Joar and the Plana from the Sanctuary of Codés

Route description

From the Sanctuary of Codés to the Pass of La Llana 1,8 Km

The car park in the upper part of the Codés Sanctuary (0h 00min) marks the starting point of this mountain route in Navarre.

Crossing the track by which we ascended until the parking lot we will find with the way that we must follow, embedded between the solitary and battered informative signs of the place.

At the moment we begin to notice the unevenness that we are going to have to face, without almost allowing ourselves to get warm, while our path, clearly stepped on, is also marked by the characteristic signs of the GR, which will accompany us for a good part of the ascent.

We advance gaining height with each step with our eyes set on the imposing walls towards which we are heading. The paving of the path together with the clear unevenness that we are saving make us advance with difficulty.

There are not many roads or possible detours with which we will meet and generally in all of them is very clear the direction to follow.

Soon the track is losing width, at the same time that we begin to face some hard ramp. After a while, when the slope seems to give us a little respite, we find a new crossroads, here the GR marks encourage us to follow a narrow trail to our left.

From now on, there will be many hypothetical shortcuts or different trails with which we will meet and which will force us to decide which route to follow, or better said, which will give us the opportunity to choose the hardness and difficulty that we wish to apply to our ascent to the Yoar. We continue straight ahead, leaving behind the detour, in search of a somewhat softer profile in exchange for a despicable greater distance.

We quickly find ourselves before a steep plasterer through which we will ascend following the winding course of our trail.

We gain height quickly and not effortlessly, struggling not to lose foot and get to advance with each step. The impressive needles that surround us are mute witnesses of our effort, which fortunately we will soon see partly lowered.

In front of us, threatening, is one of the various trails by which we can face this stretch. Luckily, we have the possibility of continuing to gain height without the need to harden the ascent even further.

We zigzagged through the vegetation, leaving behind the vertical needles we used to contemplate.

Now we will have to face a steep stretch of the ascent that in normal conditions has no greater complication than being attentive to what we do.

Once again the trail is clearly defined and leads us to the nearby hill towards which we are heading. We still have a steep slope before reaching the plain that awaits us a little further on.

As we get closer to it we will come across more than one trail on our left that invites us to take a detour to continue up the Joar. The Pass of the Plana (1h 00min) greets us with the crossing of paths that lead to the two summits that we are going to crown in this route.

From the pass of the Llana to Mount Joar 1 Km

Once again we have the possibility of choosing the intensity and difficulty of our route, advancing a little further along the path that has become our trail we will find the detour that will allow us to face a gentle slope initially.

Or we can also take one of the trails on our left that, in exchange for a greater effort, shorten the route we will have to follow.

In the first case, already in full plain we will find the solitary stone, just before arriving at a post of the GR of which we say goodbye already, that marks the path to follow.

In all the cases we will begin the ascent by the shoulder of the mountain in direction to a dense forest that waits for us above. On clear days, the antenna that crowns the mountain can serve as a reference to follow in the labyrinth of trails that cross its slope.

The slope becomes noticeable again at the same time as we leave on our right the railing that separates Navarre from Alava.

Once inside the forest, the leaves that cover the ground make it difficult for us to follow the path that leads to the summit.

Luckily the tread of the route next to a few small red dots helps us in case of doubt.

After a while our trail meets the track that gives access to the antennas of Mount Joar. We ascend by the track the few meters that separate us from its wide summit.

Once up we turn in round to go towards it, bordering the enclosure of the antennas.

A little further on from the geodesic vertex we will come across the cross on the top and a little further on we will come across the characteristic mailbox that marks the summit of Mount Joar (1h 30min) or Yoar as it is also known.

From Monte Joar to the Plana 2 Km

Enjoying the marvellous landscape that this mountain offers, we undertake the descent following the steps that brought us here.

In the descent we can clearly observe the next mountain to which we are heading. The Pass of the Llana (1h 45min) awaits us to force us to decide the route we want to follow.

Just before starting the steep descent towards the sanctuary, route to follow for those who go directly to it by the same route we climbed, is the path that leads to the Plana. Before venturing into this part of the route we have to assess the ridge we are going to face, as it undoubtedly increases the difficulty of the route.

This is not too complicated or too long a step for someone accustomed to this type of terrain, but it can impose air more than one and does not give much scope for slips or trips. It is true that it can be avoided by skirting it from below, but not without some difficulties.

We begin the ascent by following the trail behind the hill. The slope is important again, forcing us to take it with a certain calm.

The trail brings us for an instant closer to the vertical walls as if we wanted to get used to what awaits us above.

Soon we will approach the limits of the forest that populates the slope of the mountain. We continue to gain height quickly, protected from the void for now.

The trees, at the same time that the trail disappears, give way to a cobbled wall that we will have to climb.

Once up we will find ourselves face to face with the ridge that the most intrepid must follow. This part of the route is marked with blue marks to the sanctuary itself.

Those who do not want to take the risk of riding the ridge have the possibility of saving it on the left side, as we ascend.

