Iturbide - The path of the springs

This beautiful loop to discover the foothills of Ursuya and its many springs is published by the Basque Country Tourist Office and is reproduced here for use with Visorando.

Details

11423653
Creation:
Last update:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.22 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 45 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 386 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 380 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 461 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 87 m

Photos

Description of the walk

The car park is near Urcuray church on the street perpendicular to the D10.

(S/E) Follow the road south-east. At the first intersection, turn left along the stream until the road leaves the stream and starts to climb.

(1) Leave the road to go through a metal gate on the right and follow a path that runs alongside the stream. After passing a ruin, continue along the path that climbs up into the valley.
In the forest, at the fork, take the path on the right.
Above a waterfall, a trail takes over.
After a gate, it continues to climb to the left or right of the stream, crossing a few muddy sections (water catchments) until it reaches an intersection in the middle of several water pipes.

(2) Ignore the paths to the left (ford) and right, and continue straight ahead on the path along the river. The forest gradually thins out. Continue to an electricity pylon with a Y-junction.

(3) Take the grassy path opposite to finish climbing up the valley on a wide path that winds under the power line to the Col d'Iramalda.

(4) Ignore the road and take the path on the left. After 50 metres, at the barn, turn left again onto a wide dirt track that climbs up the western flank of Ursuya. Pass under a beautiful barn and reach a flat section (Pilotaxilo). Continue along the fence and follow the only path that descends towards a valley.
Ignore a path coming from the left, pass the spring and climb gently up to an intersection near a barn.

(5) Descend opposite for 50 m, around a bend, then turn left, west, onto a path marked "Retour Cambo". With a beautiful view of the Hasparren neighbourhoods, it goes around a dome. When the path opens onto a fern-covered meadow, keep to the rightmost track to descend steeply towards a grassy plateau. Climb back up briefly through the gorse, then reach a T-junction: continue right on the wide path. At the four Basque houses, turn right for 20 m.

(6) Turn left onto the road that descends to the Gillamuren farm.
Turn right in front of the shed to descend a grassy path to a Y-junction near a ruin.

(7) Take the path on the left to rejoin a tarmac road that descends to the road you took on the way there.

(1) Return along the same route you took on the way there to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 87 m - Car park in Urcuray
  2. 1 : km 0.67 - alt. 118 m - Gate/Road - Junction of the loop
  3. 2 : km 2.06 - alt. 237 m - Crossroads near a ford
  4. 3 : km 2.99 - alt. 325 m - Electric pylon
  5. 4 : km 3.98 - alt. 398 m - Col d'Imarla
  6. 5 : km 6.21 - alt. 437 m - Intersection near a barn
  7. 6 : km 7.41 - alt. 294 m - Group of houses
  8. 7 : km 7.85 - alt. 234 m - Y-junction
  9. S/E : km 9.22 - alt. 87 m - Return to the car park

Worth a visit

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 17 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
User 27131852

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 12, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A superb hike when you reach the peak...
But much of the terrain at the start is very muddy... which makes accessibility more difficult.
You forget all about that when you reach the halfway point, with its superb view of the sea and mountains.

Note that two passages are closed by barriers or gates; we opened them to get through, as we had no choice.
Also note that the route is not very accurate with GPS...

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User 530583

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 25, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

i still need to see how it works in practice, but everything seems clear

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User 7058254

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

A very pretty circuit combining forest along a stream, meadows (grass and ferns), trails, paths and roads. Encounter with animals roaming free in several places (cows, horses).
However, there are a few places where the route is unclear (yellow markings not always very visible) on the first third of the trail.

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jrstpaul
jrstpaul

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

A very pleasant route with no major difficulties.
From the start to just before point 4, the route is shaded and runs alongside the stream but does not offer any views. There are a few muddy sections but these are easily passable in summer during dry periods. From point 4 to point 6, the route is more exposed to the sun with a few trees but offers some beautiful views.
Be careful at point 1, where the metal gate is blocked and you have to climb over it.

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Les Gersois
Les Gersois

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Quite muddy at the start... but that's normal since you're following the path along a stream. Beautiful views and very pleasant. No significant difficulties.

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Samourai40
Samourai40

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The start of the hike is a bit muddy along the water catchments!

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pastrouver
pastrouver

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

3 hours with snacks. Several muddy areas on the first part of the route. Pleasant, easy hike.
Beautiful views on the way back. Nice.

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Pescay
Pescay

Overall rating : 4 / 5

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

👍

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julieprova
julieprova

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 pleasant walk

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saintgo
saintgo

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

A very pleasant route despite a slightly muddy section at the start, but magnificent views throughout the rest of the walk.

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pat ogaz
pat ogaz

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I had forgotten such things and impressions. Fortunately, I was able to tag along with a very nice little group, otherwise I wouldn't have made it. Most of the trail was very muddy due to previous rains, which made it less enjoyable. From the pass onwards, there were more people (who had arrived by car).
I'll do it again when the weather is dry.

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Sophie Gauthier
Sophie Gauthier

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

the first part is in the undergrowth along the stream, so it is shaded, which is pleasant in good weather.
However, there are many water resurgences, so the path is often muddy, even though it had been hot for several days beforehand!
This continues until the pylon, then the path widens and dries out. There are unobstructed 360-degree views stretching from the sea to Bayonne, La Rhune, Artzamendi, etc
It feels like you're alone in the world!

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SilverFre
SilverFre

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 19, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful route that alternates between different types of terrain:

It starts in the undergrowth, along the stream: some sections are very muddy and slippery, but the soothing sound of the water and birdsong makes up for it.
Once out of the woods, we continue on open ground with magnificent views.

No difficult terrain or steep slopes, with signposts throughout.

Remember to keep dogs on a lead when crossing pastoral areas.

Thank you for the route!

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Luc B.
Luc B.

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 14, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Having walked the trail once in the opposite direction, I highly recommend following the route suggested by Visorando. The slope is much more gradual, allowing the calves of casual walkers to get used to the effort more easily. And if it's hot, the shaded first section along the springs will be much appreciated by walkers without hats. Among the many gifts offered to the eye – notably the magnificent shades of green so specific to the Basque mountains, which almost make you want to become a pottok – the arrival at the "summit" of the loop suddenly opens up onto distant peaks, their summits and passes beckoning you to further discoveries.
Finally, unless you are carrying a fully equipped kitchen with you, you will easily find enough space to sit down and share some chorizo and sheep's cheese on a bed of morello cherries.
Enjoy your walk!

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CriMey
CriMey

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 02, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This hike is accessible to all and takes about three hours to complete. However, be sure to wear sturdy footwear, as there are muddy sections at the start of the trail in the undergrowth.
The scenery is magnificent, but unfortunately there are no places to stop and have a picnic.

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