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The Crests of Iparla hike

103 Urdos, Saint-Étienne-de-Baïgorry, Nouvelle-Aquitaine

Description

The Crests of Iparla hike consists in a 14km loop starting near Saint Étienne de Baïgorry, not far from Saint Jean Pied de Port in the French Basque Country. Total cumulative ascent is about 900m with the highest point being the Iparla Peak at the border between France and Spain. From there, hikers can follow the ridge for a while and will enjoy panoramic views all the way to the Atlantic Ocean

Access & Transport

Departure is from Urdoz, 3km north of Saint Étienne de Baïgorry - on the D15 through Irouleguy when driving from Saint Jean Pied de Port (use the D932 through Ustaritz and the D918 after Cambo les Bains or the D21/22 through Hasparren to get there).

Instructions & Recommendations

Make sure to have proper footwear and bring some snacks (and possibly a picnic), plenty of water, sun protection and rain/wind coat depending on the weather forecast. We strongly recommend you check your map / itinerary beforehand as well.

Meta review

The hike gets excellent reviews on specialized websites. Intermediate level with some steep sections early on and fantastic views along the ridge is what you should expect. The main drawback is the poor marking.

Environmental & Social

Eco-friendly activity. Brings some revenues to the villages in the valley

Conclusion

The hike to the Iparla Peak and along the ridge is not very well known but is visually extremely rewarding - even though this is not the high mountain. It is best done as a combination with a discovery of the surrounding villages and countryside to make it a full day outing.

Key positive

Fantastic views of the Basque Country on a clear day

Reasonable driving distance from the coast for a change from the beach / seaside

Key negative

Not well marked

Suitability

Best for those aged between 8 and 70 and with an intermediate level of fitness

About this Rating

TYPE

Desktop

RESEARCHED IN

May 2024

PROVIDER

Koreval

Included Items
None
Timing
Duration of visit
The trail is is open year-round; we only reflect the expected weather and trail conditions

av. transport time:1h 30m

est. visit time:4h

Sunlight based

Sunrise / early morningOk

MorningOk

Lunch timeOk

AfternoonOk

Sunset / eveningOk

Night – bef. midnightNo

Night – aft. midnightNo

Pricing
Free

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