Iguzki Peak and Peñas de Itsusi from Col des Veaux

A superb circular which, from Iguzki, takes us through the Peñas de Itsusi, with its steep cliffs and impressive vulture promontories.

Details

3894269
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.06 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 654 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 651 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 845 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 527 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park at Col des Veaux.

(S/E) Follow the track heading east, then south-east, to a grassy plateau at a crossroads.

(1) Continue left on the track, heading due north.

(2) Leave the track on the left to climb to the summit of Pic Iguzki.

(3) Then descend northeast to reach the Mehatse Pass at a multiple crossroads.

(4) Follow the track heading north-east, then east, to a pass where you will find a large renovated sheepfold.

(5) Return to the path that zigzags west until you reach a track.

(6) Turn left and climb south, then south-east.

(7) Before the Col d'Espalza, climb to the right, cross the border and continue south to the cliffs of Peñas d'Itxusi.

(8) Continue west on this sometimes steep path until you cross a stream where you can see a waterfall.

(9) Continue westwards along the path until you reach a small stone cayolar (shepherd's hut).

(10) Head south-west up to a grassy plateau.

(11) Turn right, west, and find a track that leads back to the initial fork.

(1) Turn left and follow the same route back to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 540 m - Col des Veaux (548m)
  2. 1 : km 1.56 - alt. 663 m - Grassy plateau. Crossroads of the circular
  3. 2 : km 2.04 - alt. 703 m - Fork, path on the left
  4. 3 : km 2.62 - alt. 843 m - Iguzki
  5. 4 : km 3.29 - alt. 717 m - Col de Mehatse - Col de Mehatze ou col Méhatché (716m)
  6. 5 : km 4.85 - alt. 609 m - Pass
  7. 6 : km 5.42 - alt. 623 m - Track
  8. 7 : km 6.21 - alt. 652 m - Steep passage
  9. 8 : km 7.26 - alt. 575 m - Peñas d'Itxusi
  10. 9 : km 7.79 - alt. 543 m - Waterfall
  11. 10 : km 8.51 - alt. 558 m - Borde or cayolar
  12. 11 : km 9.02 - alt. 600 m - Grassy plateau
  13. S/E : km 11.06 - alt. 545 m - Col des Veaux (548m)

Notes

IBP = 75

Worth a visit

At Peñas d'Itxusi (8), observe the vulture promontory.
At the Col d'Artzatey between (6) and (7), the impressive Zerganbide cliff.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 19 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.3 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
Reivax33
Reivax33

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 15, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Excellent description, good GPS waypoints.
A lovely walk; the second half is more enjoyable with the vultures, waterfalls and forest...
We did it as a family with two 12-year-old children, no problems at all.

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th.postel@cegetel.net
th.postel@cegetel.net

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

The second part of the hike is the best, with waterfalls, cliffs and vultures

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cgarnier64
cgarnier64

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 05, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This walk is very pleasant and offers magnificent views. There are no major difficulties. There were about 15 people at Les Penas watching the vultures, but few walkers or runners on the rest of the route. It took us 4 hours, including a snack break and stops to watch the vultures.

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User 11030458

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The 10 km single-track access road is quickly forgotten after the first few kilometres of the hike.
The landscapes are magnificent, culminating in the peñas de Itsusi with their colonies of vultures, which were very active that day because of the strong wind.
It was impressive.
We hardly saw anyone during the entire hike, just a few people at the peñas.
To be done again on a sunny day.

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Philippe Le B
Philippe Le B

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

After "conquering" the 10km of winding, single-track road from Roland's Pass to Col des Veaux, a well-deserved reward awaits us. This hike is magnificent, with varied landscapes and constant views of all the surrounding peaks. The highlight of the day is, of course, the Peñas de Itsusi with its breathtaking views and dozens of griffon vultures that we were lucky enough to admire. The hike is not difficult and is truly unique. It takes 4 hours and 50 minutes with a lunch break, walking at a leisurely pace.
The unique images imprinted in our minds during the day make the 10km return journey along the same Pas de Roland route much easier.

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Audrey3804
Audrey3804

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Superb hike, beautiful, peaceful, with stunning views, lots of horses and vultures. Everything was sublime.
The hike wasn't very difficult. Perhaps the climb up to the peak was a bit challenging, but after that it was very easy going.

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User 2923009

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 21, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Numerous passages in the fern

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Patrick9464
Patrick9464

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Hello, a very beautiful hike, done in magnificent weather, without any major difficulties. On the day I did the hike, I didn't see any vultures, but the natural scenery is magnificent.

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User 19927629

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pretty and varied walk.

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Bernardsalsa
Bernardsalsa

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

A superb, varied hike enhanced by a magnificent display of vultures at point 8 and a cascading stream at point 9. To the right of the crossing point, at the edge of the pool at the foot of the waterfall, there is a large flat stone with a ram's head carved into it, said to have been carved by our ancestors for use as a sacrificial stone 😜 Otherwise, take care on the access road to the Col des Beaux Par Espellette, as it is long, winding and, above all, narrow. Keep an eye out for the refuges along the road so that cars can pass each other.

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Phil6440
Phil6440

Seen that way... 🤣

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Vincent Lafori
Vincent Lafori

It's to feed the vultures 😃

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Phil6440
Phil6440

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A superb hike, but be careful: between points 8 and 9, do not try to follow the path that branches off to the left and seems to lead... into the ravine! Stay on the main path to the right; the two paths rejoin fairly quickly.

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Vincent Lafori
Vincent Lafori

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 18, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Excellent hike... the vulture promontory is magnificent 🤩

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Appert
Appert

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Great hike, physically very accessible. A lovely discovery of impressive cliffs and vultures flying overhead or perched on the peaks, close to the trails and the view.
Be aware that the access road to the Col des Veaux is narrow, winding and long, but it is well worth the effort.

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