Hautza via Trempetta and return via the Col d'Ispeguy

This hike to Hautza via the Trempetta ridge is well worth the effort. There is a significant elevation gain, but you are guaranteed to be rewarded with spectacular views. The ridge offers breathtaking vistas that will quickly make you forget the difficulty of the hike. This hike climbs successively to several viewpoints.
From the summit of Hautza, there is a 360° view of all the peaks of the Basque Country and, further away, the Pyrenean peaks.

Details

2999790
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 15.22 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 8h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,295 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,295 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,304 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 223 m

Photos

Description of the walk

In Baïgorri, go to the church and take the road to Col d'Ispeguy. Cross the bridge and immediately leave this road to take a small road on the left. Follow it for 1.4 km and park between Xekaleenea and Legasenea in a left-hand bend at an altitude of 260 m.

(S/E) Just after the bend, a small path climbs south-west to reach the base of the Trempetta ridge. The climb is quite steep. Continue to a small summit at 450 m

(1) Continue climbing and the slope becomes gentler until you reach the rocks at 570 m

(2) The climb ends with a bit of easy scrambling. You can avoid this by taking a path on the right-hand side. This path, which is very much like a balcony, is narrow and, although it is well marked, may be vertiginous for some people. You will arrive at an elevation of 809 metres, the summit of Trempetta.

(3) Now head south-southwest. You will pass close to a road, then climb west towards the first intermediate summit of Urrizpilota

(4) Descend, cross the road you passed earlier and head south-west to the next summit of Elhorriko Kaskoa.

(5) From the summit, follow a west-northwest path to a junction of several trails.

(6) At the junction, turn completely left. Take a grassy path and join a road at boundary marker 101 at the Elhorrieta Pass.

(7) At the pass, leave this road immediately and climb up through the trees to reach the forest. Follow the red and white GR® markings. At times, it follows a fence that marks the border. It leaves the forest and then re-enters it. It finally emerges in a meadow. On the left is the Harrigorri rock spur (climbing).

(8) In the meadow, head towards the large rocks and follow the red and white markings that branch off to the left. From the rocks, it is possible to climb directly to the summit by heading off to the right off the trail. This is quite a difficult climb. It is much easier to follow the GR® markings to the north-west ridge of Hautza.

(9) Leave the GR® and climb the ridge north-west to the summit.

(10) Descend by the same route to the Col d'Elhorrieta.

(7) Opposite, take a path through the grass that follows the contour line, making a circular north-east then north turn to an enclosure.

(11) Follow a grassy path northeast that runs along the forest on the left and then enters it. Follow it to the Col d'Ispeguy. Some sections are sloped and can be slippery in wet weather.

(12) Walk along the car park to its end. Take a flat path, turning right before an enclosure. The path continues downhill, steeply, towards the east. It then enters a forest, winding downhill to the Bidegainea farm.

(13) From the farm, follow the road back to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 263 m - Turn between Xekaleenea and Legasenea
  2. 1 : km 0.5 - alt. 462 m - Small summit
  3. 2 : km 1.07 - alt. 601 m - Rocks at around 570 m
  4. 3 : km 1.78 - alt. 801 m - Trempetta
  5. 4 : km 2.75 - alt. 932 m - Urrizpilota
  6. 5 : km 3.83 - alt. 981 m - Elhorriko Kaskoa.
  7. 6 : km 4.3 - alt. 872 m - Crossroads
  8. 7 : km 4.88 - alt. 831 m - Col d'Elhorrieta (831m)
  9. 8 : km 5.81 - alt. 1,104 m - Meadow
  10. 9 : km 6.14 - alt. 1,129 m - Leave the GR
  11. 10 : km 6.68 - alt. 1,304 m - Hautza
  12. 11 : km 9.08 - alt. 816 m - Enclosure - Col Nekaitz
  13. 12 : km 11.38 - alt. 647 m - Col d'Ispéguy (672m)
  14. 13 : km 13.48 - alt. 284 m - Bidegainea farm
  15. S/E : km 15.22 - alt. 263 m - Turn between Xekaleenea and Legasenea

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 11 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
thua00
thua00

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Route completed on 14 March 2025.
Despite the rain in the previous days, there were no problems on the route, the paths were not particularly muddy and the streams were easy to cross.
I found this route very physically demanding due to the alternating ascents and descents in the first part of the route, up to point 11.
Between points 2 and 3, I went around La Trempetta via the indicated path. It is indeed narrow and can be dizzying in places. But to climb La Trempetta, you have to be on the ridge line, as there is no path.
At the top of Hautza, it was very cold, but fortunately the wind was light.
Otherwise, the route is easy to follow.
I only saw/met three people.
Completed in 6 hours and 40 minutes, including breaks.

