RONCESVALLES – ALTOBIZCAR

Circle route. Long Jump 9,4 km. Unevenness 975 metres. Estimated tour time: 5 hours.

This route starts from the town of Roncesvalles, where we parked. From this point we take the path that is next to the Arrañosin regatta and enter the valley. We will see the Royal Collegiate Church of Santa María de Roncesvalles on the side of the road.

We headed north, along a wide and well-marked path. After 600 meters we see a fork and we take the left direction. This takes us to the church of San Salvador de Ibañeta and the monument to Roldán. Before, on the right side, we see the Roncesvalles Bird Migration Center. Up to this point we have traveled 1,9 kilometers of very beautiful and ascending route.
From the church we head to the right along a fairly easy path to follow, with shade in some sections and very clear in the rest. This will take us to the height or pass of Lepoeder. It is a good time to take a few minutes to rest and drink water.
From this point we take the path that appears on the left and we are on our way to the top of Altobizkar, our destination in this first part of the route. It takes us a kilometer to climb to the top of this point and the views are beautiful. We can see the Pyrenees and be refreshed by its beauty.
Once we have had our rest, we begin the descent and we do it carefully, since when we return to the Lepoeder pass we take a path and reach a point where the slope is very steep, we must take all the necessary precautions to avoid injury. This trail goes through the forest and is about 2,5 kilometers long. When we reach the next fork, we turn right along the path that appears and the one that takes us back to Roncesvalles, very close to the Collegiate Church, where we finish our route.