Routes for mountain biking in the province of Navarra

Rutas para salir en bicicleta de montaña en la provincia de Navarra

The Chartered Community of Navarre is an ideal destination for cycling enthusiasts, with a great diversity of terrain perfect for both mountain bikes and road bikes. From the lush valleys in the north to the plains of the Ribera, this region offers impressive routes for all levels and preferences.

If you are a fan of mountain biking, the north of Navarre is a true paradise with trails winding between mountains and forests. Places like the Baztán Valley or the Merindad de Pamplona have demanding routes, full of history and nature, ideal for those seeking adventure with every pedal stroke.

On the other hand, if you prefer to enjoy road bikes, Navarre will surprise you with scenic and well-paved roads that pass through charming medieval villages like Estella, with its historical legacy, or cross open landscapes such as the Tudela orchards in the heart of the Ebro valley. These routes combine gentle and rolling rides with challenging climbs, adapting to all types of cyclists.

In addition, the climate in Navarre, with Mediterranean and oceanic influences, allows you to enjoy cycling all year round, avoiding extreme temperatures and offering changing landscapes according to the season.

🚵‍♂️ Ready to discover Navarre on two wheels?

Baztán Route

To the north of Navarre lies the region of Alto Bidasoa and the Baztán Valley, an idyllic place to explore by bicycle. Not only do you visit some villages with traditional Basque-Navarrese architecture, such as Santesteban, Urdax, or Zugarramurdi, with their picturesque farmhouses, but also natural spots where green is the main feature, such as the Señorío de Bertiz. This is a route that is part of the Pedales del Bidasoa stage crossing, which covers the north of Navarre, Gipuzkoa, and the French Basque Country.

Plazaola Greenway

One of the few routes in this guide that runs between two provinces, but it is worth highlighting in the Navarra chapter. It is the old railway route between Pamplona and San Sebastián, popularly known as the Plazaola or Txiki train. The route has been converted into a greenway, with a wide forest track that passes through some of the tunnels of the old tracks. It is a linear route, starting in Leitza (Navarra) and ending in Andoain, already in Gipuzkoa. It is 27 kilometers long and the outbound terrain is completely favorable. A route that showcases the green and deep valleys of Navarra and the Basque Country, as well as the traditional architecture of its towns and villages.

Loop around the Bardenas Reales

The Bardenas Reales is one of the most spectacular Natural Parks in Spain. It is declared a Biosphere Reserve and is a semi-desert landscape full of contrasts. This circular route runs along trails and dirt tracks that pass through most of the best-known points of the Bardenas, although before showing up there with your bike, you should know that there are restrictions that change throughout the year, as it is a protected bird area and depending on the season and bird population, it is common for mountain biking and hiking to be closed between March and September. Therefore, it is important that before doing this or any other route in the Bardenas, you check the park’s website, which also has a section dedicated to authorized MTB routes.

Ribera de Navarra Route

The Ribera de Navarra, at the southern end of the region, breaks with the usual landscape of the central and northern areas, offering a drier and flatter terrain in the Ebro valley. The capital of the Ribera region is Tudela, the second most populated city in Navarra after Pamplona. We take the route through the southern part of the Ribera, visiting towns such as Murchante, Cascante, Monteagudo, and Ablitas. The route is manageable both physically and technically. A rolling MTB route through the so-called 'huerta de Navarra', with its famous asparagus crops as the main attraction.