25.5
PDI
7.2 mi
DISTANCE
3,402 ft
GAINED
9 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
INTRO
Salto de la Cabra is widely rated the toughest and best climb in Cantabria - an HC-category ascent that gains 1,037 m (3,402 ft) over 11.6 km (7.2 mi) at a 9.0% average grade, with brief pitches reported as steep as 18% in its upper kilometers.
The road climbs out of the Río Deva gorge at La Hermida, through a short wooded lower section, then opens up through Cuetu Cunoriu and La Quintana to the stone hamlet of Bejes - known for its Romanesque church and picón cheese - before a rough concrete track carries riders the rest of the way to the Salto de la Cabra viewpoint, passing the Mirador de la Sotorraña, one of the best lookout points in this part of the Picos de Europa.
The name means "goat's leap," a fitting nod to the sheer drops along the upper road - and you may well share it with actual goats on the way up.
PLAN YOUR ROUTE
We've partnered with Sherpa-Map.com to bring you the best route planning tool. With a PRO Membership you can use this climb as a reference when creating your route. The climb's 9.0% average hides serious variation across its 11.6 km (7.2 mi). The lower kilometers out of La Hermida are the gentlest part of the climb; the road steepens noticeably from Bejes onward, with the final kilometers on the concrete track above the village carrying brief pitches reported as steep as 18%.
By our own data, the steepest sustained kilometer averages 12.4%, and the steepest 500-meter stretch averages 14.8% - both found in that upper concrete section above Bejes, where the rough surface makes the steep pitches feel harder still.
Roadway: The lower gorge road (N-621) through La Hermida is currently mid-renovation - a major safety and widening project between Castro Cillorigo and Panes that began in 2018, was over three-quarters complete as of late 2025, and is expected to finish before summer 2026. That project has periodically required planned, multi-week traffic cuts through the gorge, so it's worth checking current status before planning a visit. Above La Hermida, the climb itself is paved through Bejes, then turns to concrete for roughly the final 5 km up to Salto de la Cabra - that concrete surface is rough and can be slippery when wet, a genuine downside reported by multiple riders.
Traffic: The gorge road at the base can be busy with through-traffic between Cantabria and Asturias, especially in summer, and current construction has periodically restricted it further. Once you turn off toward Bejes, though, traffic drops off fast - the road above Bejes is narrow and lightly used.
Parking: La Hermida is a tiny village strung along the gorge road with limited roadside space; a more practical option is to park in or near Bejes itself, partway up the climb, or find pull-offs along the N-621 near the village before starting.
A compact or triple crank with an easy low gear is essential here - the concrete sections above Bejes carry pitches reported as steep as 18%, and that rough surface saps traction exactly where you need it most.
There are no reliable shops on the climb itself once you leave La Hermida; Bejes has minimal services, so it's best to carry what you need from the base and fill bottles before you start climbing.
Before heading out on any cycling adventure check out our Things to Bring on a Cycling Trip and use our interactive check list to ensure you don't forget anything.
The Desfiladero de la Hermida is the longest gorge in Spain, and the ride in along the N-621 is a destination in itself - limestone walls rise up to 600 m on either side of the Río Deva.
Bejes, roughly two-thirds of the way up, is a small stone hamlet known for its picón cheese and a Romanesque church - worth a stop to refill bottles and take in the village before the final push. The Mirador de la Sotorraña, passed en route, is one of the best viewpoints over this stretch of the Picos de Europa - a good excuse to pause partway up even if you're not stopping in Bejes.
Check the Routes in the Area tool for other climbs starting around the Liébana and Picos de Europa area.
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