Enchanted forest of Urbasa

Route description of the enchanted forest of Urbasa

We begin the tour next to the house that houses the information point (0h 00min) of the Natural Park of Urbasa and Andía.​

Luckily we can avoid walking along the road thanks to the trail that runs parallel to it.

We left behind another of the parking areas we have available in this area of the park. The marks of the Path of the Mountaineers, with which we will coincide in part of our route, serve us as reference to follow.

The trail takes us without loss to the meeting of the adapted itinerary that begins in the nearby car park next to which we are passing.

This circular route serves as a guide in this part of our route. The posts of the route of the Mountaineers continue marking us the way to follow in the different crosses that we are finding.

We soon reached the moment of abandoning the adapted path and entering the leafy forest. Almost at the moment we will see ourselves crossing a wide clearing of the forest.

On the other side, a kind of track covered by grass brings us back into the forest. This track, together with the marks we are following, leads us to our destination without major complications.

Soon we'll see ourselves passing by an old coalman's txabola, almost at the same time that we left to our right the GR that was accompanying us until the moment.

From now on, and not for long, it will be the green marks of the Path of the Mountaineers that will continue to guide us.

Once again the track is diluted again under the green tapestry that covers it, forcing us to be attentive to the posts that indicate the direction to follow.

Almost without realizing it, we arrive at the point where we must say goodbye to the track we had been following in order to begin to gain height along the trail that begins here.

A trail that immediately disappears under the leaf litter that covers it. Without time to get used to this new environment that surrounds us the Path of the Mountaineers that we were following turns to the left while we continue straight into the enchanted Forest of Urbasa.

From now on we will not enjoy any sign or a footpath that serves as a reference and we will have to guide us by other means to find the different sculptures that await us, such as the Txapela that welcomes us to this spectacular labyrinth.

After visiting the Txapela a couple of stones like colossal columns will call our attention inviting us to look for the way to cross them.

On the other side we head towards the apparent exit of the rocky cliffs that surround us, where another of the monuments of the Enchanted Forest of Urbasa, the Great Arch, awaits us.

A low arch that we will cross for nothing more than to make it turn to the right and to continue in search of the following surprise that keeps us this forest.

Without a defined layout we will have to look for the best way to advance through this labyrinth of stones, roots and trees. Luckily we have the GPS that helps us to find the Gran Boletus, which hides in this forest.

Getting from one point to the other is a fun task through this spectacular spot. Each stone that we leave behind evokes us different silhouettes according to the perspective that we adopt, even we arrive to find us with a slender Sailboat.

We came out of this wonderful chaos to begin to gain altitude, as could not be otherwise without anything to guide us, except the GPS.

After passing by another pile of stones we face the slope of the mountain looking for the best way to save the slope more comfortably.

It is a cross-country ascent in which we sometimes come across a tree marked by signs that do not belong to our route.

After a while, in front of us emerges a fence and the path that ascends the itinerary of the Mountaineers with which we reconcile.

We continue along this path, gaining height without much effort and with the invaluable help of the brands that guide us again.

But much faster than we would have liked we must say goodbye to the path and its signs to cross the fence thanks to a step it has.

Here we have the possibility of ascending straight, leaving the fence behind us, to approach a small cave located not far away.

After visiting it, we must return to the enclosure to take up our route, which seems to make us return down the road, a path that led us to pass, surely without realizing it, next to an old submarine stranded in this charming forest of Urbasa.

After approaching to visit it we take up again our route that makes us separate little by little from the fence.

Once again we are immersed in the chaos of enormous stones and deceptive chasms that characterize this forest looking for the best way to continue.

If we look closely, to the left of this labyrinth runs a kind of path that borders it facing the new ascent ahead. Already in it it becomes much easier to continue with our route.

A route that takes us past the enormous Head of a Bear. And shortly after, next to a solitary Duck of surprising dimensions.

The route begins to meander and in order to make our work easier, the typical stone milestones that mark it begin to appear.

The slope is evident and the route to follow although more obvious than in previous sections is still difficult to find.

We remain obliged to guide ourselves by our own means in order to find the right path. A big ball and what looks like the head and part of the neck of a diplodocus are the following characters of the forest that greet us at our pace.

At this point those who consider it so can return on their steps and thus avoid the final ascent and the crest to the top of the Bargagain.

The rest of us will continue immersed in full ascent through the labyrinthine forest that we are crossing.

We still have nothing marked the itinerary to follow but between the GPS and the trail that seems to be intuitive we advance without too many complications.