Losing some height, to reach the base of the stone wall and the boundaries of the forest, we can pass not without some difficulty.

Without a defined path or trail we will have to save every obstacle that we will find, without losing too much height.

Almost without realizing it we will see ourselves recovering the lost altitude to accede to the top towards which we go.

Once up and after looking back to see the crest that we have either crossed or we have bordered, we go to the nearby summit of The Plana (2h 10min).​

From the Plana to the Sanctuary of Codés 2,8 Km

After contemplating the magnificent landscape that surrounds this summit we undertake the descent following the top shoulder, opposite to the crest that we have just surpassed.

We walk this shoulder almost to its end, to find a lonely post, time to change our course.

We turn right to start a quick descent down the long southeast ridge of the mountain.

Soon we will come across the trail that we must follow and that will partly facilitate our way to the sanctuary of Codés.

As in the ascent there will be several possible trails that we can follow, some closer to the apex of the ridge, others further from it, but all with the same direction.

The descent is longer than expected, but the views it offers compensate for the tiring tracing.

Shortly before reaching some solitary and vertical needles, we will find a new detour marked by a small stone milestone.

We will have to be careful not to skip it, although if this is the case at the moment we will have a new crossing that will allow us to correct the course to follow.

We now descend away from the fine stone needles that once served as a reference. The path soon turns round and begins a dizzying descent with its eyes set on the Monte Yoar.

A long stretch of narrow, cobbled track still awaits us before we reach our destination.

After a while the trail ends suddenly when we come across a way that we must follow.

Almost without having become accustomed to the relative comfort of the way we will arrive at a new detour that will avoid us to cross the wide curve that this one draws.

This short stretch of trail ends again in a new dirt track which we will continue for a few metres.

At the moment, on our right, we find the track that we had previously abandoned and a new track that we will continue leaving behind the track we had brought, which leaves the nearby road.

This new trail after passing by a small house takes us to the vicinity of a watering hole. Just before reaching a diluted arrow painted on the trunk of the tree that precedes the trough indicates that we must continue down our left.

We will quickly pass by some corrals sensing the proximity of the end of this hiking route.

The battered track takes us directly to an encementada track that from the nearby road will take us to the Sanctuary of Codés.

All we have to do is follow the track without any more detours, unless we dare to visit the Shrine.

Our track takes us directly to the Sanctuary of Codés car park (3h 00min), from where we start the route and where we will put a stop and end.

Technical details of the ascent to Joar and The Plana

Distance. 7.6Km

Returning by the same route, without doing the circular route, does not subtract as much distance as might be expected.

Time. 3:00h

The unevenness, added to the decomposed and slippery trail that connects the Sanctuary of Codés with the hill of the Llana, is almost without a doubt what will most condition, apart from our physical condition of course, the time we will need to make this hiking route.

Time of year

Its low altitude does not devalue the beauty and the mountain environment, worthy of the highest peaks, that this mountain offers to those who dare to conquer it. Although this summit is quite accessible under normal conditions and always depending on the route we choose or the conditions we find, this mountain and its companion the Plana, thanks to its solitary location offer a magnificent balcony from which to contemplate as far as we can see, Navarre, Alava and nearby La Rioja. Autumn with its striking colours or winter with its white and crystalline mantle, reserved for more experienced mountaineers, provide a magnificent incentive to this attractive mountain route.

Required equipment

Except in the sanctuary we will not have more water points so it is advisable to take water and food in the backpack. The canes will surely be of great help in the ascent but even more in the descent. The gravel and the slope of some sections suggest that we wear boots or slippers prepared for this type of terrain. It is not so strange to meet people who come to know the sanctuary and venture into the mountain without the recommended material and minimum information. Another point to take into account is the difference in temperature and time we can meet once we reach the pass so it is not too much to wear some short wind clothing or raincoat. Consult our list of material and equipment for hiking. Read more.

Difficulty. Moderate

Physical

The strong ramps that we will have to confront to save the unevenness that we have in front will force us to take us with calm the ascent. Although once we get to the hill the slope is not so demanding, there are still some stretches waiting for us that will again require extra effort.

Severity of the environment

The path, as a general rule, avoids exposing ourselves to the steep walls that surround our route. The great threats that we will have to face, as long as we are talking about the state of the route being that of summer conditions, without snow, ice or rain, are the slippery and steep of some ramps that we will pass through, especially if we go down the same itinerary, the possible fall of stones and the aerial, although not too complicated crest that leads to the top of the Plana, a stretch that we can and must avoid if we are not accustomed to this type of terrain.

Orientation

On more than one occasion we have to find the doubts generated by the many paths and shortcuts we have to find, especially in the area of the hill and the final climb to Joar. It is in this part of the route where we will have diverse options to confront the final ascent. We must also be clear about the marks to follow at all times, especially if we make the circular route, as we alternate red and blue points, depending on the stretch in which we are, as well as coinciding with the marks of the GR that crosses this mountain range.

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 171-2, 1:25.000"

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.