La Honda

La Honda is one of the glacial lagoons inside the Muniellos reserve, in the municipality of Cangas del Narcea, Asturias. The lake sits deep within the Fuentes del Narcea and Muniellos Integral Nature Reserve, one of the best-preserved tracts of ancient oak forest in Europe, and can only be reached after a long hike on foot.

What makes La Honda worth knowing about?

Laguna Honda belongs to a small cluster of glacial lakes scattered across the higher ground of Muniellos, alongside Laguna de la Isla and Laguna Grande. All of them formed in glacial cirques carved into the rock during the last ice age, and today they are among the most distinctive features of this stretch of the Cantabrian Mountains. The water is typically calm and clear, framed by steep, rocky slopes and remnants of the beech and oak forest that has grown almost undisturbed here for centuries.

It is this untouched surrounding forest, more than the lagoon itself, that draws visitors to this corner of Asturias. Access to the reserve is strictly controlled — entry is only possible with a permit issued by the reserve's management, a measure meant to protect the forest and the lakes from excessive foot traffic. As a result, La Honda and the nearby lagoons have kept the feel of a place cut off from everyday life, reachable only under your own steam.

How do you get to La Honda?

The starting point for the lagoons is the forest ranger's house at Tablizas, from which a trail of roughly 11 kilometres leads one way into the reserve. The route runs through the heart of Muniellos, passing the other glacial lakes — La Isla, La Honda and La Grande — along the way, as well as Fonculebrera, a massive oak tree with a trunk more than 7 metres in circumference. The return leg can follow a different path along the river, shortening the trip back to around 8 kilometres. Given the length of the hike and the permit requirement, a visit needs planning ahead, since the number of people allowed into the reserve each day is limited.

When is the best time to hike there?

Spring and early autumn are the best times to visit La Honda, when mountain weather tends to be more stable and water levels in the lagoons are usually higher. In summer, the trail can get hot with little shade along the exposed stretches, so an early start is worth it. In winter, access to the reserve becomes difficult because of snow and mountain conditions, and parts of the route may be closed to visitors altogether.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is La Honda? It is one of the glacial lagoons within the Muniellos reserve, in the municipality of Cangas del Narcea, Asturias, formed in a glacial cirque in the higher part of the massif.

How do you reach the La Honda lagoon? The trail starts at the Tablizas forest ranger's house and runs about 11 km one way; you can return by a different route along the river, which shortens the trip back to roughly 8 km.

Is entry to the Muniellos reserve free and open to everyone? No, access is limited and requires a permit from the reserve's management, a measure that protects the forest and lakes from excessive tourist traffic.

What else can you see on the way to La Honda? The route passes other glacial lagoons (La Isla, La Grande) and Fonculebrera, a centuries-old oak tree with a trunk over 7 metres in circumference.