Eskas - Artikutza

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Circular path in a natural park to Lake Artikutza (dry) via thePR®®-NA-124 Eskas - Artikutza trail.

Details

n°3870888
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.89 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 441 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 449 m
  • ▲
    Highest point: 647 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 320 m
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Description of the walk

Cross the border at Behobie and head towards Oiartzun on the GI-2134. At the entrance to Oiartzun, turn left towards Lesaka and then right towards Altzibar. The road leads to the GI-3631. Follow the road towards Artikutza, which ends at the entrance to Artikutza Park, the starting point.

(S/E) Continue along the road for 300 m after the Artikutza Park barrier.

(1) Turn left onto thePR®®-NA-124 Eskas - Artikutza trail, which descends towards Lake Artikutza and joins the local SL-NA-121 trail.

(2) Turn right and continue to the second fork.

(3) Turn left and continue to the dam.

(4) Return to the previous fork.

(3) Continue straight ahead and descend to the hamlet. Keep to the right and join a path that climbs to the right, just before the right-hand bend in the road.

(5) Turn onto the path,PR®®-NA-124 Eskas - Artikutza, which climbs to the right. It winds through the forest to rejoin the road.

(6) Take the road on the right and return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 647 m - Car park - Parc Naturel d'Artikutza
  2. 1 : km 0.46 - alt. 627 m - Path entering the forest on the left
  3. 2 : km 4.3 - alt. 373 m - Junction with SL-NA-121
  4. 3 : km 4.4 - alt. 370 m - Fork
  5. 4 : km 4.64 - alt. 351 m - End of - Barrage du lac d'Artikutza
  6. 5 : km 5.6 - alt. 322 m - Path climbing to the right
  7. 6 : km 10.36 - alt. 631 m - Return to the road
  8. S/E : km 10.89 - alt. 647 m - Car park - Parc Naturel d'Artikutza

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

4.6 / 5
Based on 4 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.3 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
Denis26
Denis26 ★

Thank you for your comments about the impossibility of continuing after the dam. I have just modified the itinerary accordingly.

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LM64
LM64

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 23, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike with no difficulty except for two places where the path has collapsed, making it much less safe. We went through and we weren't the only ones, but perhaps it's not a good idea... Furthermore, there is indeed no lake. And there is some confusion about the route at this famous dam... At the end, there's a drop. And the passage on the right before the dam has collapsed and is completely unsafe. It's better to be sensible and take the road around it. Picnic on the tables in the little hamlet, which is so quiet and pretty. Otherwise, with the return of good weather, it's a real delight!

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VL2
VL2

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

We went on this hike
-on a Saturday in August: lots of people
-on a Tuesday in September: no one.

The hike is almost entirely through woodland, and a keen eye can spot porcini and other edible mushrooms.

Eskas Lake does not exist, and the map said we should swim, but there was no sign of water. The dam has not held water for a long time.

The village of Eskas is very pretty: there are tables and benches for picnics (below the church).
Be aware that the climb is steep for a good kilometre.

A good hike accessible to all.

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JC440826
JC440826

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely hike with a lunch break in a charming valley (an old village with some beautiful Navarrese houses, a pelota court, a small church, etc., a picnic area and an "ostatua" – a Basque inn – with a coffee and drinks machine).
A very pleasant day.
Comment on the review dated 22/01/2024: there is indeed a passage to the right of the dam to go down to the village, but it is BEFORE the dam (it is not very visible and is quite steep at the start).

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alpha40
alpha40

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hello,
The description says to cross the dam and turn right, but there is no passage to the right, there is a wall and, more importantly, a drop. You have to turn around and take the cement path on the left to reach the pretty little village of Artikutza.

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