Suhalmendi and Col de Saint-Ignace from Sare

A beautiful hike that will allow you to discover the most famous peaks of the Basque Country around you as you climb, but also to enjoy a wide view of the ocean.

Details

n°287693
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.26 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,283 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,289 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 984 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 177 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

The start is in the village of Sare. Park in the large car park at the top of the village. This spot is also signposted as a car-sharing meeting point.

(S/E) Exit via the top of the car park (hiking sign) and turn right towards the church.

(1) At the foot of the church, turn right into a narrow lane that winds down past the old cemetery. After a few dozen metres, the lane gives way to a paved path (a remnant from the Napoleonic era). Cross the D4 and continue straight ahead. Walk past a restored dolmen and admire the disc-shaped steles in the new cemetery. The paved path passes two beautiful restored farmhouses. Immediately afterwards, you’ll reach a junction with a small chapel.

(2) Turn left onto the road, which climbs steeply and runs alongside some pretty Basque houses. At the end of the road, head naturally down to the right, then immediately left onto a path that leads into the woodland. Further on, ignore a turning on the right. Cross a stream via a stone footbridge and you’ll soon reach a small road.

(3) Follow this road to the right. Ignore a path branching off to the right, pass a beautiful barn on the left and you’ll soon reach another road.

(4) Cross it and take the path opposite. Walk uphill to the end of a road leading to a house. Follow the path to the right and walk uphill for about 500 metres.

(5) At a three-way junction, continue straight on (ignore an ascending track on the left which is not shown on the map). You’ll reach a wide, flat area from where you can see, to the right, the summit of Suhalmendi with its aerial masts.

(6) Climb to the right up to the summit of Suhalmendi. 360° view, notably of the bay of Saint-Jean-de-Luz to the north and La Rhune to the west. Ruins of a redoubt used by French troops to fight Wellington’s army.

(7) Begin the descent down the other slope (north-east) along a path that soon turns left and heads north.

(8) At the T-junction (information boards on Basque pig breeding), turn left twice (yellow markings). Walk slightly uphill.

(9) At the T-junction, turn right and head back down. Further on, take a sharp left-hand bend and stay roughly along the contour line. Then turn right, following the markings.

(10) Head left and climb. At a Fork in the road, continue left across open ground and arrive at a T-junction.

(11) First turn left then right to join a path through the ferns and head downhill. Further down, turn right, go through a gate and cross a car park. This brings you to Saint-Ignace station, where the La Rhune rack railway departs.

(12) Follow the D4 to the left, leaving the station on your right. At a hairpin bend to the left, take the first small road on the right. A few dozen metres further on, turn left and walk past two houses.

(13) Look out for a path branching off to the right and follow it up a steep incline.

(14) At the junction, turn left and walk gently downhill through open countryside (beautiful view; you can admire, a little to the left on a hillock, a lovely stone building and, right at the bottom, the village of Sare). Walk past a small barn in good condition and, further down, you’ll come to a second barn on a flat area where you’ll also find the side entrance to the lovely house mentioned above.

(15) Continue straight ahead, descending along the same path. At a level crossing, rejoin the tarmac road and follow it to the village of Sare.

(16) Cross the D406 and follow it to the left, walking alongside a car park. At the end, turn right onto a small, tarmac path with hairpin bends (red and white markings). Walk past the fronton and then turn left. Walk past the church on your left.

(1) Carry on straight ahead and you’ll soon come to the car park on your left (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 233 ft - Car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.05 - alt. 243 ft - Junction of the circular loop - Église Saint-Martin (Sare)
  3. 2 : mi 0.41 - alt. 217 ft - Crossroads
  4. 3 : mi 1.15 - alt. 279 ft - T-junction
  5. 4 : mi 1.37 - alt. 381 ft - Start of the trail
  6. 5 : mi 1.72 - alt. 712 ft - Three-Way Junction
  7. 6 : mi 1.87 - alt. 814 ft - Flat section
  8. 7 : mi 2.12 - alt. 984 ft - Suhalmendi
  9. 8 : mi 2.36 - alt. 807 ft - T-junction
  10. 9 : mi 2.79 - alt. 774 ft - T-junction
  11. 10 : mi 3.56 - alt. 735 ft - Junction
  12. 11 : mi 3.7 - alt. 801 ft - T-junction
  13. 12 : mi 4.14 - alt. 554 ft - D4 road - Petit train de la Rhune
  14. 13 : mi 4.51 - alt. 636 ft - Start of the trail
  15. 14 : mi 4.71 - alt. 889 ft - Crossroads
  16. 15 : mi 5.29 - alt. 548 ft - Continue straight ahead
  17. 16 : mi 5.94 - alt. 200 ft - D406 road
  18. S/E : mi 6.26 - alt. 236 ft - Car park

Notes

There are no water sources along the entire route.
If necessary, supplies can be purchased at the Col de Saint-Ignace in the shops opposite the station.

Worth a visit

You can drive to the Col de Saint-Ignace to climb La Rhune with the charming little rack railway.
At the top, you can eat at the Ventas.
Be sure to stroll through the narrow streets of Sare.
At the top of the steps on the right-hand side of the fronton on the square, you will find a replica of a Txalaparta (a traditional instrument dating back several centuries, played by two musicians tapping with sticks).
There are some good restaurants in the village.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 57 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
Yves Verhaeghe
Yves Verhaeghe

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 18, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely find off the beaten track in La Rhusne

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francri0230
francri0230

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 04, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

No difficulties up to the Rhune train station at St Ignace. Please note
the path that branches off to the right a few hundred metres further on is very steep, with a gradient of 20 per cent; those who are tired may find it difficult.
The descent along this gravel path calls for good footwear and walking poles if possible.

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Netra
Netra ★

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 06, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely, varied walk with several superb views.

At point (3), the sign is no longer there, but the path is easy to find.

Please note that at the summit (6), the instruction ‘Return via the same route’ does not match the route map, which shows a circular route. I recommend completing the circular route by following the route map. It would be helpful to ensure that the route map and description are consistent at this point.

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Cactus parisien
Cactus parisien

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 29, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk with perfect weather. Be careful at point 3: I couldn’t find the Sulhalmendi sign and the path isn’t very well marked (brambles). It’s easy to take a wrong turn onto the farm track that branches off to the right.
But with the GPS track, you’re quickly back on the right track!

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Charpentier Éric
Charpentier Éric

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 03, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A really lovely walk with a beautiful view

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fonfon47
fonfon47

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 11, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk, not too difficult.

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User 3875727

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Very beautiful view, very pleasant route

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User 25308299

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

Pleasant route with no major difficulties.
very few hikers (route completed in the morning).

Nathalie & Jean Michel

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MFH
MFH

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

very good hike, relatively easy as it is a little steep.

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Appert
Appert

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant short hike for families with young children.
Many shaded areas in case of hot weather.

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Florence F
Florence F

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 30, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant loop, which we extended at point 7 by joining the Zuhalmendi (an additional 280 m elevation gain and 2.8 km round trip).

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User 20460825

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Easy to follow trail

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Stephane 40
Stephane 40

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

Not a very difficult hike, easy and very beautiful views if the weather is good.

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VL2
VL2

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

A pleasant hike, progress is easy with only two or three rocky slopes where the effort is a little more intense.

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oli56
oli56

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

A very beautiful hike with no difficulties (muddy terrain at the start of the route in February).

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