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The main route of the Ruta del Oso, from Tuñón to Entrago, is 21-22 km. The full Y-shaped network adds up to about 30 km, and if you do everything out and back you reach 60. Here are the real distances, section by section.
The short answer
It depends on what you call "the route", which is why the figures dance around so much. The ride most people do, from Tuñón to Entrago, is 21-22 km each way. Add the Quirós branch and the full network comes to around 30 km. And whoever asks about the famous 60 is adding up the out-and-back of every branch.
Why every website gives a different figure
The trail is shaped like a Y. One arm runs from Tuñón to Caranga (about 12 km), where it splits, and the two tips end in Entrago (about 10 km more) and in Santa Marina de Quirós (8-10 km).
Depending on which arms each website adds up, and whether it counts the return leg, you get 21, 30 or 60 kilometres. They are all "right"; none of them helps unless you know what they are measuring. The figures below settle it.
The distance section by section
Tuñón → bear enclosure (Proaza)
The classic outing to see Molina the bear.
- One way: 10.5 km
- Out and back: 21 km
Tuñón → Entrago (main route)
The ride most people do, end to end along the trunk.
- One way: 21-22 km
- Out and back: 44 km
Caranga → Santa Marina (Quirós branch)
The quiet arm of the Y, with the Valdemurio reservoir.
- One way: 8-10 km
- Out and back: 16-20 km
Full network (all three sections)
The three arms of the Y added together.
- One way: ~30 km
- Out and back: up to 60 km
The profile is nearly flat and the surface is compacted. The only gradient you will notice is on the Quirós branch, climbing towards Santa Marina; the detail per section is in the difficulty guide and the times in how long it takes.
And in time, how much is that?
By bike, the main route with stops takes 2 to 4 hours; the full out-and-back fills the day. On foot, allow about 2.5 hours per 10 km: Tuñón–Proaza one way is a morning.
People with kids usually cover half of what they planned, and that is fine: the beauty of the trail is that you can turn around wherever you like.
Shorter variants that work
- Proaza → enclosure and back (~4 km): the good-hour stroll to see Molina the bear with small children.
- Tuñón → Proaza and back (21 km by bike): the classic family route, flat from start to finish.
- Entrago → Proaza (~12 km): tunnels and gorge, the most spectacular kilometre for kilometre. It is the most beautiful section of the trail and can be done one way if you leave cars at both ends.
If the distance calls for a bike, here is the rental with prices and booking: from €28 a day with the transfer back included, which turns any "one way" into a perfect round trip. The official greenway datasheet is at viasverdes.com.
Questions about distances
The full network adds up to about 30 km laid out in a Y: Tuñón–Caranga (12), Caranga–Entrago (10) and Caranga–Santa Marina (8-10). Out and back on everything: up to 60 km.
From Tuñón to Entrago it is 21-22 km, so the full out-and-back is about 44. By bike that is a leisurely full day; on foot it is better split over two days.
Yes, and that is what most people do. The trail has access points with parking in Tuñón, Proaza and Entrago, so you can join and leave wherever you like and match the kilometres to your plan.
From the Proaza car park, the bear enclosure is about 2 km away: a flat out-and-back stroll that takes a good hour at an easy pace with children.
Ruta del Oso