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Bolintxu, family route in the last natural oasis of Bilbao.
Bolintxu and its waterfall represent the last natural oasis of the city of Bilbao. An easy and beautiful route, which, located a step away from the nerve center of our beloved “botxo”, invites us to walk while enjoying nature. An escape route for all the people who wish to do so. The Bolintxu route is one of the most beautiful family routes in Bilbao. An essential route for all nature lovers.
The route that today we present to you rests on one of the slopes of the emblematic mount Pagasarri, very close to the Bilbao neighborhoods of La Peña and the Old Helmet. Spaces, from where you can also access on foot. The river Bolintxu follows its course until its mouth in the estuary of Bilbao creating an idyllic landscape. A place, that we recommend you to visit. Do you dare to know the route to Bolintxu and its waterfall with us? 
Information about Bolintxu route.
- Online reservations: Here.
- Duration: 1 hour and 30 minutes.
- Length: 5 kilometers.
- Difficulty: Familiar.
- Location: Buia, Bilbao, Bizkaia, Euskadi.
There are more than half a dozen routes around the Bolintxu river, but the route that we present today is the best option for those families looking to get into nature with the little ones of the house. As we have said, Bolintxu and its waterfall can be visited from different starting points, in a linear or circular way. However, as any self-respecting route, there are certain recommendations that can be of help to successfully complete this route. Some tips that we will unveil throughout this article. 
Route to Bolintxu, the waterfall of Bilbao.
If you want to know in depth each of the secrets of Bolintxu, we encourage you to read all the sections of this article. We promise that in addition to knowing the Bolintxu waterfall and the route that leads to it, you will also learn some of the secrets of the environment in which it is located. An idyllic space that helps us to leave behind the noise and stress of the city to enjoy the tranquility of nature. 
Route to the Bolintxu waterfall.
There are several options to enjoy the Bolintxu Waterfall. The first is a linear route without difficulty that runs along the Bolintxu River. The second is a circular route that begins and ends in the Buia neighborhood, next to one of the parking lots mentioned in the “where to park” section. In any case, the difficulty is familiar. Our recommendation is to do the circular route, but if your only objective is to get to know the waterfall, if your goal is to make the minimum effort, the linear route should be your choice. Here is a brief summary of both routes. 
Circular route Buia – Bolintxu – Buia.
The circular route that we propose is based on the Bolintxubidea track, one of the many roads that lead to the Pagasarri. The route starts at the beginning of Bolintxubidea, the same street where many people choose to leave their vehicles. 
From here, we must continue straight on until we find the first detour, we take the option on the right, we continue climbing. After about 100 meters, we find another detour, this time we must take the path to the left. After climbing a small slope we face a straight road that gives us beautiful views of the Bolintxu Valley. 
We continue our way until we find a huge pipe that crosses the valley of Bolintxu. After passing this aqueduct, about 700 meters, there is a path on the left hand side, be careful, it is NOT signposted. Turn left and descend to the level of the Bolintxu river (if you make a mistake and do not turn left at this point, you will see that you will ascend until you reach the Pagasarri parking lot). 
Once at the level of the river, we only have to follow its course until we find the waterfall. From here, we have two options, to follow the upper path or the path that we find next to the riverbed itself. If you go with children and do the route along the river, know that, although it is a more beautiful route, it is also somewhat more dangerous. The path takes us to the same point where we started the route. At the moment this route is cut by the works of the supersur. 
Linear route Buia – Bolintxu.
The secret of the Bolintxu linear route lies in finding the starting point. Very important. It is a small dirt path between Buia Errepidea and Seberetxe Bidea, 2 large stones mark the way. 
Once on route, there is no way to get lost. There are 2 paths, one that runs along the river (literally) and another that, located in the upper part, separates a little from the riverbed. In both cases we will arrive at the Bolintxu waterfall. Once here, we must return by the same path or opt for the path that we have not selected on the way out. In any case, both paths coexist in parallel separated by about 10 or 15 meters. 
Bolintxu River.
The Bolintxu River is located in the valley of the same name. An unknown space even for many bilbaínos and bilbaínas. Its waters come largely from streams that come from the northern slope of Pagasarri and flow into the estuary of Bilbao at the height of the neighborhood of La Peña. In the past, several dams were built to supply Bilbao with drinking water. These facilities are no longer in use. Following the construction of the water treatment plant of the Bilbao Water Consortium in 1868, a huge pipe was built to carry water from the Zadorra River through the middle of the valley, at a height of 20 meters. This structure is visible from the circular route that we have indicated. 
Bolintxu waterfall.
Undoubtedly, the biggest attraction of this route. The waterfall that we find upstream is the goal of the vast majority of people who visit this area of Bilbao. We must point out that although it is not a waterfall like those found in the Salto del Nervión or in the Berganzo water route, in winter it reaches enough water to attract attention. 
