Gravel through the Valdorba from Barásoain
By bicis.net community · Loop
In short: Circular gravel route of 39.8 km and +930 m starting and finishing in Barásoain (Navarra). It's very hard and will take you about 3 h 30; its hardest kilometre is at 14.5 % and 70 % is track or trail.
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Add to my calendar- Distance
- 39.8 km
- Elevation gain
- +930 m
- Max altitude
- 953 m
- Hardest km
- 14.5 %
- Difficulty
- Very hard
- Estimated time
- 3 h 30 min
1 water fountain within 250 m of the route, according to OpenStreetMap. Cycling map
Profile
Run your finger or mouse over the profile to see each point on the map.
Surface
Tarmac 30 % Track 65 % Trail 5 %
Mostly track: good for gravel or a mountain bike. Measured on OpenStreetMap; there may be recent changes on the ground.
The route
Where it goes
The Valdorba is a small valley in Navarre's Zona Media, with villages of a handful of houses, Romanesque hermitages and low hills of holm oak and oak. This 39.8 km loop starts in Barásoain, climbs on tracks between cereal fields towards the heights at the north of the valley, crosses over the top to the other side and returns along the southern slope. Two thirds is track (65%). 30% is tarmac, mostly local roads with very little traffic linking one track to the next. Only 5% is narrow path.
Where it bites
It adds up to 930 m of elevation gain, with an average gradient of 2.3% and a high point of about 950 m. There's no long climb: the elevation comes in short, back-to-back rises that you feel in your legs by the end. The most demanding stretch is around km 14.5, as you gain the northern heights. With easy gearing and 38-40 mm tyres, it rolls nicely.
Where to stop
In Barásoain you'll find a bar and water. The villages in the valley are small and have hardly any facilities, so set off with water for the whole route and something to eat. Garínoain, next to the start, is the other easy stop on the way back.
When to go
Spring, with the cereal green, and autumn are its best seasons. In summer, with the crop harvested, there's lots of sun and almost no shade: head out early. In hunting season wear visible clothing, and after rain the dirt tracks get muddy.
How to get there
Barásoain is next to the A-15 motorway, about 30 km south of Pamplona, and parking in the village is easy. By train, the nearest station with regular service is Tafalla, on the Pamplona-Castejón line, about 13 km away by road: you can ride from there.
Want more dirt in Navarre? Try the gravel loop around the Bardena Blanca or the Corredor Verde del Ebro.
Sources for this text: Turismo de Navarra · OpenStreetMap
Track based on a route designed by the editorial team on OpenStreetMap (ODbL).
Frequently asked questions
- Can you get there by train?
- There's no direct train to Barásoain. The nearest station with regular service is Tafalla, on the Pamplona-Castejón line, about 13 km away by road.
- How much tarmac is there?
- 30% of the 39.8 km, mostly quiet local roads linking the tracks. 65% is dirt and gravel track, and 5% narrow path.
- Is there water along the way?
- There's a bar and water in Barásoain, at the start and on the way back. The villages in the valley have hardly any facilities: carry water for the whole route.
- When is the best time to go?
- Spring and autumn. In summer there's little shade between the harvested fields, and after rain the tracks get muddy.
Before you set off, check the state of the road or track and follow the traffic rules. Enjoy the ride.
Got a gravel bike gathering dust?
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