Artzamendi as seen from the Col de Mehatze

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A superb circular walk to climb Artzamendi (Bear Mountain in Basque) starting from the Col de Mehatze.
This summit is recognisable from a great distance thanks to its white, spherical radar dish.

Details

n°3190194
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 3.74 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,056 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,047 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 3,018 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,962 ft
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Photos

A sheepfold in the valley
The foothills of Artzamendi
The air traffic control station.
The Basque coast with the Rhune to the left

Description of the walk

To reach the start point, head to Itxassou via the D918. Follow signs for “Pas de Roland” via the D249 then the D349.
Once at the Pas de Roland, take the road that goes straight on and follows the course of the Laxia. At the junction, take the left-hand road which climbs up to the Col de Mehatze.

(S/E) Follow the road as far as it goes, heading north-east towards the summit.
Enjoy the views from the two orientation tables on either side of the aeronautical guidance station.

(1) Head back down towards the France Télécom building.

(2) Turn left onto the slope heading due south towards a small water collection structure.
The path is not signposted, but the descent is not particularly difficult. When you reach the bunker, cross the stream and head south-east until you come to a wide path.

(3) Head south along the path, which is circular and first turns left then takes a sharp bend to the right, leading to a T-junction.

(4) Turn left, then immediately right. The path passes a sheepfold and winds its way up to join theGR®10.

(5) Turn right onto theGR®10and continue along this path towards the north-west, ignoring the branch that heads off to the left back to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 2,346 ft - Car park - Col de Mehatze ou col Méhatché (716m)
  2. 1 : mi 0.99 - alt. 3,012 ft - Summit - Artzamendi
  3. 2 : mi 1.14 - alt. 2,982 ft - Heading due south towards the water intake station
  4. 3 : mi 1.8 - alt. 2,241 ft - Wide dirt track
  5. 4 : mi 2.12 - alt. 2,024 ft - T-junction
  6. 5 : mi 2.9 - alt. 2,208 ft - GR10
  7. S/E : mi 3.73 - alt. 2,346 ft - Return to the car park - Col de Mehatze ou col Méhatché (716m)

Notes

No water on this route

Worth a visit

On a stone wall near the air traffic control station, there is a surprising inscription stating that you are in “Bask Country”.

At the Col de Mehatse, a cromlech has been excavated and restored.

Always be cautious and plan ahead when you're outdoors. Visorando and the author of this route cannot be held responsible for any accidents occurring on this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

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Reviews and comments

3.7 / 5
Based on 6 reviews
Reliability of the description
3.2 / 5
Ease of following the route
3.3 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
eric bourdon
eric bourdon

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

When the weather is fine – which it was – the view is magnificent, and that alone is a very good reason to climb to the summit of Aratzmendi. The drive to the Meatché car park, however, can be a bit of a nerve-wracking experience (very narrow road, cyclists …). There are no particular difficulties along the route.

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Adrion
Adrion

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 02, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A long hike with significant elevation gain; the outward journey to the summit is on tarmac, whilst the return route crosses pastures and is poorly signposted. Stunning views

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Hervé Bignon
Hervé Bignon

I can’t recommend the Visorando app highly enough for following the trails.

It’s often the case that a route isn’t just along well-trodden paths, and that’s just fine.

I’m sorry you lost your way.

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DERFTIUP
DERFTIUP
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 02, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The path isn’t signposted, so it’s quite difficult to follow. After getting lost several times along the route, we gave up.
Nevertheless, the views are superb.

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Ayrel
Ayrel

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 02, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Please note: if you enter ‘Col de Mehatze’ into your sat-nav, you will end up beyond Et Jean-Pied-de-Port. This is actually the Meatse cromlechs, 11 km from the Pas de Roland (a 25-minute drive along a narrow country road)
To get from car park A/D to point 1: take the tarmac road uphill, passing point 2 on the way. It’s better to drive to the viewpoint first, then follow the route from point 2 to point 3 via the path shown on the map, halfway between A/D and 3.

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Hervé Bignon
Hervé Bignon

I realise that the description may not be entirely accurate for you if you’re doing the walk in the opposite direction

Going the right way round, heading for the hut from the building at the top isn’t much more complicated and, fortunately, not all walks are on very well-marked paths

I’ll concede that it’s a bit of a challenge, but after mapping it out, I tested it with children aged 7 and 9 without any problems, and I’m planning to do it next Monday with a group of older people (who are keen walkers, though)

Indeed, after being closed for a long time, the Laxia road is open again, which is good news as the road from Espelette is also closed for roadworks

At the same spot, I’d recommend the Peñas d’Itsusi and their vulture perches

Kind regards
Hervé

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Trainiot
Trainiot

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 27, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
Hike completed on 20 May 2021. Only to be undertaken in good weather!
The access road from Itxassou is open, but getting to the pass is an adventure in itself (the road is very narrow, it’s impossible to pass other vehicles, and the climb takes about 20 minutes)
Once you reach the pass, you can continue by car to the summit, where there is more space to park.
The route: the track between points 2 and 3 doesn’t exist, so if you don’t have a GPS, it’s tricky.
In the end, we did it the other way round, so the section from 3 to 2 is ‘easier’ (the climb is steep) as you can always see the radar and the antenna you’re heading for.

In conclusion: stunning scenery and views, but it’s a hike you have to work for!

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Hervé Bignon
Hervé Bignon

That’s absolutely true, but unfortunately it won’t be ready for use for a while yet.

Let’s stay at home.

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BriTarn
BriTarn

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 03, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Please note! The Pas de Roland road is currently closed (November 2020), so the walk can only start from Itxassou

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