Movie deserts or lush forests trails in Spain

In less than two hours we can go from walking the trails of one of the largest beech forests in Europe to the most characteristic desert roads in the south of the continent. Without forgetting mythical places such as Pamplona and its Estafeta Street, the place where the most prestigious bull runs in the world are held, the San Fermín bull runs.

Navarra - Tradition and contrast 

I know the Community of Navarra very well, some of my friends live in that area and whenever I have the opportunity I escape there with my bike. Due to its proximity to where I live, I had almost always explored the same area: the Bardenas Reales Desert. A very special place that has served as the setting for a multitude of commercials and films. But I have to confess that I was a great ignorant of all the options that this region offers to the mountain bikers.

Navarra has a great cycling tradition, remember that the great Miguel Indurain (winner of the Tour of France 5 times in a row) is from Navarra and that has left his mark on this land. Navarrese are good cyclists, good sports connoisseurs and great trail builders.

The landscape contrast of this community is very great, we go from the lush forests and mountains of the north to the desert south. That is fantastic when it comes to programming a bike trip since we can ride in very different landscapes and terrain in a few kilometers, which after all is what mountain bikers like, variety and fun.

The level of riding that we can find in the area will please all audiences, levels and styles. From the most technical and hardcore trails that we can find in the north (Eremua) where lovers of Downhill, Enduro and E-bikes will discover a universe of possibilities. Well-worked trails and other totally natural trails follow one another without end. The forest tracks are very abundant in the area and will allow us to explore its mountains with family, friends or alone.

The southern area, Tierra Estella / Lizarraldea and the Middle Zone of Navarra, does not offer areas with slightly less unevenness, although if we look for it ... I assure you that we will find it too. This area is ideal for longer routes, trail, xc and gravel bikes will find here a true paradise of infinite routes.

Navarra - MTB routes and trails

It doesn't matter if you want to get to know Navarra with friends, as a family or alone, here is an ideal option for each and every one of you.

EuroVelo 1 : The EuroVelo 1 route called the Atlantic Coast Route (Atlantic Coast Route) passes through Navarra, a project to circulate around Europe by bicycle over 80,000 km. Navarra has 203 km divided into 5 stages. For the conditioning of the first two, the routes of the Bidasoa and Plazola Greenways have been joined, through the "Ederbidea" project.

Greenways : These routes that run along the old narrow-gauge train routes are full of history and hardly have any circulation, which is why they are an easy and safe alternative to immerse yourself in nature as a family. Discover the Foz de Lumbier Nature Reserve on the Irati Greenway, the lush Atlantic forests on the Bidasoa Greenway, the longest tunnel of all the European Greenways on the Plazaola Greenway, Tierra Estella on the Greenway of the Vasco Navarro Railroad or the endless irrigated crops in the Vía Verde del Tarazonica.

Camino de Santiago : Navarra is the gateway to the Camino de Santiago to the Iberian Peninsula. A door that takes you into a land of centuries-old traditions, wild nature and an exquisite historical heritage. Up to four different paths of the Camino de Santiago pass through Navarra: two branches of the Camino Frances, the Camino del Baztan and the Camino del Ebro.

The star route is, without a doubt, the one that enters Navarra through Luzaide / Valcarlos, known as the French Way. This popular route will take you from the Pyrenees to La Rioja, passing through emblematic places such as Orreaga / Roncesvalles, Pamplona or Puente la Reina. 

MTB areas : More than 3,000 cyclable km divided into hundreds of signposted paths of all levels and distributed throughout the region.

MTB Area Middle Zone-Erdi Aldea : Discover great attractions of Navarra such as the Castle of Olite, Ujué, San Martín de Unx or the town of Puente la Reina, thanks to the 46 BTT routes that the area has, perfectly signposted and of all levels. One of them, the perimeter route, runs through the entire Middle Zone, linking the towns that participate in the project over 7 stages.

-       Tierra Estella-Lizarraldea BTT Area : With more than 2,200 kilometers of routes, it is one of the most extensive BTT areas in the entire Peninsula. And consequently, it has routes for all levels: amateurs, families and experienced cyclists.

Along its paths you can contemplate the great diversity of Navarre landscapes, passing through the Urbasa-Andía Natural Park, the Cañadas Reales, the Camino de Santiago or the Vía Verde of the Vasco Navarro Railway.

The space has 7 reception centers with different services: showers, small workshops and bicycle repair kits or information about the BTT space and its routes. 

-       Irati BTT Center : 16 routes make up this BTT initiative is part of a project that brings together the valleys through which the Irati Forest expands: Salazar and Aezkoa in the Navarrese part and Zuberoa and Cize in the French. 400 cyclable kilometers to get to know Irati and its surroundings in depth.

-       BTT Circuit and Eremua Trail : A beautiful network of trails that runs through forests, in this case in the Esteribar Valley. Its natural splendor will be your best company on any of its 12 routes. The reception center is located in Zubiri and the routes depart from Zubiri and Eugi. 

-       MTB Vidángoz Bidankoze : The Vidángoz trails offer you 5 MTB routes so that you can discover this area of the Roncal Valley.

Slopes, distances and difficulties for all tastes facilitate the immersion in the Pyrenees, as well as being able to pedal on a cattle track, the Cañada Real de los Roncaleses.

-       Montejurra Bizi : Discover one of the most mythical mountains of Tierra Estella through 3 signposted routes that run through the territory of Montejurra. A solitary summit of 1045 meters of altitude, with a most characteristic profile.

Throughout 138 kilometers, you will circulate through dream trails, complicated steps, abrupt descents between holm oaks and hard climbs that will put your technique and physical form to the test.

Useful information:

Then I leave you with some contacts of interest that if you travel through the area they will be very useful. The first of them is the Official Tourism Page of Navarra (visitnavarra.es) where they detail very well everything you can do in Navarra. Ideas, routes, trips, special plans, gastronomy ... A very useful page when organizing your trip.

Do you want to sleep at the top of a tree? The guys at Agroturismo Mari Cruz are very special people, during our trip we had the opportunity to spend one night in their treehouse, a magical and very special experience. Not only for the environment and the place, which is incredible, but for the experience of meeting this family in love with their work and nature. His cuisine is ecological and natural (and is to die for). Agroturismo Maricruz (casaruralennavarra.com)

Discover the northern routes with the guys from Eremua Centro BTT. From ski lifts, to guided routes, transport, accommodation or bicycle rental. During our visit to the north they took care of everything. In addition, the boys of the organization have dedicated themselves to recovering old trails in the area, so there is no one better than them to locate the best spots. (eremua.com)

Text & Riding: @david_cachon / YOUTUBE

Photography & Film: David Ponce

Video editing: Alberto Porras