Foz de Lumbier: a charming route
The Foz de Lumbier route is one of the most visited routes in Navarre, and is famous for its spectacular views and great natural beauty. The original route, which consists of 1.5 km which follows the same path as a former mining railway track which used to run through the area. The route has now been extended for hikers. up to 7 km on an easily passable circular route.. The route starts at a car park where we can leave our vehicles. In the high season this car park costs €2. The entire route (7 kilometres) is a one hour walk. duration of approximately one hour and forty-five minutes. The cumulative difference in altitude is 185 metres.During the first part of the route, the path crosses two tunnels excavated in the rock. Another of the highlights of this route is the arrival at the Puente del Diablo (Devil's Bridge). Before the War of Independence, this bridge connected both ends of the gorge, but it was destroyed during the conflict, so only the remains on both sides remain.
The hiking route of the Lumbier Gorge is just 34 minutes from Pamplona. The first part of the route, which is only 1.5 km long, is suitable for families and groups of friends, as it is an easy and short walk. The river carves its own course in the rock, completely parallel to the route up to the Devil's Bridge. To continue the route beyond the Devil's Bridge and walk the whole 7 km, always follow the signs, marked in white and green, as local footpath (SL).
The best time to visit the route is undoubtedly spring or autumn. The Lumbier Gorge is a route suitable for people with little experience who wish to start out on hiking routes, with incredible natural beauty and privileged surroundings. One of the most visited routes in the pre-Pyrenees of Navarre. The Navarrese Pyrenees -and its pre-Pyrenees - are characterised by an easily accessible mountainous area, with a great wealth of natural and cultural landscapes. The forests of Navarre always surprise visitors with their spectacular beauty in any season.
Natural landscapes and fauna in the Lumbier Gorge
During our route, we will be able to enjoy a wonderful landscape in the middle of nature. The river Irati, which meanders between the mountain has been the cause of the gorge we are about to cross. One of the main attractions of this route is that it offers the opportunity to observe a colony of griffon vultures, which have nested in the crags. This species of vulture, one of the only ones in Europe, is characterised by its large wingspan: the length of its wings varies from 2 to almost 3 metres.