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monsnow
monsnow

🙏

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taboulechat
taboulechat

Hello monsnow
I have deleted point 12, which has not existed for a long time. The average mark for ease of use is a little harsh, but I accept it.
Best regards.
J-C. Alias taboulechat

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monsnow
monsnow

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Difficult classification, indeed, because the gradient is steep right from the start.
There is an error at point 12, where you have to go through the car park and then descend. The trail marked a little earlier in the ferns no longer exists.
It may be easier to do the circular in the other direction.
It's hunting season, so I think it's less risky to follow the route in this direction, as you're on the ridge, whereas in the opposite direction you start in the woods.
A very beautiful hike, with just the right amount of physical exertion.

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Hamalur
Hamalur

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 15, 2024
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 on Saturday 13 April 2024, with beautiful weather and no wind (29 degrees). A tough climb from the start, I went around Trempetta on the right, be careful as the path is narrow and slipping is prohibited. Superb panorama to the summit of Hautza. The descent to the Ispeguy pass is easy. And the descent into the Ispeguy ravine is magnificent. Definitely worth doing, but be warned, it's a physically demanding hike.

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Thierry GUILLEN
Thierry GUILLEN

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 29, 2023
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 to do out of season to enjoy the tranquillity of the place.

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ClemD
ClemD

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 29, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A great hike on a sunny day in the middle of winter.
As mentioned, from number 2 onwards, the path on the right-hand side is quite impressive, especially as the ground was still a little frozen when we were there (around 11 a.m.). So you need to be careful on this section.
We also encountered hunters just after this vertiginous path... They shot a wild boar a few minutes after we passed. This kind of episode is never really pleasant, even if the hunters were friendly.
Thank you for this hike! We completed it in 6½ hours with a 1-hour lunch break.

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Stéphane GUILLAUME
Stéphane GUILLAUME

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 01, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful route; the climb up to the ridges makes you forget the elevation gain because the view is superb.
On the first part, we didn't meet anyone, but from the pass towards Autza, civilisation was there
It's a hike that I really recommend.

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xiberotarra
xiberotarra

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 10, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

When the hiker who organises these outings says "difficult", you have to believe him! But at the end of the season, you're in good shape, which allows you to tackle this steep climb. To tell the truth, the start of this route was part of the circular Iluna Trail (night trail) last year. I had covered it the day before the race and was familiar with these steep slopes. The rest of the route along the ridges meant we "skipped" the first summit of Trenpeta, as the climb over the rocks seemed less reliable than the pretty path that runs along its side. We then followed the route, which was fairly easy until the Elhorrieta pass. The next climb on the GRT is sustained and takes you to the foot of Hautza with a good elevation gain. The final ascent is practically a formality. And the beautiful view we had been promised was there, leaving us with only one desire: to return next summer! After returning to the Elhorrieta pass, the path to the Izpegi pass is very pleasant, shaded by the forest. And as the final descent to Baigorry is fairly easy, we allowed ourselves to have lunch in a venta in Ispéguy before tackling this last section, which we completed in an hour. A very beautiful walk.

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bayard64
bayard64

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 07, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I recommend this route.

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Lannemi
Lannemi

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 04, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hike completed in 7½ hours, including picnic and breaks (about 1 hour 10 minutes), even though we are no longer very young (64 and 65 years old). I didn't see any difficulties described on the first part, even though I am prone to vertigo. The last part of the climb is very steep, even when tackling it via the left-hand bend. But if you take it slowly, you will be rewarded at the summit. It was a very hot day and we had each drunk our 2 litres of water by the time we reached the Col d'Ispéguy. Fortunately, we were able to refill our bottles at the 'venta' at the pass. The descent from the Col d'Ispéguy seemed long (1 hour) due to the sun, fatigue and the fact that it ended on a tarmac road.
Otherwise, it was a beautiful and pleasant hike with beautiful panoramic views and lots of cromlecks.

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Flash Dubais
Flash Dubais
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 20, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A superb hike that climbs steeply from the outset,
A slightly technical section on the ridge, but not impossible even for beginners.
Be careful, however, as the starting point car park can fill up quickly. The solution is to continue a little further along the road and park on the side of the road.

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calou40
calou40
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 28, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Very beautiful hike and quite steep
Fairly overcast but very pleasant weather

Before reaching the Col d'Ispéguy, you have to turn about 200 metres before a path that you have to guess

Good hike
The hike is a walk, not a race

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