An area of great natural importance.
Bolintxu is one of the last natural paradises of Bilbao. One of the last wild spaces that we find in the vicinity of the urban core. A space of great environmental value, which, starring the Bolintxu river offers us a small oasis just a step away from the center of Bilbao. The northern slope of Mount Pagasarri has a forest that protects us during most of the route. A lush forest, which together with the Bolintxu River, create a small natural paradise. Ash trees, ferns and low bushes accompany us next to a river where it is common to find sapaburus (tadpoles), salamanders, dragonflies and other living creatures typical of our territory. As you can see, Bolintxu is full of life. 
Bolintxu SuperSur.
The works of the new Bilbao bypass, the new southern ring road, popularly known as “the Supersur”, are causing real havoc in dozens of hectares around Seberetxe. An ecological damage that is now shaking the Bolintxu valley itself, one of the richest natural landscapes of Bilbao. This space is considered by the Provincial Council of Bizkaia and the city council of Bilbao as an enclave of great wealth in the Special Plan of Pagasarri. Even so, a viaduct is planned to cross the Bolintxu Valley at a height of about 40 meters to connect the Seberetxe and Arnotegi tunnels. We hope that they will preserve the Bolintxu ecosystem so that it will last for many, many years to come. We must say that the circular route of Bolintxu will be closed for the duration of the works of this section of the Supersur. For now, we do not know if this circular route will be viable in the near future. We understand that yes. 
Where to park.
If we access this route by private vehicle, there are several areas where we can park our vehicles for free. The largest parking lot is located in Montefuerte, next to the BI-3723 road, 5 minutes from the beginning of the route. But it is not the only option, there is another improvised parking next to the beginning of the route, in the neighborhood of Buia, in Buia Errepidea street. The latter is less than 100 meters from the start of the route. However, it is much smaller. If you opt for the second option, if you want to have the car at hand, we recommend you to get up early to get a space where you can leave the car. 
How to get there.
Getting to the start of the Bolintxu route is easy and comfortable. If we want to access by public transport the best option is to use the line 50 of Bilbobus (Buia / Bolintxubidea stop). But it is not the only option, there are also other possibilities such as arriving by metro to the metro stops of Bolueta or Casco Viejo, or by train to Atxuri station, and then continue walking. In the latter cases the route is considerably longer. In case you want to arrive by private transport, the best option is to reach the neighborhood of La Peña by road BI-3723. 
When to visit Bolintxu.
Although the Bolintxu route is suitable for any time of the year, our advice is to do it during the rainy season. The Bolintxu waterfall, the main attraction of this route changes drastically depending on its flow. The more water, the more flow, the more striking and spectacular the waterfall will be. In addition, in the rainy season, the intense green of this part of Bilbao takes on more prominence if possible. Truly eye-catching pictures. 
What to see near Bolintxu.
Bolintxu is located a stone’s throw from the center of Bilbao, making it a perfect excuse to visit many other corners of the capital of Bizkaia. In case you want to take advantage of the getaway to know in depth our beloved “botxo”, we advise you to read the article on “what to see in Bilbao“. We leave you a couple of examples that may serve to whet your appetite:
What to do near Bolintxu.
If you are looking for activities near Bilbao, we recommend you to take a look at our reservation center. There you will find all kinds of activities. Experiences of great value that will help you plan an unforgettable getaway. Among all of them, we highlight the boat tours in Bilbao and the boat tours in Urdaibai, 2 proposals that encourage us to know the Historical Territory of Bizkaia from a totally different perspective than usual. 
Recommendations.
After the route to Bolintxu and its waterfall, we believe it is useful to offer a section with tips for all those who plan to visit this area of Bilbao.
- If you park your vehicle in the parking lot, do not leave anything in sight.
- Mountain footwear and clothing. In winter, mud is the main protagonist.
- There are no fountains along the route, so carrying water in your backpack is essential.
- Bring a camera to immortalize the moment next to the waterfall.
- In case the route is too short, in case you want more, we recommend you to climb up to the Pagasarri.
- If you walk along the riverbed, be very careful, the stones slip and you may fall into the Bolintxu river.
- If you do the Bolintxu route with children, avoid the riverbed. Or at least take extreme precautions.
Video of Bolintxu.
Once again, as usual, we wanted to accompany our words and photographs with a short video. An audiovisual that we hope will help you to know a little better this little corner of Euskadi. In case you like this kind of videos we encourage you to subscribe to our YouTube channel, a media in which we are sure you will find many routes, destinations and accommodations that will call your attention.
As you have been able to see, the Bolintxu waterfall and the whole Bolintxu route in general surprise us with spaces of great natural and scenic value. In case you have any questions or suggestions, we encourage you to use the comment system that you will find below these lines. We will try to respond as soon as possible. Ondo pass!
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