Cross of Santa Barbara from Ibarron

A pretty loop passing by the Santa Barbara cross with a view of the bay of Saint-Jean-de-Luz

Details

1987525
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.67 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 246 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 248 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 184 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 11 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Take the D918 to Ibarron and park in the fronton car park.

(S/E) From the car park, follow the yellow Sainte-Barbe signs that start on the Chemin d'Aroztegia and cross the Nivelle river over a Roman bridge.
Continue along the Chemin d'Aroztegia to the farm of the same name.

(1) Go through the cattle grid and turn right, then left onto the path that climbs into the forest.

(2) Turn right onto the small path that climbs uphill, signposted Santa-Barbara.

(3) Turn right onto the path that climbs up to the Santa Barbara Cross, where the ikurrina (Basque flag) flies.

(4) After the viewpoint at the summit, continue on the same path that descends on the opposite side and goes around the hill.

(5) Follow the trail that branches off to the right and joins a carriage track. Continue along this track.

(6) Take the path on the left that descends.

(7) Turn left again onto this path, which returns to the fork you came from.

(1) Continue on the path you took on the way there to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 15 m - Parking at the fronton in Ibarron
  2. 1 : km 0.68 - alt. 17 m - Crossroads of the loop
  3. 2 : km 1.18 - alt. 98 m - Path on the right
  4. 3 : km 2.02 - alt. 175 m - On the right, the path climbs uphill
  5. 4 : km 2.1 - alt. 184 m - Redoute - Croix de Santa Barbara
  6. 5 : km 2.29 - alt. 157 m - Path on the right
  7. 6 : km 3.29 - alt. 94 m - Track on the left
  8. 7 : km 3.69 - alt. 57 m - Turn left again
  9. S/E : km 7.67 - alt. 15 m - Parking at the fronton in Ibarron

Notes

Water point at the start, on the fronton square.

This hike is best done in dry weather as the paths quickly become waterlogged and some sections can become very muddy.

Worth a visit

A good place to have lunch after the hike: the Ttotta restaurant, just a few steps away.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 24 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4 / 5
Thiech
Thiech

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

it climbs steeply up to the cross, which offers a very nice view, then descends through the forest where we encountered a few mountain bikers and two groups of quad bikes. The second part is pleasant for finding some cool air, but there are no views.

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eric bourdon
eric bourdon

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 30, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

easy hike for getting back into shape or with people who are not used to hiking

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User 11435887

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

Pleasant hike, interesting at the beginning with nice views, then it descends. Lots of quad bikes, lots of noise pollution.

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Cath2505
Cath2505

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The climb to the cross is steep, but the view from the cross is magnificent! During the second part of the hike, the path is very muddy, with large ruts caused by trucks filled with water. And yet it hadn't rained for several days.

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Cath64600
Cath64600

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

There was a lot of mud at the start of the climb and in the second part, where trucks had dug deep ruts. And yet the weather had been fine for four days!

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Bourmu33
Bourmu33

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We do this tour over and over again.
We love it, we love it.
Beautiful scenery, it's quite a climb, but if you don't like that, you should head for the Landes.
A must-do itinerary
4/5

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Liya
Liya

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

It climbs up to the cross for about 30 minutes. 360 degrees at the cross. Beautiful scenery, then no view, muddy despite no recent rain. I found the hike long and not very interesting once I passed the cross. There were a few people up to the cross, then no one. Maybe people turn back once they reach the cross.

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Phil0712
Phil0712

Overall rating : 2.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 31, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Very busy route : Yes

Very beautiful view at the cross. The rest of the route has some lovely sections, but it's a shame we had to avoid so many muddy patches, which ruined the whole hike! Perhaps this was due to the time of year we did it (late December) (???)

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Coco64
Coco64

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful hike, route easy to follow

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Florence F
Florence F

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

A pleasant short hike with a 10- to 16-minute climb at the start of the trail. Breathtaking views of the bay of St Jean de Luz. The return trip is bucolic.

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arskarm@livefr
arskarm@livefr

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

Exceptional view of Saint Jean de Luz from the Sainte Barbe cross.
The rest of the route is less interesting, with several noisy quad bikes unfortunately.

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Nine 68
Nine 68

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful views, fairly challenging climb. A few pottoks around the cross. Return through the woods with some beautiful specimens that are certainly centuries old...

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Roul
Roul

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 19, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

The first part up to the cross is very good. The views are magnificent.
However, the rest of the route is rather long on the carriageway.
I wanted to shorten the route using the trails shown on the Top 25 map, but I couldn't find them.

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Marcheur solitaire
Marcheur solitaire

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : Yes

The first part is very good, with beautiful views, while the second part is mainly in the woods.

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Randhub64
Randhub64

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A varied route with beautiful views of the surrounding mountains and coastline. The first climb is quite steep and slippery if it has rained recently. On the way back, you can stop for a picnic

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