Aitzondo waterfall from Meaka

Signposted loop on the SL-GI-1006 trail which passes at the foot of the Aitzondo waterfall and along the Irugurutzeta kilns.

Apart from the incline at the start and the staircase to follow, the rest of the hike is a pleasant, mostly shaded walk with no major difficulties.

The spectacle of the great waterfall is magnificent for those who manage to get close enough.

Details

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Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.98 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 254 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 254 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 202 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 29 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Start: From Irun, head towards the Aiako Harria Nature Park, and before starting the climb to the pass, park in the car park opposite the Ola cider house.

(S/E) Follow the tarmac road past the cider house, south to the iron-ore furnaces.

(1) Turn right onto the path leading to the Aitzondo waterfall. After skirting the furnaces from a terrace above, start climbing what was once an inclined plane used to lower ore wagons from the mines above.
After a tough climb, the path winds through the woods to a stone staircase. At the top of the stairs, turn left towards the waterfall.

(2) To see the big waterfall, cross the river on the large stones and walk along the opposite bank.
This part of the journey requires a good level of fitness, but the view is superb. Follow the same route back to the top of the stairs.

(3) Continue along the path to the left, ignoring the stairs that descend to the right. The path leads to a paved road.

(4) Take the road opposite, following the green and white markings.

(5) Continue right on the local path, still marked in green and white, to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 31 m - Cidrerie car park
  2. 1 : km 0.69 - alt. 61 m - Iron mining - Fours d'Irugurutzeta
  3. 2 : km 1.98 - alt. 202 m - Viewpoint - Cascade Aitzondo ou Cascade d'Irusta
  4. 3 : km 2.22 - alt. 145 m - At the top of the stairs
  5. 4 : km 3.26 - alt. 152 m - Cemented road
  6. 5 : km 4.26 - alt. 55 m - Right on SL-GI-1006
  7. S/E : km 4.97 - alt. 31 m - Back to the car park

Notes

Start: From Irun, head towards the Aiako Harria Nature Park, and before starting the climb to the pass, park in the car park opposite the Ola cider house.

Refreshments: Don't hesitate to have a meal at the cidrerie Ola.

Worth a visit

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 16 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
User 28581633

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 02, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Excellent hike, at the end... a very pretty waterfall and to finish off the hike, a good cider and a little feast to round off this pleasant outing. I highly recommend it.
Very good Visorando app👌

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MaxMel
MaxMel

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 31, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike, great weather, a real treat.
The discovery of the waterfalls at the end of the climb is brilliant.
We'd recommend it.

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elaia
elaia

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very good, but it's a shame that there isn't something at the end to allow you to see the big waterfall (a simple rope, for example). There was too much water to pass safely to the other side.

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Mamas49
Mamas49

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 23, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Great

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Hervé Bignon
Hervé Bignon

It's so true that it's better to climb the stairs that that's how the route is indicated.
So it's not the wrong way round but as described

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eric bourdon
eric bourdon

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A short hike not to be done after heavy rain if you want to see the waterfall in its entirety. I wasn't able to cross the river at the finish because of the water level. Apart from that, the trail is really pleasant. You have to walk it in the direction suggested by Visorando, as it seems to me that it's better to walk up the slope and up the stairs than down them.

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Rixam
Rixam

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 02, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

To avoid the mistakes I made:
Exit at the 1st motorway exit "Irun" which has the number 0, shortly after the Biriatou exit after the toll.
Follow Aiako Harria (the nature park).
After parking at the Ola cider house, follow the road alongside it and do not take the path up to the right, as this is the way back (there are no signs).
Continue straight on to the ovens and follow the signs...
It took me 1 hour to get there on my own, walking at a leisurely pace.

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Renaud0001
Renaud0001

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

It's a lovely loop that runs along both sides of a valley, culminating in a beautiful waterfall!
We did this walk with a 6-year-old child without any difficulties, even though we are not hikers.
Crossing the river to see the waterfall was easy (the river was probably low given the season). We simply didn't go all the way to the top of the waterfall as it gets quite steep without hiking boots and with a child. We still had a great view of the waterfall.

A lovely walk that's accessible to everyone!

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Chris0064
Chris0064

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very nice walk for the whole family. The start of the route is a little complicated (steep slope with rocks) but the rest is very pleasant.

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Andiazabal
Andiazabal

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very nice walk done with three children aged 10, 10 and 7, be careful crossing the river to see the waterfall the stones are slippery but the show is worth it

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jacdav35
jacdav35

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 24, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Difficult at first, straight ascent then stairs
The final section is magnificent, with the waterfall visible behind the trees. To get the best possible view of it, cross the torrent on the wet pebbles; you have to be very careful, but it's superb.
The return is easier

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Flox94
Flox94

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 06, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful waterfall, but the end of the route to the waterfall is acrobatic and slippery.

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preupreu
preupreu

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 16, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pleasant walk with an 8 year old child and my 80 year old parents (very good walkers)!

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Sébastien33
Sébastien33

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 30, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Watch out for the last 50 metres, which are particularly difficult after crossing the river, but the view is superb.

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morgane1978
morgane1978

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 05, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pleasant hike, which is certainly even more enjoyable in summer as it is in the shade.
When we got to the waterfall, the view was slightly impaired by some fallen trees.
My friend, however, had the courage to climb a little higher after crossing the rocks and saw the waterfall much better than I did.
But even at my level, I'm very happy with what I saw and with this lovely hike.
Thank you very much.

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