Autumn road trips: six panoramic routes along some of the most beautiful roads in Spain

When autumn pushes hard, the nature around us transforms. From mid-October the landscapes change in an astonishing way, and the green tones of summer give way to a varied palette of yellows, ochres, oranges and reds. The days begin to get shorter, the air becomes cooler, the rains take center stage and the forest floor is covered with a blanket of leaves that crunch underfoot. It is the perfect time to escape the routine and go out to explore roads that seem designed to be enjoyed at this time of year.

In deciduous forests such as oak and beech forests the colors become intense, but also where there are chestnut trees, poplars and poplars. With them the autumn show is served. Each corner offers a different postcard, in mountains or valleys, around roads that wind through the landscape passing through small towns where it is always worth stopping.

So, if you want to enjoy autumn in a different way, we propose six road routes that cover some of the most beautiful and picturesque landscapes in Spain. Each one in its own way, offering something special, so you can see how destinations as different from each other as Picos de Europa, the Jerte Valley, the Val d’Aran or the Sierra de la Demanda, surrender to autumn so that you can delight. kilometer after kilometer.

Val d’Aran, in Lleida

Taking Vielha as the central point, and leaving the C-28 road to the East and the N-230 to the West, the Val d’Aran can give us some of the best views when autumn arrives in the Lleida Pyrenees. The orange, ocher and golden tones dominate the landscape, while the rocky peaks of the Pyrenean mountain range provide a majestic backdrop to our route. The highest points of the road, such as the Bonaigua pass that takes us to Pallars Sobirá, are the ideal stop to stretch your legs and try to reach the horizon with your view.

The Val d’Aran is also known for its picturesque mountain villages, such as Vielha, Bossost, Salardú, Bausén, Artiés, Bagergue, Unha or Garós, with their stone houses and slate roofs, so characteristic of traditional Aranese architecture. The mix of wild nature and mountain culture makes this route one of the most complete to enjoy autumn in the Pyrenees.

Alto Nalón Route, in Asturias

In the heart of the Redes Natural Park, the AS-117 highway offers a majestic autumn experience on Asturian soil. This stretch of road, which follows the course of the Nalón River, is flanked by thick beech and oak forests that, in autumn, transform into an explosion of colors. The landscape is particularly attractive at this time of year, with mountains that turn gold, meadows that remain green and mountains that are covered in snow as we approach winter. It is an ideal route for nature and photography lovers since each curve reveals a new perspective of the landscape.

If you start from the Port of Tarna, on the border with León, and travel the road to, for example, Langreo, on your way you will find towns such as La Foz, Coballes, Abantro, Anzó or Pola de Laviana, although you may not want to go through Alto Campo de Caso to take advantage and let yourself be conquered by some of the most typical delicacies of the rich Asturian gastronomy.

Sierra de la Demanda, in Burgos and La Rioja

The Sierra de la Demanda, located between Burgos and La Rioja, offers a beautiful route if we want to enjoy autumn from the road. Along roads such as the BU-820, the LR-113 or the LR-415, you will find yourself surrounded by forests with changing vegetation, where you can find beech, oak and chestnut trees, while conifers populate the higher areas. If you want to stretch your legs by taking a walk to a very special place, don’t miss the oak groves of the Tolbaños meadow, where you will find enormous century-old specimens.

An essential stop on this route is the town of Ezcaray, in La Rioja. A charming place that perfectly combines culture and nature, with traditional architecture that blends in with the environment and a gastronomic offer that invites you to taste the typical dishes of the region. On the other side, in Burgos, Pradoluengo is famous for its textile tradition and its natural environment, so both are perfect for taking a break and enjoying the tranquility that characterizes this area in autumn.

N-260, in the Pyrenees

We are going big and talking about none other than the N-260, the national highway that connects the towns of Portbou, in Girona, and Sabiñánigo, in Huesca, running along the foothills of the Pyrenees. It is 500 km long, so we are not going to tell you to travel the entire length, but at least it is highly recommended to visit some of its most beautiful sections. The N-260 passes through mountains, valleys and lush forests, many of them populated by beech and oak trees that add a touch of color to the landscape as soon as autumn arrives.

Also known as the ‘Pyrenean axis’, the N-260 is full of viewpoints where you can stop to enjoy the views. But if you want to add some towns of special interest to the panoramic views of the trip, although there are many, pay attention to Aínsa, perfectly preserved, Besalú, Vallfogona de Ripollès or La Seu d’Urgell.

Jerte Valley, in Cáceres

You surely know the Jerte Valley for its cherry trees. In spring it becomes the fashionable destination due to the exuberant flowering of its trees, but in autumn it offers an equally impressive and much less known spectacle. The N-110 road that runs through the valley becomes one of the best autumn routes in Extremadura, as the cherry, chestnut and oak trees that populate the valley acquire reddish and golden tones, which contrast with persistent greens and gorges through which the water runs.

This moment here is known as ‘autumn’ and the transformation of the landscape is accompanied by a good number of activities that are carried out in many of its towns. Cabezuela del Valle and Jerte, both with a marked rural character and surrounded by trails that invite you to walk through the forest, are some of the municipalities that you should not miss. This way you will have the opportunity to discover that if the Jerte Valley is famous in spring for its cherry trees, in autumn it is famous for its chestnuts.

Port of San Glorio, in León and Cantabria

The N-621 highway and the San Glorio pass is one of the most spectacular routes to enjoy autumn in the Picos de Europa. This road crosses the mountains that separate León from Cantabria, offering spectacular panoramic views on both sides. As you enter the mountainous landscape, the road is surrounded by a wide palette of autumn colors. And from the altitude of the port, 1,609 meters above sea level, we get one of the most breathtaking views of the mountain massif.

It is an ideal road to stop at a viewpoint, such as Corzo, breathe fresh air and contemplate the immensity of the mountains. Potes, a medieval town full of charm and perfect for exploring the Liébana valley, can put the limit of the route in Cantabria, while Riaño, known for its impressive views over the reservoir surrounded by mountains, can mark the other end in lands Leonese.