Loop at the Col d'Lbardin

A beautiful hike that combines superb views and varied trails. Definitely do it in good weather to enjoy the landscapes that await you.

Details

1851863
Creation:
Last update:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.41 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,594 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,621 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,726 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 725 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

At the Col d'Lbardin, take the road on the right that climbs towards Les Ventas. It is best to park on the right, on the French side after the last shops. The return path arrives here at the foot of a small wall.

(S/E) From the car park, continue up the road to the end, then pass to the right of the Venta Mendi Mendian. Take the path marked "accès pompiers piste 4" until you come to a barrier.

(1) From there, turn left to the car park of the last venta and follow theGR® 10 on the right, marked in red and white. Follow it, ignoring the paths on the right and left.

Join a track coming from the right and continue straight ahead. The track ends when you reach a sign marked "Descente des Fous". Follow theGR®10, which continues on a balcony path (view of San Sebastián). Go around the Manddale and leave this balcony path to follow theGR®10, which turns and descends to the right towards Bizkartzu.

(2) At the cairn marking this spot, go completely to the left and look for the start of theGR® trail. Be careful, as the signs are confusing. Follow theGR® to an unnamed pass (elevation 421).

(3) At this unnamed pass, continue downhill, slightly to the right, north-west, and after crossing a magnificent holly forest, you will arrive at the Col de Pitare.

(4) Follow theGR®10, which continues opposite. Please note: the IGN map is not up to date: it shows theGR®10branching off to the left, but the route has changed.
Follow theGR® to the north-west until you reach Osingo Lepoa. From there, the slope becomes steeper until you reach the Col de Xoldoko Gaina.

(5) Leave theGR® which continues opposite and look for the start of a path on the right. There are no more signposts. The path becomes a pretty grassy track which follows the ridge (lovely views, with the Spanish mountains on the right and the ocean on the left, with views of Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Urrugne, Guethary and Bidart). After 600 metres of flat ground, the path begins to descend while remaining on the ridge. Pass some ruins and a little further on, the slope becomes steeper until you reach a road.

(6) Take the road on the right and, 50m further on, take a path on the right. When you reach a small meadow, continue straight ahead. Pass between two brambles where a path begins to descend.

(7) The path levels out as it joins an underground water pipe and heads south. N.B.: the path that follows a contour line is narrow and poorly paved. You will reach the Lac d'Ibardin dam.

(8) As the dam is now closed to the public, continue on the path on the right that goes around the lake to join a track

(9) Take the track on the left which runs along the top of the lake and then closer to it. It then makes a wide bend to the right and then to the left and joins a wide path.

(10) Follow this track for 2 km. When you reach a grassy area, you will see the car park and shops at the top on the right

(11) Turn right onto this grassy slope, heading towards the low wall of the car park. The last 150 metres will take you back to the car park at (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 1,191 ft - Parking - Col d'Ibardin
  2. 1 : mi 0.19 - alt. 1,319 ft - Barrier
  3. 2 : mi 1.06 - alt. 1,640 ft - Cairn
  4. 3 : mi 1.34 - alt. 1,345 ft - Nameless pass
  5. 4 : mi 1.81 - alt. 1,040 ft - Col de Pitare
  6. 5 : mi 2.64 - alt. 1,594 ft - Xoldokogaina
  7. 6 : mi 3.74 - alt. 745 ft - Route
  8. 7 : mi 3.88 - alt. 804 ft - Trail
  9. 8 : mi 4.66 - alt. 856 ft - Barrage du lac d'ibardin
  10. 9 : mi 5.27 - alt. 866 ft - Track
  11. 10 : mi 6.16 - alt. 981 ft - Wide path
  12. 11 : mi 7.28 - alt. 1,089 ft - Grassy slope
  13. S/E : mi 7.41 - alt. 1,184 ft - Parking - Col d'Ibardin

Notes

The great thing about this hike is that after four hours of walking, you can eat on site. There's no need to bring a snack. Many restaurants serve food until 3pm.

Make sure you wear good shoes!

Having recently done this hike again, I would like to point out that from July to November, at point 7, the trail is very narrow due to ferns and some brambles, so I recommend long trousers and a long-sleeved T-shirt.

