Best mountain bike routes in La Rioja to explore nature

Mejores rutas de bicicleta de montaña en La Rioja para explorar la naturaleza

La Rioja is a paradise for cycling, especially for those who enjoy mountain bikes. With MTB routes that cross vast fields of vineyards and areas of medium and high mountains, this region offers a great variety of trails perfect for thorough exploration. Its natural landscapes and historic villages make La Rioja a must-visit destination for cycling lovers, both on mountain bikes and road bikes. In addition to its natural appeal, the region is famous for its gastronomy, particularly its world-renowned wines and wineries. We suggest several routes that connect the most mountainous areas of the south with the valleys in the north, where most of the vineyards and the famous wineries of the area are located.

Moncalvillo Route - Sierra de la Demanda

Hornos de Moncalvillo is the town where this route through the northeastern area of the Sierra de la Demanda begins and ends, specifically through the Alto de Moncalvillo. A mountain track route surrounded by lush pine and fir forests and green meadows, just 20 kilometers from Logroño. The climb is 6 kilometers long and nearly 500 meters of positive elevation gain are achieved.

Iregua Valley Route

The southern part of La Rioja is the most mountainous and is full of interesting routes and natural spots of great beauty that are worth visiting, especially in autumn and spring. This route we present to you coincides with the Valle de Iregua cycling tour. It runs along perfectly rideable and not very technical mountain tracks and trails. In addition, the route will allow you to enjoy views of the entire Iregua valley and its forests, which in autumn offer visitors a true visual delight with the falling leaves. The most demanding part of the route is between kilometers 9 and 18, where you climb from the valley up the mountain on a well-maintained forest track.

  • Difficulty: Moderate
  • Type: XC / Marathon
  • Distance: 49.9 kilometers
  • Elevation gain: 1,602 meters
  • Route type: Circular
  • Start/finish: Albelda de Iregua
  • See the track of the route on Wikiloc

 

Monolith Trail Route

This attractive MTB route runs through the Iregua Valley, combining flat sections along paths and tracks surrounded by vineyards and the mountainous landscape of the Iregua Valley. Here you can find the Monolito trail, a set of spectacular singletracks that wind through forests on the mountainside. It’s a route you can enjoy either with a rally bike
or with a full suspension trail
to get the most out of the trails. The first 16 kilometers are a continuous climb, although with gentle slopes in some sections. Once you reach 1,285 meters of altitude, the previously mentioned trail section begins, followed by the descent to Alberite, the starting and finishing point of the route.

Rio Ea Waterfall Route

A highly recommended area for mountain bike routes is Rioja Alta, around one of its most representative towns, Haro, known as the capital of the world-famous Rioja wine.

This first part of the route runs through vineyards and features a tough climb to the Hermitage of San Felices. From there, you head west towards the Ea river waterfall, a large cascade located in the municipality of Fonzaleche. On the way back to Haro, it’s worth stopping in the village of Sajazarra to visit its beautiful and very well-preserved 15th-century castle-palace. This is a very attractive route through the Haro region, with a broken first part and a more favorable second half, but always with a constant succession of short climbs that continually interrupt your rhythm.