The proximity of the crest towards which we are heading is noticeable on the ramps we have to face.

Once again we see ourselves crossing a battered fence that warns us of the near end of this stretch of ascent.

We approach the crestero, which we must follow, although another chaotic stretch is still waiting for us to do so.

An area in which once again we must be attentive to cross it as best as possible.

Once up we will find the marks of the path that runs along the cresterío, in truth we will have the possibility of doing it either by the south slope, or by the north.

We decided to follow the path of the northern slope although it is not easy to find the passage that allows us to access it safely. Already on the other side the trail is clear and without major complications.

After a small serpentine that allows us to lose some height, we definitively join the path that runs under the ridge that we have crossed.

A trail that except for the usual mud that characterizes it does not present many more difficulties. Soon we reach the point where we will walk again to the top of the ridge.

After doing so, a much more amiable terrain opens up before us from which we can already sense the nearby summit towards which we are heading.

But to crown the Bargagain (2h 05min) we still have some slippery step or another in which we will have to take extreme precautions.

After enjoying the marvellous views offered by this Navarrese mountain, we continue our route dabbling in a simple rocky stretch. Those who are not seen with the security or agility necessary to do so can follow the path that borders the southern slope of the same.

We continue crossing this beautiful and already simple crest in search of the path that will return us to our starting point.

This trail is marked by a battered landmark that indicates the beginning of the descent.

On this occasion the leaves do not completely hide the wide and steep path we are following. We lose height quickly and advance cautiously to avoid slips.

After a while we'll be forced to cross another fence again, this time thanks to a wooden bridge.

The descent practically reaches its end when we come across one of the singular trees of this forest, delimited by its corresponding wall.

A couple of stones seem to serve as a gateway or exit to the forest we have traveled.

After crossing them, to our left we will see the ramp that will return us to civilization. The adapted itinerary that we follow at the beginning of the route awaits us there.

All that remains is for us to return on our steps to the car park (2h 45min) from where we leave at the beginning of this route through the enchanted forest of Urbasa.

Technical data sheet of the route

Distance. 7Km

On this route, more than ever, this figure is a guideline, as we will undoubtedly increase the final distance in the forest.

Time. 2:45h

This figure in this occasion is practically symbolic since it will be very affected by the itinerary that each one follows and by the time that must be used to find the route to follow, without counting on the multiple stops that without a doubt will make.

Time of year

The terrain on which we move is extremely slippery so if we increase the humidity that already has the result can get to complicate the route quite a bit. The landscape is undoubtedly spectacular all year round, but like any forest that prides itself is in spring and especially in autumn when it gives us all its splendor.

Required equipment

Not only because of the mud we can find, but also because of the hidden traps we will go through, like stones and holes, make it more than advisable to wear good hiking shoes that protect us and give us a better grip. Indispensable the GPS with the tracks of the loaded route, the canes also can serve us of aid and neither can lack us some water and food. Consult our list of material and equipment for hiking. Read more.

Difficulty. Medium

Physical

Neither the distance nor the unevenness should be a great complication for someone accustomed to hiking and the mountains, although it is true that the type of terrain through which it runs and the lack of references to follow in the route, can and in fact increase the physical demand that this route would normally have.

Severity of the environment

This section, together with the orientation section, are the ones that bring practically all the difficulty to this route. Chasms and dolinas, stones and very slippery trails and a section of crest that, depending on where we face it, leaves us more exposed, make it advisable to take extreme precautions and not take the itinerary lightly.

Orientation

As it is not an official route in much of its layout, and run at will through the interior of the forest, we are faced with a route that requires some experience, in addition to taking with us the necessary means for navigation through the labyrinth that is the Enchanted Forest of Urbasa. In addition the different paths that we will find do not make it easy either, even more in the area of the crest, where the different trails are added to the convoluted terrain.

Coordinates UTM Datum WGS84

Profile of the route

Cartography, maps and tracks

This sketch of the route is not made to scale nor does it contain all the information relating to the area, it is merely indicative.

This schematic with the path is approximate and has been created from the derived cartographic base © Instituto Geográfico Nacional "Cuadrante 114-3, 25.000"

Senditur has manipulated the tracks to correct the aberrant points that may exist, caused by problems with the reception of the GPS signal. In any case the tracks are always approximate. SENDITUR encourages you to use the new technologies within your reach, using them as support and consultation in your activity, not basing the realization and orientation of the same only and exclusively on them, since they may see their functioning altered by very diverse causes, not functioning correctly and their indications may not be precise.