The Labetxu Valley in Jaizkibel

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

Never again!
From point 3 onwards, the route is tricky to follow, and then from point 4 onwards… you need two shoulders, two hands, two feet as well, good joints and flexibility…
There are dangerous sections on the rocks; if you’re not physically fit, it’s impossible for young children, reckless teenagers and older people.
For point 7, the route isn’t feasible – you can’t follow the fence; you have to cut across just before it and head straight to point 8.
Then, towards the end, the climb is endless, from point 1 to the finish.

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Date of your route : Aug 07, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A hike: or how to go from heaven to hell...
A very challenging hike; the whole descent is superb and the path is easy to follow, but from point 4 onwards it’s quite perilous, even in lovely weather like today’s, the ferns and tall grass conceal quite a few holes, and once you’ve passed the small canyon – where the two white stripes go up to the right and the trail goes down to the left – the trail becomes virtually non-existent; it’s impossible to follow it to point 5. Once past point 6, everything was fine, but we’ll have to mark out the section between points 4 and 5!
In my opinion, the section around point 5 needs to be revised – it’s very complicated and dangerous to follow the trail there.
It took me 5 hours instead of the 4 hours indicated; this is a hike that falls firmly into the ‘difficult’ category. I wouldn’t recommend doing it alone or with inexperienced people.
I came across very few people; the scenery is magnificent, but you really have to work for it on this route!

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Date of your route : Mar 01, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

This route is very demanding. If you suffer from vertigo or a fear of heights, do not attempt it. The section at point 4 is dangerous: very slippery and muddy.
This route does not cover the entire Valley of Colours. I did not find the same splendour I had seen on a previous hike. Be careful on the way back to get around the fenced-off area... The last section (the return leg) to get back to the start is tedious.

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Date of your route : Jun 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Superb hike. You really need to have the GPS track otherwise you'll get lost. As already mentioned, part of the path on the way back is now closed, but you just have to go around the fence, and the path is well marked.

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Date of your route : May 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent hike, but one that requires you to be physically fit - the final stretch is quite gruelling - as well as technically, as you have to use your hands several times, both going up and down, and be sure of your feet, and finally, orientation, as this unmarked hike intersects with many other hiking trails. Trail compulsory. Done in 4 hours solo for reconnaissance, getting a bit lost. Worth doing in good weather.

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Date of your route : Jan 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A 'sporty' hike not recommended for families with young children or groups of senior hikers. There are some tricky but not dangerous sections. Not to be done after rainy weather either, as the steep dirt paths are slippery. But the effort is rewarded by the sight of many hollowed-out, colourful rocks.
For those who are less alert but still want to enjoy the spectacle, you can make a return trip to the colours in the opposite direction to the loop.
It was a bit crowded, but it was a Saturday.

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

Magnificent hike with amazing colours and rock shapes, it's a shame that the signs are too sketchy so don't hesitate at path intersections. In fact, to find your way around a bit, take the discreet path with double white markers from just after point 2 to point 4, where on the path leading up to the edge of the cliff you have to turn left where there is a rope below (relatively easy de-escalation for experienced hikers, provided you are careful).
After point 6 (cliff/white cave) the path climbs back up to a small forest flat: leave the white markings and take the path to the right by a pine tree.
Before 7 you come to the wider double track, which you take to the left to go around the fence on your right: this leads to a track (with a pretty view of the valley on the edge of the cliff) which leads to point 8.
Allow plenty of time (around 6 hours) to enjoy these rocky landscapes and colours worthy of Arizona!

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Date of your route : Aug 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello ,
magnificent tour, completed today, on which I would make 3 comments:
Point 4: the descent of the cliff is indeed delicate (rope) the danger is real.
Between points 6 & 7: the landscape has been turned upside down following the creation of a fenced-in area, the path described is no longer usable; alternatives exist but their markings are confusing, or even non-existent.
Finally, it should be noted that the return to Santa Barbara is a long climb ....

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Date of your route : Jun 24, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Avoid without a GPS. White markings not obvious. Fence in place, forcing us to find another route. To increase the distance covered and the altitude difference, we went via the Jaizkibel, via Passaia and picked up the route a little further on. A very nice loop.

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Date of your route : Apr 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

This hike is very interesting for its diversity of rocks and relief. However, apart from the large fault, you can only see the most remarkable ochres from a distance, which are located on the escapement on the right bank of the stream. The path up the right bank passes between three pieces of a felled tree, all marked with a double horizontal white line, and the downhill access is at this level.
This survey was carried out on Sunday 21 April 2024. I'm trying to publish photos taken in July 2022.

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

Thank you for this incredibly beautiful route.
3 practical remarks:
1) please note that the start is not from the orientation table (do not follow the yellow arrows), but from a path below the 1st small car park, on the right of the road as you descend.
2) Between points 6 and 7, a barbed wire fence has been erected. Go around it to the left (from below). You'll find the normal path a little further on.
3) Allow a good 6 hours if you don't want to rush the walk.

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Date of your route : Aug 07, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Exceptional hike done on my own with just the topo on paper and no GPS! A taste for adventure, climbing and losing your bearings ... love getting lost! it would be very wise to add the distances between each stage of the route in addition to the scale; the hike was already long but I lengthened it by at least 3 km) total duration of my hike 6h all included photos picnic area route errors) ... no matter everything was so beautiful!

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Date of your route : Jun 16, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very nice walk to do in dry weather. The terrain is steep at times, and the paths are not easy to spot as they are covered in fairly high vegetation, so be careful where you put your feet - fortunately the GPS app is there!
Trousers are preferable to shorts, as undesirable insects lurk in the vegetation, so be sure to bring a tick catcher.

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Date of your route : Apr 24, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

not enough detail on the first part

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Date of your route : Apr 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We did this walk as a family (two children aged ten and seven, both experienced hikers) and really enjoyed it. However, there are a few things to point out... At the large fault (3), as indicated in the description, be very careful as it is only visible at the last moment (especially for children and dogs). Note that there is a smaller fault before the 'big one'. Also, on the descent with the rope (4) there is a small chasm at the bottom of the descent, the entrance is half covered by dead leaves etc.. We noticed several inconspicuous 'holes' like this during this stage of the hike and along the edge of the path. Again, be very careful, especially if accompanied by younger children or dogs. Finally, we agree with the author that it's easy to get lost on all the paths, that it would be dangerous in bad weather and that we advise against families with young children or those who are not well prepared/experienced. But what a beautiful walk. Thanks for sharing.

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