Le Foz de Lumbier

The Foz de Lumbier is a gorge carved out of the mountain by the Irati River. Both ends are narrow, making it an exceptional nature reserve. The Foz can be traversed without difficulty via a path that follows the route of an old railroad line.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.21 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 299 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 294 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 604 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 417 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Start: From the autovia A-21 (Pamplona to Jaca), take exit 35, then head for Lumbier (for those coming from the East, exit 39 also points to Foz de Lumbier, but it only takes you to a viewpoint from which you can admire the fos).

From exit 35, follow the signs for "Foces de Lumbier y Arbaiun", then "Foz de Lumbier". Once you've passed these signs, you'll arrive at the "Fos de Lumbier" car park.

Waymarkers: Signs for the entire hike: White and Green''.

(S/E) Leave the car park toward Foz du Lumbier.

(1) After a couple of hundred metres, when the mountain begins, take a path to the left (a wooden sign reads "sendero local / Herri bidea"). It follows the separation between the plain and the mountain, passes through a gate (don't forget to close it), then turns right and begins the climb.

(2) The path joins a wide, passable track. Follow signs for "Foz du Lumbier". Five hundred metres further on, ignore a track which goes off to the left (there's a ruined house just beyond on the left). Three hundred metres further on, ignore another track which goes off to the right and stay on the track which roughly follows a power line.

(3) The path comes to a T-junction. Turn right (signposted "Foz du Lumbier") and start downhill.

(4) The path comes to another asphalt road. Turn right and continue downhill.

(5) Shortly after an almost 180° bend, take a steep downhill path (still signposted "Foz du Lumbier"). Follow it until you reach a path running alongside the Rio Irati.

(6) This path is the "Camino Aragonés", i.e. one of the Camino de Santiago. Follow it Westwards.

(7) Enter the tunnel, then follow the path into the Foz. At the end of the tunnel, take a second tunnel.

(1) Return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 425 m - Foz du Lumbier car park
  2. 1 : km 0.24 - alt. 423 m - North end of the Foz
  3. 2 : km 1 - alt. 537 m - Direction "Foz du Lumbier"
  4. 3 : km 1.92 - alt. 604 m - T-junction
  5. 4 : km 2.44 - alt. 567 m - Downhill path on the right
  6. 5 : km 2.99 - alt. 496 m - Path after the bend
  7. 6 : km 3.29 - alt. 445 m - Junction with the Camino Aragonés
  8. 7 : km 4.53 - alt. 439 m - South end of the Foz
  9. S/E : km 6.21 - alt. 425 m - Foz du Lumbier car park

Notes

Start: From the autovia A-21 (Pamplona to Jaca), take exit 35, then head for Lumbier (for those coming from the East, exit 39 also points to Foz de Lumbier, but it only takes you to a viewpoint from which you can admire the fos).

Parking: From exit 35, follow the signs for "Foces de Lumbier y Arbaiun", then "Foz de Lumbier". Once you've passed these signs, you'll arrive at the "Fos de Lumbier" car park.
The "Fos de Lumbier" car park is subject to a charge (€2.50 in May 2017). There is a janitor who also gives explanations about the fos.

Waymarkers: Signs for the entire hike: White and Green''.

Facilities: No water point.

_ Gears_: Because of the somewhat steep ascents and descents, walking sticks are very useful : a flashlight is useful in the tunnels (or, like us, use the walking sticks as blindfold canes).

This hike is best done in the morning: on the way up the mountain, it's not yet too hot, and the foz is cool enough for the return trip, when it starts to get hot.

Worth a visit

During the hike :

(7) Before entering the tunnel, you can take a short path that takes you to a destroyed bridge known as Pont de Jésus or Pont du Diable.

In the Foz (between (7) and (1)), you can observe birds. There are several paths down to the water's edge, but at your own risk (the water level can rise rapidly).

Nearby :

Opposite the southern entrance to the foz are the ruins of a Roman villa. The location offers a panoramic view of the foz (exit 39 of the autovia A-21).