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.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 59 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
Maduba
Maduba

Please note: this was the “La Petite Rhune” route starting from the Trabénia car park in Ascain.
The directions for the final climb up the grassy slope to the summit could be more precise, as there isn’t really a proper path.

A very beautiful hike that requires a good level of fitness. Most of the paths are made of stones and rocks, both on the ascent and descent. A continuous climb for 4 km. A continuous descent for 6 km.
Beautiful natural surroundings, with various viewpoints. Trails are open or through woodland, and on grass towards the summit.
Definitely worth doing, preferably in good weather.
From the summit, the more adventurous can even make their way to La Rhune.

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lemarcheur65
lemarcheur65 ★
stjo
stjo
• Edited:

Oh, sorry about that! But then, why didn’t you post your review after that lovely walk, “La Petite Rhune starting from the Trabénia car park in Ascain”? Eh? Eh?

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Maduba
Maduba

Please note: this was the “La Petite Rhune” route starting from the Trabénia car park in Ascain.
The directions for the final climb up the grassy slope to the summit could be more precise, as there isn’t really a proper path.

A very beautiful hike that requires a good level of fitness. Most of the paths are made of stones and rocks, both on the ascent and descent. A continuous climb for 4 km. A continuous descent for 6 km.
Beautiful natural surroundings, with various viewpoints. Trails are open or through the undergrowth, and on grass towards the summit.
Definitely worth doing, preferably in good weather.
From the summit, the more adventurous can even make their way to La Rhune.

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taboulechat
taboulechat

Hello.
What does that have to do with the Ilbardine circular route?
I don't understand.

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Maduba
Maduba

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 20, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Please note: this was the “La Petite Rhune” route starting from the Trabénia car park in Ascain.
The directions for the final climb up the grassy slope to the summit could be more precise, as there isn’t really a proper path.

A very beautiful hike that requires a good level of fitness. Most of the paths are made of stones and rocks, both on the ascent and descent. A continuous climb for 4 km. A continuous descent for 6 km.
Beautiful natural surroundings, with various viewpoints. Trails are open or through woodland, and on grass towards the summit.
Definitely worth doing, preferably in good weather.
From the summit, the more adventurous can even make their way to La Rhune.

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Castetarbe
Castetarbe

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 27, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We went on this hike on 23 April in lovely weather; the walk is not difficult for regular walkers.
There are stunning views all along the route, particularly from the top of Xoldoko Gaina.
I recommend this walk, especially before the summer crowds arrive

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chambrebleu
chambrebleu

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 22, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A great way to get started.

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User 2234623

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 05, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I agree with the positive reviews; there weren't many people there, even on a Sunday.

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Mapie.e
Mapie.e

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 03, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant route with beautiful views of the Pyrenean peaks and the coast.
Not very busy at this time of year and during the week.
We just needed a little more sunshine to take some nice photos of this very pleasant route.

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User 778372

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent, very varied hike with superb views of the mountains and coast. Lots of livestock along the way. Quite a strenuous walk, but the elevation changes are well distributed. At point 10, be sure to follow the path to the right to reach the Ibardin Pass. It's nice to be able to grab a bite to eat at the end of the hike in December.

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User 24310169

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 21, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hike completed on 20/10/2025, in beautiful weather conditions. We think it's important to have hiking boots. Similar to the other comments, it's probably best to do this hike in the opposite direction. But well done to the architect, the hike is flawless and true to its route and description.

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User 27831465

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very nice hike, even though I couldn't quite find the route, the correction function allowed me to never stray from it.
Not too many people on the route during the first part.

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stjo
stjo

@helbenbou?viso Both solutions are valid.
It is true that the final gentle climb from the lake along the track is a little less appealing than the rest of the route, and in this respect it would be preferable to do it downhill at the beginning in order to finish on a high note.
But on the other hand, it is more interesting to start as indicated in the description, because in the early morning hours you can enjoy a magnificent sea of clouds above the valleys on the Spanish side from the summit of Mandalle, provided you follow the ridge trail to Redoute de la Zigzag.

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helbenbou?viso
helbenbou?viso

Overall rating : 4.5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant route, best done in the opposite direction to the description so that you start with the climb. Beautiful views and no particular difficulties.

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