GR86 (Soria Mountains Trail)

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GR86 (Soria Mountains Trail): Soria’s Big Iberian Loop

Published 17 July 2025 Updated 5 June 2026

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Ranked #718 of 974

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HikeList Score

GR86 (Soria Mountains Trail) scored 76/100 on HikeList's trail-quality metrics.

Very Good

See score breakdownHide breakdown

Ideal length 52
Balanced challenge 70
Scenery & wildness 74
Varied terrain 94
Accommodation 84
Food & support 81
Path quality 98
Season flexibility 89

Computed from length, challenge, scenery & wildness, terrain variety, accommodation, food & support, path quality and season flexibility.

The GR86, officially the GR-86 Sendero Ibérico Soriano, is a 933 km loop around the Province of Soria in Castile and León, Spain. Allow about 39–40 days for a continuous thru-hike of the full waymarked itinerary. It is hard because of its length, remoteness, high sierras and cumulative effort, though individual stages are usually moderate. It suits experienced, self-sufficient walkers who want forest tracks, old drovers’ roads, high mountain sections and village-based logistics. For other Spanish route ideas, compare Circuito de Ezcaray and the Camino de Santiago (Camino Francés).

Route Overview

The GR-86 is an itinerario circular, not a point-to-point trail, encircling Soria province through the Sistema Ibérico. There is no fixed start/end, but Ágreda and Cueva de Ágreda beneath Moncayo are common reference points; the Komoot version runs anticlockwise from El Burgo de Osma. Official sources describe 39 stages, plus 6 derivations, 6 variants and 1 branch, with individual stages of 6–27 km. Key towns and areas include Almazán, Berlanga de Duero, Medinaceli, Arcos de Jalón, Vinuesa, Pinares de Urbión, Tierras Altas and the Valle del Tera. Public transport details are not specified in the verified brief, so plan access and exits around settlements.

History of the GR-86

The GR-86 was developed by the Diputación Provincial de Soria with the Federación de Deportes de Montaña de Castilla y León as a signed Gran Recorrido around the province. Its purpose is practical as much as scenic: it links Soria’s sierras, river valleys, historic towns and older routeways into one long circular itinerary. It also connects with neighbouring long-distance trails, including the GR-93 Sierras de la Rioja, GR-90 Sistema Ibérico Zaragozano and GR-260 La Calcenada.

Notable highlights

Cañón del Río Lobos Natural Park: A limestone canyon carved by the Río Lobos, with sabina juniper woodland, nesting griffon vultures and the Romanesque Templar hermitage of San Bartolomé.

Laguna Negra y Circos Glaciares de Urbión: A glacial tarn below steep cliffs in the Picos de Urbión. It is one of the key high-sierra landscapes on the northern side of the route and lies within a Natura 2000 protected site.

Moncayo / Pico San Miguel (2,315 m): The highest summit of the Sistema Ibérico and the high point associated with the GR-86 near Ágreda. Expect a more exposed, mountain feel here than on the lower forest and steppe stages.

Pinares de Urbión: Extensive managed pine forests in Soria Verde, crossed by broad forest tracks. These sections help explain why the GR-86 is also popular with mountain bikers.

Cultural heritage: The route links border castles such as Berlanga de Duero and Gormaz, the Roman and medieval town of Medinaceli with its triple Roman arch, the ruins of Tiermes, and traditional shepherd architecture in the Tierras Altas.

Challenges to expect

The main challenge is scale: 933 km and nearly six weeks on foot if walked continuously. Some northern sections reach cold, exposed high sierras around Urbión, Cebollera and Moncayo, while southern steppe and Duero valley stages can be hot in summer. There is no dedicated refuge network, so accommodation and resupply depend on villages, casas rurales, hostales, small hotels and occasional campsites. Waymarking is standard red-and-white GR paint, but carry mapping.

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