He Irati river runs through the north of Spain, winding through Navarra and leaving spectacular aquatic landscapes in its wake. As time went by, its waters shaped the terrain, eroding the stone until creating spaces as unique as the Lumbier Gorgea deep gorge of high and steep rock walls.
This vegetation-covered canyon, declared Nature Reserve since 1987, it can be visited with a simple hiking route for all ages, even accessible with a baby stroller and wheelchair. The Irati Greenway It is an ideal excursion to spend a day with family or friends enjoying Navarrese nature.
The Irati Greenway
He first electric passenger train in Spaininaugurated in 1911, linked the city of Pamplona with the town of Sangüesa, crossing the Foz de Lumbier along the way. Named Irati, this train crossed this beautiful landscape, giving its passengers impressive views. The activity ceased in 1955, but the tunnels dug into the walls of the gorge They continue to welcome adventurers, this time on foot, who set out to explore one of the most impressive corners of Navarre’s geography.
The Irati Greenway extends through 6.4 kilometersstarting in the village of Lumbier. From here, we will follow the old railway route and before entering the Lumbier Gorge, we will pass through a parking lot with bathrooms, a drinking water fountain, tables, benches and an information point. It is now that we enter fully into this canyon of the Sierra de Leirewalking between very high rock walls that reach a drop of 120 meters. About us, the flight of the vultures completes the landscape.
On its route through the gorge, the train crossed the mountain with two tunnels, which we will now cross on foot. In the first of them, we can see the old systems with which the guards and some ranchers crossed from one side to the other: “the carta precarious boat made of iron and boards, suspended from a steel cable, and which to this day remains suspended in the middle of the gorge,” they explain from the official website of VÃas Verdes de España.
We will then ascend to the highest point of the route, enjoying the landscape in all its splendor. After crossing the second tunnel100 meters long, we will have left the gorge and, leaving the river behind, we will continue advancing until we reach the town of Liédena.
How to get to Lumbier
He route between the city of Pamplona and Lumbier It is approximately 35 minutes on the A-21.