In Lumbier: Centro de Interpretación de las Foces (Please note: outside summer, it's only open at weekends).

Leyre Monastery (Wikipedia page)

Javier Castle (Wikipedia page)

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 12 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
Laurent Carlier
Laurent Carlier
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike, magnificent landscapes. Best done after a rainy spell, as the river was dry, so there was no waterfall.

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Jacques POTET
Jacques POTET

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hiking trail made on 11/04/2025. The description corresponds to the terrain. Be careful when visiting the ruins of the Pont du Diable, as the access is slippery due to the stones polished by successive visitors and despite the chain used to hold it in place. Also not recommended for those prone to vertigo. (Overhanging the River Irati).

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LOM B
LOM B

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

It's a steep start with a climb that gives us a beautiful panorama, crossed by the Rio Irati. Then a fine descent to the tunnel cut into the rock. The final canyon is spectacular and therefore more popular.
A beautiful walk.

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Lloydcl
Lloydcl
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 11, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

I was mainly going there to see the Irati river, so I found the first half of the route (Points 1 to 5) not very interesting, but it was still a nice walk. Once you get to Point 6 (the junction with the Camino Aragonés), it's all good fun. It's an easy walk and ideal for children.

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Safash
Safash

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 21, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The whole hike was a total pleasure, with the passage between points 2 and 3 revealing a beautiful panorama behind us. Similarly, when I descended from point 3 to point 4, there was a beautiful view of the surrounding heights and the Rio Irati!
One of the best parts is the Devil's Bridge at point 7 (small path on the left) where you can stop for a bite to eat with a view over the water.
Immediately after the tunnel at point 7, there's a descent to the river bank where no-one goes, which is pleasant.
I highly recommend this loop, which many people can do!

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Louberet
Louberet

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 08, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This is an easy hike, but you'll need good shoes to avoid slipping on the gravel on the way down. This walk is best done in the morning, when the light is best for taking photographs, particularly of vultures.

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Daniel Louis Etxeto
Daniel Louis Etxeto

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 28, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very fine walk in a site whose geological features make for spectacular scenery. The vultures that nest in these cliffs enhance the spectacle.

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harispe
harispe

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 13, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Walked on Sunday 12 May in very fine weather with a little wind on the summit. When you reach the electricity pylons, take the path to the right to reach a viewpoint overlooking the Foz.
At the entrance to the tunnel, point 7, if you go towards the Pont du Diable, be careful, the path is very steep and the rock is also very slippery, even in dry weather.
A very pleasant walk, well signposted and off the beaten track.
To be recommended.
HARISPE visorandoneur .

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calou40
calou40

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 25, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

a nice little family hike with a picnic and good weather
No difficulty on this route, but beware of those prone to vertigo at the PONT DU DIABLE.
Parking usually charged at 2.50 euros but free today as it is a public holiday.

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Maïa11
Maïa11

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 26, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A pleasant walk. We also preferred the 2nd part = on the old railway line.
I'd recommend taking a short diversions to the Devil's Bridge. Magnificent! and safe

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oyarzabaldj
oyarzabaldj

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 02, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing

There are two routes:
- the short one, which simply follows the "foz", which is very easy and not very long, and which passes through two tunnels (former railway line). The scenery is truly magnificent. It is advisable to do this route in the morning or evening, when the sun is not beating down on the surrounding cliffs, as the path does not follow the river and is quite high up in relation to the watercourse (so you don't really feel the coolness). Even though it is advisable to take a small torch with you to cross the two tunnels, we felt that the owner of the route could have invested in equipping the tunnels with small central bulbs (powered by solar energy outside).
-The other, which is longer and virtually uninteresting because it doesn't overlook the "foz" at all, simply crosses areas of scrubland located high up, far from the "foz", then follows a wide "Saint Jacques" road of no interest...

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duabreg
duabreg

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 22, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

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CATHERINELAURENT
CATHERINELAURENT
• Edited:

Hello,

This tour will only take place in May 2018...
See you soon
C.LAURENT

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