Laguna de Fuentes Carrionas

Laguna de Fuentes Carrionas is a pair of adjoining glacial lakes in the municipality of Cervera de Pisuerga, in the northern part of Palencia province, in the Cantabrian mountain range.

Where is Laguna de Fuentes Carrionas located?

The lakes sit in the Fuentes Carrionas massif, within the municipality of Cervera de Pisuerga. The area borders Velilla del Río Carrión to the west, and Vega de Liébana, across the provincial line in Cantabria, to the north. The lakes lie roughly 32 km from Guardo and about 128 km from Palencia, the provincial capital.

What are these lakes and how did they form?

They are two adjoining glacial lakes, sitting in a glacial cirque carved out by a glacier that retreated from these mountains thousands of years ago. The cirque is ringed by the highest peaks in the area: Peña Prieta (2538 m), Agujas de Cardaño (2386 m), and Mojón de Tres Provincias (2497 m). This combination — steep rock walls, a high-altitude basin, and twin bodies of water — is a classic signature of past glacial activity in the Cantabrian range.

Why does this lake matter?

Laguna de Fuentes Carrionas is recognized as the official source of the Carrión River, one of the main rivers of the Castile and León region, which later flows through Palencia and many other towns in the province. The massif that gave the river its name also lends its name to the surrounding natural park.

How do you get there?

The most commonly used approach routes start from Cardaño de Arriba or from the San Glorio mountain pass. Both are mountain routes through high-altitude terrain typical of the Cantabrian range, so it's worth planning the trip with proper trekking footwear, enough water, and enough time — this is a hike, not a short stroll. Because of the altitude and the cirque setting, snow can linger in the area well into spring, which is worth checking before setting out if visiting outside the height of summer.

What else is worth knowing about the area?

The lakes lie within the Fuentes Carrionas y Fuente Cobre-Montaña Palentina Natural Park, one of the larger protected areas in Palencia province, covering a substantial part of the mountains in the north of the region. Cervera de Pisuerga itself, the starting point for many hikes in this range, sits in the Pisuerga river valley and serves as a natural base for visitors to the park.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Laguna de Fuentes Carrionas located? In the municipality of Cervera de Pisuerga, in the northern part of Palencia province, in the Fuentes Carrionas massif of the Cantabrian range — about 32 km from Guardo and 128 km from Palencia.

Is it one lake or several? It's two adjoining glacial lakes, sitting together in a single glacial cirque.

How do you reach the lakes? The most popular routes start from Cardaño de Arriba or from the San Glorio mountain pass, and both involve a mountain hike.

What makes this place notable? It's the official source of the Carrión River, surrounded by peaks reaching over 2400–2500 m, within the Fuentes Carrionas y Fuente Cobre-Montaña Palentina Natural Park.