Reservoir of Lareo from Lizarrusti

Description of the route of the Reservoir of Lareo from Lizarrusti

From Lizarrusti to Lareo Reservoir 2.5 km

The car park of the Aralar Natural Park House (0h 00min) in the Pass of Lizarrusti is the starting point of this hiking route frequented by many families with children.

There are several options to start the tour but the best is to go up the ramp in front of the park house. Once up, this short and conditioned walk ends when you come across a track that ascends from the nearby road, at which point our itinerary turns sharply to head towards the interior of the forest.

We advance leaving behind the road and the trail that on our right follow the GR 12 and the GR 121 a couple of long distance paths we have to find in this area.

At the moment we came across a fork in the path, where those who decided to climb up here joined us, crossing the recreational area next to the car park.

Our route from now on will be marked not only by the typical red and white marks of the GR, but also by the green marks belonging to our route.

We advance surrounded by a lush forest following a magnificent path without major complications. This path loses its width until it becomes a comfortable trail.

After a while we will meet again in front of a new fork, here we will leave the trail on our right to follow the path that brought us to this place.

Little by little we are getting into the deep gorge we are going up.

A wild gorge covered by vegetation that, together with the chains that act as handrails, hide us and help us pass through areas that would be quite impressive if they were not covered by vegetation.

Almost without realizing it, we gain height gently as we approach another of the charming places on this hiking route.

A little further on, the small tunnel carved into the mountain awaits us, allowing us to save the wall that cuts us off the pass.

After going through the tunnel we will begin to gain height with more evidence, short and demanding ramps that make us advance calmly.

The trail we are following is generally and except for a few short stretches in fairly good condition. We are crossing some gates that seem to delimit the wildest zone of the route.

After a while, we reached the height of the river that we could hear at the bottom of the valley. We will cross this river thanks to the wooden bridge that crosses it, just to make it start with another hard ramp.

From now on we will see ourselves following a new path with sections in better condition and others that are somewhat broken.

Our path reaches its end when we meet the asphalt track that goes down from the reservoir in search of the base of the dam that forms it. Here we can continue to climb on the asphalt track or shorten this section a little in exchange for following the steep trail in front of us.

Both options are joined again a little higher up so that together they can continue to ascend in search of the Lareo reservoir. This stretch is made more pleasant by the thick beech forest that surrounds us.

A beech forest that accompanies us practically until the doors of the Lareo reservoir (1h 00min).​

Tour of the Lareo reservoir 2 km

As soon as we arrive we will see another fork in the road, here the GR 283 and the GR 35 continue on our right side, bordering the reservoir dam. Just like the marks on our trail.

But on this occasion we decided to go around the reservoir in the opposite direction to that proposed by the official itinerary.

In any case, we will continue to enjoy the perfect signposting that has accompanied us throughout the route.

With the reservoir always on our right, we reach a new junction where we turn right to continue along the limits of the Lareo reservoir.

Quickly and after leaving behind a new path we arrive at the crossroads where we say goodbye to the GR 20.1, another of the many that have accompanied us.

This part of the itinerary follows a peaceful path surrounded by the vegetation that grows next to the reservoir.

After a while we reach the crossroads that marks the end of this section, as our route turns sharply to the right to continue bordering the Lareo reservoir.

Crossroads where we meet again the route followed by the GR 35 and the GR 283, but now in the opposite direction, i.e. towards Lizarrusti.

This part of the route takes us through places as mysterious as the one that houses Labeo's dolmen.

Or for places as curious as the bridge that crosses one of the drains of the reservoir. But this section also has some hard ramps that we will have to overcome.

Fortunately, as usual, they are not too long ramps and soon we will be ready to cross over the reservoir dam.

On the other side of the Lareo reservoir dam (1h 30min) the crossroads that closes the circle is waiting for us. Here we only have to start the descent that will take us back to the Lizarrusti pass (2h 10min) following the same route inside the gorge.

Technical data sheet of the route

Distance. 7Km

If we don't go all the way around the reservoir we will save a couple of kilometres or so.

Time. 2:10h

As always, this figure is an estimate to which we will have to add, among other things, the time we spend enjoying the natural area we are visiting.

Time of year

The level of the water in the reservoir is undoubtedly a determining factor, but the places we pass through on the way more than compensate for the possible lack of water in the reservoir. Autumn is a very good period as the forest is painted in its typical ochre colours, which adds to this interesting trekking route through the Aralar Natural Park.

Required equipment

This is a simple route that runs through quite good terrain and this may make us fall into the error of not giving it proper consideration. We will go through some areas that are somewhat decomposed, others with a certain slope, and wearing suitable footwear will provide us with greater safety and comfort. Hiking shoes will surely be better than typical sports shoes. Although we will pass by some sources is not a bad idea to bring some water, especially if we go with children. Consult our list of material and equipment for hiking. Read more.

Difficulty. Medium

Physical

Without being an excessively long route nor with a remarkable unevenness, we do have to find some ramp that if we are not used to it is better to take it easy. Take your time and enjoy the route and you will see how you arrive at the reservoir almost without realizing it.

Severity of the environment

We are going to pass through some quite exposed areas where the vegetation helps to conceal the fall that we really have at our side. Areas that thanks to the width of the path that runs through them and the chain that acts as a handrail should not make us have a bad time, but that should not be taken as a joke either. The decomposition of small sections of the itinerary will also force us to pay special attention to the descent.

Orientation

The large number of trails that we will coincide with during the tour and their corresponding marks should be all the complications that we encounter.

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 114-1, 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.