Iraukotuturu and return from the Errekaxaro pass via the Malbei ridges

The D'esternguibel valley is a wild site in Lower Navarre. Its steep sides are bristling with ridges and peaks. Iraukotuturu is the highest peak. To reach it, head for the Errékaxaro pass and from there follow a path carved into the rock in places, which was once used for transhumance of sheep.

Details

4260952
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.89 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 907 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 902 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,140 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 409 m

Photos

Description of the walk

In Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, take the D 301 road to Saint-Michel and Esterençuby. Just before the latter, turn left and head towards Esterenguibel. Pass Ezpelchilo and arrive at a bridge over the Intzarraguyko erreka. Park at the entrance to a wood, at an altitude of around 400 m. There are a few parking spaces.

(S/E) Continue straight ahead on the right bank on the track that begins to climb. After two hairpin bends in the forest, you will reach an open area. The path continues to climb in several hairpin bends. You will arrive at the edge of the forest at an altitude of 644.

(1) Take the track on the right-hand side (south-west) and enter the forest, emerging 500 m further on at an altitude of around 700 m.

(2) The path follows a contour line and re-enters the forest after 200 m. At an altitude of around 720 m, you will come to a series of sheepfolds.

(3) The path continues in several successive circular loops southwards to the Col Errékaxaro.

(4) Cross the pass by squeezing through a gap between the rocks, first heading southwest and then southeast to the Col d'Irau pass. There is no need to join the road; just before the first building, turn right.

(5) Climb the grassy slope towards the north-west. There are no markings. The slope is not too difficult, but you will sometimes have to go around rocks. You will reach the first summit of Irau, the highest but easiest at 1,052 metres.

(6) It is possible to make a circular route by following the ridge that heads northwest via steep and vertiginous paths.
The hike I suggest will take place after a short rest, returning by the same route.

(4) At the Col d'Errekaxaro, a path on the right allows us to stay on the ridge on an easy trail that gives us the opportunity to admire a vast landscape to the north-east. Reach the 869 m point

(7) Continue descending gently along the ridge to reach the altitude of 844.

(8) Go around it on the left to reach a crossroads at around 830 m.

(9) Go straight ahead. The path climbs slightly to the hill at an altitude of 852 m towards the north-east.

(10) Continue downhill along the ridge, which slopes north-west between two woods and arrives at a final hill at around 730 m.

(11) Turn left heading due south and follow two hairpin bends to return to the fork in the path you took on the way up.

(1) Follow the track in the opposite direction to (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 411 m - Car park at the entrance to the woods.
  2. 1 : km 1.87 - alt. 645 m - Altitude 644 mètres. Jonction commune A/R
  3. 2 : km 2.37 - alt. 699 m - End of the forest at an altitude of around 700 m.
  4. 3 : km 2.87 - alt. 728 m - Sheepfolds
  5. 4 : km 4.26 - alt. 906 m - Errékaxaro Pass
  6. 5 : km 5.27 - alt. 979 m - Near - Col d'Irau (1008m)
  7. 6 : km 6.21 - alt. 1,073 m - Summit of the - Iraukotuturru
  8. 7 : km 8.86 - alt. 860 m - Altitude de 869 mètres
  9. 8 : km 9.18 - alt. 828 m - Altitude de 864 mètres
  10. 9 : km 9.42 - alt. 824 m - Crossroads
  11. 10 : km 9.76 - alt. 848 m - Altitude de 852 mètres
  12. 11 : km 10.58 - alt. 727 m - Last hill
  13. S/E : km 12.89 - alt. 411 m - Car park at the entrance to the woods.

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 7 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
PASCOUAU
PASCOUAU

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 10, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk, apart from the section on the track (up and down), though this track does have the advantage of climbing very gradually. The sections from point 4 to the Col d'Irau on the way there, and the return route along the ridges, are lovely. A wonderful discovery.

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Vincent Lafori
Vincent Lafori

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Very nice hikeo.......the return along the ridges is superb.......if I had to do it again, I'd do the outward journey and return along the ridges.

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Marinaa
Marinaa

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike completed on Sunday, 2 February, in 4 hours. The scenery is magnificent, breathtaking!
Be sure to bring a windbreaker, especially in winter, because even if it's not windy at the bottom, it can be a bit breezy at the top.
The route is really interesting, you walk along paths, small forest trails, ridges, there's everything! After the Errekaxaro pass, you walk along a path that borders the large rocks of the Irau peak. As for the elevation gain, it is very gradual throughout the hike. Before reaching the Irau peak, you pass through the Irau pass. We came across horses and there were shelters for shepherds, it's really pretty!
The path leading from the pass to the Irau peak is a little difficult to find. There wasn't really a path, but the climb is quite manageable, even if there is a slight incline. At the top, you can see many mountains such as Iparla, the Béhorleguy peak, Baigura, Artzamendi and even the sea in the distance.
For the descent, the small circular loop along the ridge is really nice and easy.
I recommend this hike, which remains one of the most beautiful hikes I have ever done.

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Sylvain64
Sylvain64

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 10, 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. The peaks were shrouded in fog, but despite this, the landscapes were magnificent, with the wild valleys of the Basque Country. The passage between the two peaks is a little tricky, especially when the ground is wet. Don't hesitate to go a little lower, under the rocks, where there are very easy cross-country paths to take. Thank you!

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Andrades
Andrades

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 17, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This route met my needs, but I still carry the IGN map in my bag.

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Trouluk
Trouluk

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 26, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

An easy hike to follow with consistent difficulty, the climb is steady and straightforward.

The hardest part was finding the car park at the start (my satnav wanted to send me to the Hautes Pyrénées). So I added a point on Google Maps (Parking départ rando

https://maps.app.goo.gl/Np2p1Bh2VphkQLAD... )

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DedeCiboure
DedeCiboure

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 21, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful circular route to reach this unique summit.

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