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Stage 4: Urkiaga Pass - Burguete/Auritz


Distance/elevation: 17,5 km / (+720 m), (-735 m)
Time: 5h05min (walking time without stops).

Difficulty: medium-easy. This is not a long stage and the paths are generally comfortable for walking. Waymarking is good, and except for the ascent from Sorogain to Mendiaundi in foggy conditions, you will have no difficulty following the markings for this stage.

Route/Itinerary:

If we look at the profile of this stage, we could split it into two sections. The first one passes through beech forests. It begins at Urkiaga Pass, skirts round the Adi peak and drops down through the gully from Odia to Sorogain. The second part crosses grazing pastureland, climbs to the top of Mendiaundi and follows a track almost all the way down to Burguete.

(0h0min; 0 kms) Urkiaga Pass (912m). Taking Urkiaga Pass as your starting point, you take the track going east, although you soon leave it and take a short cut. You will see a succession of bunkers on the way up, before you reach Adipe col (1185m), set among pine trees below the imposing mass of Adi. Cross the barbed-wire fence, and walk on the level around Adi on its north face. If you feel the urge, you could climb to the top and then walk down to Aratún col (1210m), by following the fence. At Aratún col GR 11 and GR 12 split again, the latter continuing along the ridge. You turn south and begin a steep descent down Odia ravine, which is covered by a spectacular beech forest. The descent becomes gentler, you begin to pass a few clearings, then you follow a river until you reach a narrow road. Walk alongside the road, following the river, in open countryside. You have arrived at...

(2h10min; 7,4 kms) Sorogain (830m). Sorogain auberge is open almost all year long, and has a café. Beyond this point the walk gets tougher, the terrain is more exposed and markings are less visible. After about 25 minutes you come to a track (8.7kms; 1070m), which you follow for one kilometre then leave on a bend, to follow the barbed-wire fence. The fence takes a sudden turn to the left, in a northerly direction, and you follow it. You have almost reached the summit of...

(3h30min; 10,7 kms) Mendiaundi (1.210m), crowned by a post box. The threat of a silica quarry, potentially destroying this area, looms large here – we can only wait to see what happens. Follow the fencing on a steep downhill stretch until you come to a track which takes you to the Dos Puentes col. It’s a long walk down to Burguete, the path eventually becomes a wide track, follows the Xuringoa gully and in the end, shares the route with the Camino de Santiago.

(5h05min; 17,5 kms) Burguete/Auritz (890m).

Where to sleep?

At the beginning of the stage, no accommodation is available at the Urkiaga Pass. The best options for sleeping under a roof is Hostal Arrobi Borda (Tel: +34 948 304 709 / +34 686 564 717 (attends whatsapp); info@arrobiborda.com). The Arrobi-borda is located 7kms from Urkiaga Pass, on the way to Eugui, on the crossroads with the road that goes to Irurita. It stands in natural surroundings, within the Quinto Real forest, is a traditional farmhouse and also boasts a restaurant.

At the end of the stage, in Burguete, we recommend Casa Pedroarena (Tel: 848992525 / 948 13 08 89 / 619 444 207 / 680 879 679; ruralpili@gmail.com). Possibility of breakfast and laundry service.

Where to eat?

At the beginning of the stage, Hostal Arrobi Borda (//) (7kms from Urkiaga on the way to Eugui) have a restaurant.

Maps:

- SUA edizioak: Orreaga (Scale: 1/25.000).

Transport: Buses do not run to Urkiaga Pass. The best way is to take the bus to Eugui, and from there to take a taxi. Some hostels in Eugui co-ordinate transport for walkers from the Pass (see accommodation). Both Eugui-Pamplona and Burguete-Pamplona connections are operated by the Autocares Artieda (/) bus company.


Perfil de la etapa

Stages - GR11

- Prologue: Cabo Higuer - Hondarribia - Irun
- Stage 1: Cabo Higuer - Bera
- Stage 1v (GR 11.3): Cabo Higuer - Lesaka
- Stage 2: Bera - Elizondo
- Stage 2v (GR 11.3): Lesaka - Elizondo
- Stage 3: Elizondo - Pto de Urkiaga
- Stage 4: Puerto de Urkiaga - Burguete
- Stage 5: Burguete/Auritz - Villanueva de Aezcoa/Hiriberri
Stage 6: Villanueva de Aezcoa/Hiriberri - Ochagavia
Stage 7: Ochagavia - Isaba
Stage 8: Isaba - Zuriza (via Belabarce)
Stage 8v (GR 11.4): Isaba - Zuriza (via Ezkaurre)
Stage 9: Zuriza - Aguas Tuertas
Stage 10: Aguas Tuertas - Lizara
Stage 10 (discontinued): Aguas Tuertas - Candanchú
Stage 11: Lizara - Candanchú
Stage 12: Candanchú - Sallent de Gallego
Stage 9v (GR 11.1): Zuriza - Puente de Santa Ana
Stage 10v (GR 11.1): Puente de Santa Ana - Lizara
Stage 11v (GR 11.1): Lizara - Canfranc Estación
Stage 12v: Canfranc Estación - Sallent de Gallego (via C.Izas)
Stage 13: Sallent de Gallego - Refugio de Respomuso
Stage 14: Refugio de Respomuso - Balneario de Panticosa
Shortcut: The pipeline path from Bachimaña to Brazato
Stage 15: Balneario de Panticosa - San Nicolas de Bujaruelo
Stage 16: San Nicolas de Bujaruelo - Refugio de Goriz
Stage 17: Refugio de Goriz - Circo de Pineta (Fuenblanca)
Stage 17v (GR11.9): Refugio de Goriz - Circo de Pineta (Faja de las Olas)
Stage 18: Circo de Pineta - Parzán
Stage 19: Parzán - Biadós
Stage 20: Biadós - Puente de San Jaime
Stage 20v (GR 11.2): Biadós - Ref. Ángel Orús
Stage 21v (GR 11.2): Ref. Ángel Orús - Puente de San Jaime
Stage 21: Puente de San Jaime - Refugio de Cap de Llauset
Stage 21v (GR 11.5): Puente de San Jaime - Refugio de la Renclusa
Stage 22v (GR 11.5): Refugio de la Renclusa - Refugio de Cap de Llauset
Stage 22: Ref. Cap de LLauset - Conangles
Stage 23: Conangles - La Restanca
Stage 24v (GR11.18): La Restanca - Colomers
Stage 25: Colomers - Ernest Mallafré
Stage 26: Ernest Mallafré - La Guingueta
Stage 27: La Guingueta - Estaón
Stage 28: Estaón - Tavascán
Stage 29: Tavascán - Areu
Stage 30: Areu - Baiau
Stage 31: Baiau - Arans
Stage 32: Arans - Encamp
Stage 33: Encamp - Ref. l'Illa
Stage 34: Ref. l'Illa - Malniu
Stage 35: Malniu - Puigcerdá
Stage 36: Puigcerdá - Planoles
Stage 37: Planoles - Santuario de Nuria
Stage 38: Santuario de Nuria - Refugio de Ulldeter
Stage 39: Refugio de Ulldeter - Molló
Stage 40: Molló - Talaixà
Stage 41: Talaixà - Albanyà
Stage 42: Albanyà - La Vajol
Stage 43: La Vajol - Requessens
Stage 44: Requessens - Vilamaniscle
Stage 45: Vilamaniscle - El Port de la Selva
Stage 46: El Port de la Selva - Cap de Creus

Selección: GPS de montaña
eTrex Touch 35
eTrex 30x
eTrex 20x


Map of the stage