Por Redaccion These actions are part of the Program of Unique Tourist Infrastructures in Natural Areas of the province of León, which proposes 30 projects, with a total investment of 24.7 million euros, co-financed by the Regional Government and the Provincial Council, which contributes 6 million euros, within the framework of the FEDER and Just Transition Programs. A cable-stayed footbridge over the Riaño reservoir of 250 meters and a 6-kilometer path to enjoy the Valle de Anciles are planned, as well as a pier to connect the route with the ‘Fiordos Leoneses’ boat. The objective of these infrastructures is to enhance the natural resources and nature tourism in the Riaño and Mampodre Regional Park.
July 7, 2025
Castile and León |
Ministry of Environment, Housing, and Land Planning
The Patrimonio Natural Foundation has published on the State Procurement Platform the tender for the creation of tourist infrastructures associated with the Riaño reservoir, in the province of León, for an amount of 3,756,625.35 euros and an execution period of 18 months. The deadline for submitting proposals ends on August 8. This action is part of the protocol signed on October 21 between the Ministry of Environment, Housing, and Land Planning and the Provincial Council of León to promote nature tourism in the province.
The Riaño and Mampodre Mountain Regional Park, located in the northwest of the province of León, covers an area of 101,330 hectares and is one of the most outstanding mountainous enclaves in the Cantabrian Mountains, with a high botanical, zoological, geological, geomorphological, and landscape interest that attracts nature tourists from both national and international backgrounds every year.
About the actions
The planned actions will take place in the easternmost area of the reservoir and aim to offer visitors access to new areas of the Riaño and Mampodre Regional Park, providing nature tourists with a perfect place and route to contemplate its majesty, while respecting the values that are intended to be preserved and protected.
The proposed route, 6 kilometers long, aims to provide pedestrian access to the Valle de Anciles and its surroundings, through a path that includes a suspension bridge of almost 250 meters in length, footbridges attached to the limestone walls of the reservoir’s edge, a new viewpoint, and a floating pier.
In this way, and with the construction of the aforementioned bridge, new hiking and outdoor leisure routes will be opened, such as the ascent to Pico Yordas from its south face or the combination with the return by boat through the ‘Fiordos Leoneses’.
The starting point of the route will be the existing parking lot at PK. 91+800 of the N-621 national road, approximately one kilometer from the town of Riaño.
The first part of the route will run from this point to the Osines viewpoint and will have a minimum width of 2.5 meters with a length of 3,230 meters.
The next action starts at the Osines viewpoint and reaches the new Anciles viewpoint in the Yedrales, with a route of 1,450 meters. In this section, a metallic hanging path between rocks of 300 meters, a suspension bridge over the reservoir of 250 meters made of steel cables and anchored to a structure on the rocks at the starting and ending points, as well as a metal staircase of 85 meters, have been planned.
The new viewpoint will be installed in the area known as Yedrales, at an altitude of 1,230 meters, an ideal place to observe the landscape and the peaks located south of the reservoir, such as the Gilbo.
The third part will connect the viewpoint with the new floating pier to be built, with a route of 1,155 meters. This infrastructure, which will be anchored to a platform, will allow mooring and boarding maneuvers, both in times of high and low waters. It will be conditioned to protect the banks with a breakwater and regenerate them. The pier will have an access walkway, a reception and mooring dock of 12 x 2.5 meters supported on polyethylene floaters.
To facilitate the enjoyment of the Valle de Anciles safely, different signs and information points will be installed to discover the peculiarities of the area.
About the Program of Unique Tourist Infrastructures in Natural Areas
This program proposes ideas and proposals to provide Protected Natural Areas of Castile and León with new equipment for the development of nature-related activities, favoring their socio-economic development. Since the program began in 2017, 123 actions have been carried out with an investment of 57,167,183 euros.
In the province of León, a total of 30 actions are planned with an investment of 24,694,045 euros, of which 18 million are part of the protocol signed between the Ministry of Environment, Housing, and Land Planning and the Provincial Council of León, which contributes 6 million euros. The proposals are being developed in the Eastern and Central Mountain, El Bierzo, Alto Sil, and Babia and Luna Valleys.