Iron Cross – View of El Bierzo loop from Cruz de Ferro

Mountain biking trails

Santa Colomba De Somoza

Iron Cross – View of El Bierzo loop from Cruz de Ferro

Hard

riders

Iron Cross – View of El Bierzo loop from Cruz de Ferro

02:29

29.7km

630m

Mountain biking

Hard mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: September 10, 2026

Tips

Includes a very steep uphill segment

You may need to push your bike.

After 7.96 km for 75 m

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

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241 m

Iron Cross

Highlight • Monument

It is also known as Cruz de Fierro (Iron Cross). A mountain landmark (1504 m) that stands on the French Way in the mountains of León as it passes through the province of the same name, corresponding to the autonomous community of Castilla y León. 230 km from Santiago. It is one of the best-known and most symbolic places of all the Jacobean routes, and perhaps for this reason the most mythologised and exciting, with the Monte do Gozo de Santiago, the first place from which pilgrims on the French Way observe the city of Santiago.

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2.13 km

Domus Dei Pilgrims' Hostel, Foncebadón

Highlight • Mountain Hut

French Way of Santiago

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13.3 km

Cruz de Ferro (Puerto de Foncebadón)

Highlight • Monument

The Cruz de Ferro marks the highest point of the Camino Frances de Santiago. At the top of the port of Foncebadón, at 1504 meters.
Around the wooden post on which the cross is located, you will see a mountain of stones. Tradition makes pilgrims deposit here a stone brought from their place of origin.

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15.7 km

Refugio de Peregrinos Los Templarios (Manjarín)

Highlight • Mountain Hut

The Los Templarios pilgrim refuge is located in Manjarín, a tiny mountain enclave on the French Way. This hostel is one of the most peculiar and well-known on the route. It is managed by Tomás Martínez, a hospitaler and former pilgrim who felt the Templar call during a stay in Ponferrada. Although it does not offer luxurious amenities (it has no bathrooms or showers), it is an energetic place where pilgrims can rest and pray three times a day. A light that illuminates and welcomes you in the middle of the road! 🚶‍♂️🌟

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21.1 km

View of El Bierzo

Highlight • Viewpoint

Mountainous area found climbing towards Puerto de Foncebadón at an altitude of 1504 metres

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26.6 km

The Mountain Pass Water Trough

Highlight • Structure

Foncebadón is a small town in the province of León, Spain, located on the Camino de Santiago route. Along the Camino, it is common to find drinking troughs for cattle, including cows. These drinkers are sources of drinking water that are also used to supply the animals that graze in the area.

In Foncebadón, you can find drinking troughs for cattle, such as cows, which are strategically located to provide them with fresh water and keep them hydrated during their grazing time. These drinkers are usually fountains or basins with access to running water.

It is important to note that these drinkers are for livestock use and are not intended for direct human consumption. If you are a pilgrim and need drinking water, it is advisable to bring your own water bottle or look for designated drinking water sources for pilgrims along the route.

Always remember to maintain a respectful approach towards the environment and the local community during your trip on the Camino de Santiago.

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