Gorbea
1,481 m
Spain
Also known as Горбеиа, Monte Gorbea, +3Also known as
Горбеиа · Monte Gorbea · Cruz de Gorbeia · Gorbeia · Gorbeiako gurutzea
- Elevation
- 1,481 m
- Prominence
- 866 m
- Difficulty
- 2/10
- Hike
- Best Season
- May–Oct
- Routes
- 1
Routes
1The most popular way up the Basque Country's best-known summit: a broad track from the Pagomakurre car park (882 m) above Areatza to the Arraba meadows, a path past the Egiriñao spring and through the Aldaminoste col, then a long, steep grass slope to the 17 m iron cross. About 2 hours up, 12–13 km return.
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- 6.8 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +668 m
- −69 m lost on the way up
- High Point
- 1,481 m
- Time Up
- 3h 13m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 2h 29m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
From the car park and picnic area at Pagomakurre (882 m), reached by a 10 km road from Areatza, follow the signed track towards Arraba (signposted 40 minutes), closed to unauthorised vehicles. It climbs gently through beech wood and pasture to the wide Arraba meadows, with a cluster of mountain-club refuges, in 40 minutes to an hour; the cross on Gorbeia comes into view. Cross the meadows, leave the track where it ends and continue south-west on a path to the Paso de Aldape, where a short traverse across a hillside can be delicate when icy in winter (and very muddy after rain). The path skirts a rock outcrop on the right, crosses a small beech wood and passes the Egiriñao spring, then climbs among stones to the Aldaminoste col (about 1,320 m) with Aldamin (1,377 m) on the left. A long, steep grass slope leads to the summit cross. Return the same way, or make a loop by the Kargaleku col and the edge of the Itxina karst. The route is well marked and busy, especially on 31 December and 1 January, when hundreds of people climb to toast the new year and the car park and roadside fill early. Fog is frequent and the summit dome is featureless in cloud.
Start
Pagomakurre880 m
- No bus to Pagomakurre was found; the nearest village, Areatza, is 10 km below by road.
- Parking at the trailhead
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pagomakurre → Gorbeiako gurutzea | 6.8 | 668 | 69 | 3h 13m |
Waypoints
- Parking: Pagomakurre880 m
Car park, picnic area and water point; end of the road from Areatza
- Feature: Arrabako zelaiak1,069 m
Meadows with several mountain-club refuges
- Feature: Egiriñao1,149 m
Spring
- Col: Aldaminosteko lepoa1,318 m
- Summit: Gorbeiako gurutzea1,481 m
Key Passages
- Arraba meadows
- Paso de Aldape traverse
- Aldaminoste col
- Steep grass slope to the cross
Equipment
0/4 packedDownloads
Route confidence 75%Overview
The highest summit of the Gorbeia massif (1,481 m) on the Bizkaia–Álava border, crowned by a 17 m lattice iron cross and at the heart of the Gorbeia Natural Park. A traditional, well-marked hill walk and a symbol of Basque mountaineering.
Gorbeia (Gorbea in Spanish) is a broad green dome rising above beech woods, pastures and limestone outcrops between Bizkaia and Álava, in the municipalities of Zeanuri and Zuia. It is the highest point of the Gorbeia Natural Park, whose karst of Itxina lies just to the north, and it faces the Anboto range and the Urkiola Natural Park to the east. The summit cross, visible from much of the surrounding country, has two of its feet in Bizkaia and two in Álava.
The mountain can be climbed from every side and is very popular. The usual route from Pagomakurre above Areatza is a 2-hour walk on tracks and paths through the Arraba meadows, with a steep final grass slope; many other paths climb from the Álava side. There is no technical difficulty, but the weather is Atlantic: fog, wind and rain are frequent, the summit is featureless in cloud, and in winter ice and snow make the steep top slope and one short traverse awkward.
It is a tradition to climb Gorbeia on 31 December and 1 January, when hundreds of people toast the new year at the cross. A summit box installed by Athletic Club in 1926 and an orientation table from 1931 showing 106 peaks also stand on the top.
Climbing Notes
Any reasonably fit walker can climb Gorbeia: about 12–13 km and 600–700 m of ascent for the round trip from Pagomakurre, 3–4 hours with stops. Good boots help on the muddy sections. Take waterproofs and warm layers in all seasons, and a map or GPS track in case of fog, which is common and makes the open summit dome disorienting.
In winter, ice on the short traverse at the Paso de Aldape and on the final slope can make microspikes useful, and snow can cover the upper mountain. On fine weekends and especially on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day the Pagomakurre car park fills early; arrive early or park lower down the road. The Arraba meadows have mountain-club refuges, but these are not public staffed huts.
History
Gorbeia is one of the five 'montes bocineros' of Bizkaia, from which the Juntas Generales were once summoned by bonfires and horn calls. In response to Pope Leo XIII's call to mark the new century with crosses on high summits, a 33 m iron cross was inaugurated on 12 November 1901; it fell a month later. A second cross, blessed on 1 October 1903, was blown down on 12 February 1906. The present, more modest 17.23 m cross, with a lattice structure reminiscent of the Eiffel Tower, was begun in 1907. Athletic Club installed the summit mailbox in 1926, and the Vitoria mountain club placed the orientation table on 14 June 1931.
Season
Best May–Oct- January: Good
- February: Possible
- March: Good
- April: Good
- May: Best (best window)
- June: Best (best window)
- July: Best (best window)
- August: Best (best window)
- September: Best (best window)
- October: Best (best window)
- November: Good
- December: Good
- Jan
- New Year's Day tradition; snow or ice possible on the top slope
- Feb
- Snow and ice possible; frequent fog
- Nov
- Wet and foggy weather common
- Dec
- New Year's Eve ascent tradition; car parks crowded; ice possible
Access & Permits
- Rules
- Gorbeia Natural Park: the track from Pagomakurre to Arraba is closed to unauthorised vehicles; natural park rules apply (no fires, take litter home)
- Getting There
Areatza (Bizkaia)
Bilbao Airport (BIO)
- Car: from Areatza, take the road from the church square about 10 km up to the Pagomakurre car park and picnic area
- No public transport to Pagomakurre was found
Hazards
- Weather