We go on a route to the heart of Irati, one of the largest and best preserved beech and fir forests in Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The route that we propose partly follows two of the many marked trails that run through this natural area, the Old Way to Casas de Irati (SL-NA 60A) and the Old Way to Koixta (SL-NA 69). Possibly the best combination of marked trails to get to know the interior of the Irati Forest and the Urtxuria ravine, one of the two main tributaries that form the Irati River.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As an alternative to the local path, we propose a variant that runs along the ridge between Mount Akerrer\u00eda (1,317m) and Malgorra (1,363m), a natural separation between the Urtxuria and Urbeltza basins. A place to get lost in, and this is not a metaphor. It is a confusing area, without references, difficult to find your way around, covered by a thick forest and with so many paint marks in some areas that rather than helping, they confuse even more. In short, this is a route that, despite not being too long and not too steep, should not be taken lightly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Circular route through the interior of the Irati Forest in which we will ascend Mount Akerreria (1,317m), Logibeltza (1,287m), Baltsazarras (1,298m) and Malgorra (1,363m). From Casas de Irati we will go up the Camino Viejo a Casas de Irati (SL-NA 60A) until we reach the Akerreria pass, where we will leave the local path to go to the Akerreria mountain. From the summit of Akerreria, the route continues along the ridge, gaining or going around Logibeltza and Baltsazarras, if you prefer, to then enter a confusing area with several peaks of similar altitude. Malgorra, the highest of them all, is broken to the south. Once the summit is reached, the route descends to cross the Malgorra stream to go down along a path to the Koixta reservoir. From here, along a track for approximately 1 kilometre and then along the old road to Koixta, we return to the start of this excursion at the Casas de Irati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n