Entrago, Proaza and Buyera, so water is never a problem; the tunnels run 4-5 degrees cooler, so pack a windbreaker.
The rest of the packing list is in what to pack for the Ruta del Oso.
If your child cannot yet sit still that long, consider the on-foot version with kids: the Proaza loop is 5 km in 1.5 hours and works with a pushchair, as long as it is an all-terrain model with wheels of 30 cm or more.
Kids' bikes and trailers
All the kids' equipment is rented on the full-day rate, the only option, with pick-up in Entrago (Polígono de Pradacón, Nave 1). The price includes helmet, insurance, map, on-route assistance and the transfer back from Buyera — which, with tired kids, is worth its weight in gold.
Baby seat — €15/day
From 8-9 months to 3 years.
- Up to 20 kg
- 5-point harness
Child trailer — €25/day
Ages 1 to 5.
- 2 seats
- Up to 30 kg
Tag-along — €25/day
Ages 4 to 8.
- Up to 35 kg
Kids' bike — €25-28/day
From age 5-6, in 16", 20" and 24" sizes.
- €25 up to age 10
- €28 from 11 up
With two kids aged 1 to 5, a single trailer (€25) is cheaper and more practical than two seats (€30), and it leaves one adult with a free bike. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before and, if it rains, you can cancel on the day at no cost.
There is no discount by number of children; from 5 up they prepare a tailored quote, the same as for groups of more than 20.
The full rates for adult bikes, e-bikes and tandems are on the rental prices page, and the service details on the bike rental page.
Safety tips for riding with kids
The trail has no cars, but it does have walkers, other cyclists and dogs, so the order of the group matters. An adult always leads and another closes the line; a child never enters a tunnel first.
In the tunnels, slow down and ring your bell: even though they are lit, the switch from daylight to half-light leaves a few seconds of reduced vision. The helmet, included with every rental, stays on from Entrago to Buyera, no exceptions.
And near Proaza, herds graze beside the trail with mastiffs watching over them: keep 50 m of distance and stop the kids speeding up or shouting as you pass.
Pick your date well. May-June and September are the sweet-spot months, as I explain in the best time to do the route; in July and August start early, because the free car parks (around 60 spaces in Entrago, 40 in Tuñón) fill up before 10:00.
Check the forecast on AEMET the day before and, if the weather turns, remember you can cancel for rain on the day itself. The rest of the logistics are in getting there and where to park.
Ruta del Oso