Foz de Lumbier, family route in Navarra.

Foz de Lumbier, one of the most beautiful routes in Navarra.

The route of the Foz de Lumbier, Irunberriko arroilaren Ibilbidea in Basque, represents a magical walk through the bowels of Navarre. This route, also known as the “greenway of Irati”, is one of the most important attractions of the pre-Pyrenean valleys. A beautiful and simple route, which shows us the charms of one of the most striking foci of Navarre. The space that runs through this path leaves everyone astonished thanks to its great natural wealth, which is why it was declared a Nature Reserve in 1987. The Foz de Lumbier is currently one of the most visited places in the region of Navarra. It is not surprising. Its beauty is more than enough argument to move to this remote place of our geography. The route that we recommend today, familiar and enriching, invites us to walk along the riverbed of the river Irati while enjoying nature. The mountainous enclave in which it is located offers us a great family adventure through the interior of this impressive canyon. Do you dare to know it with us? Located in the region of Lumbier, Irunberrialdea in Basque, about 40 kilometers from Pamplona Iruña, this place of limestone rock protects the riverbed of the river Irati with walls of about 150 meters high. And it is here, next to these ravines, where we find the path that leads us to know some of the most beautiful corners of Lumbier. The route is perfectly signposted with the usual colors of the local trails, green and white. There is no way to get lost. On the other hand, you should know that the ecosystem that houses the Foz de Lumbier annually attracts thousands of people who want to photograph and watch many of the species that live here. As you can see, the colonies of griffon vultures and Egyptian vultures in the Lumbier Gorge are one of the many attractions of this area. Birds that, together with the flora of the area, form one of the most important ecosystems of Navarra. An idyllic space that invites you to disconnect from the daily routine and connect with nature. Peace, tranquility.

The route through the Foz de Lumbier is one of the most popular routes for families visiting this area of Navarra. A walk suitable for all audiences, which leads us to know one of the most impressive gorges of the peninsula. A real treasure. The imposing canyon that embraces the river Irati, creates a space rich in fauna and flora. A hidden gem in the very heart of Navarra that we recommend you to visit with eyes closed. Short, beautiful and simple. A route that surprises us with every step we take. You can’t ask for more.

Foces de Navarra.

The word Foz, refers to the different fauces, canyons or gorges that we find throughout the length and breadth of Navarre. And this term is used in these parts as the natural evolution of the word faux (fauces in Latin). Although the most famous gorges are the Foz de Lumbier and the Foz de Arbaiun, you should know that these rock formations abound in the pre-Pyrenean area of Navarre. Witness to this are the more than 7 gorges that have been considered “Special Protection Area for Birds” and “Natural Reserve”. Narrow corridors shaped by the waters of the rivers, which host ecosystems rich in fauna and flora. Here is a small list of the “foces” that you can find in Navarra, we hope you like them.

Irati Greenway.

The route of the Foz de Lumbier runs through the same area where the old “Irati” railroad used to run. And the route that is popularly known as the route of the Foz de Lumbier is officially the “greenway of Irati”. Between 1911 and 1955, this narrow-gauge train linked the towns of Sangüesa, Aoiz and Pamplona Iruña. 58 kilometers of route, which gave rise to what was the first electric passenger train in the peninsula. Curious, isn’t it? Although at the beginning this railroad line was created for the forest exploitation of Irati, it soon evolved into one of the most used transports by the inhabitants of the Pre-Pyrenean valleys. Unfortunately, the automobile boom at the end of the 20th century made this railway line disappear. Today, we travel one of the sections of this route to enjoy the charm of the Foz de Lumbier, are you up for it?

Foz de Lumbier Route.

The Foz de Lumbier route has a great reward-effort ratio. And we can say with complete confidence that the path that crosses this gorge is one of the most grateful of those who have traveled during our adventures throughout the Basque Country. The route of the Foz de Lumbier begins next to the parking lot, from here, we must follow the road that leads directly to the entrance of this natural formation, we enter the gorge. At this point the road surface changes. We go from the asphalt of the road to the dirt and gravel of a flat and wide track that is maintained throughout the route. The small viewpoint that we find at this end of the Foz de Lumbier makes clear the beauty of the environment that we are about to travel. A viewpoint that welcomes the visitor with an impressive panoramic view of the whole gorge, amazing! We continue our route entering the first of the tunnels that are excavated on the rock itself. This tunnel is the first and the smallest of the 2 that we will find throughout the route (167 meters). Although the sunlight enters this tunnel easily, although the path that we find inside is wide and flat, we recommend carrying a small flashlight or headlamp to see the immensity of these huge cavities. We leave the tunnel, we see the sunlight again, we enjoy again the crystalline waters of the Irati River and the flight of the Griffon Vultures. The track that we travel, located on the left side of the canyon, runs along the same route that made the railway line “Irati”, so it is wide and flat enough for a train can make the journey. Surely this fact helps you to get an idea of its size. It has no difficulty whatsoever. We recommend you to enjoy the landscape that surrounds us, simply impressive. Further on, we enter another tunnel, this time longer (200 meters). In this case, the flashlight or headlamp is even more necessary. We leave the tunnel, the horizon widens, we have reached the other end of the Foz de Lumbier. It is here where we find several information panels. All of them tell us the way to follow to complete the aforementioned greenway of Irati. In our case, we only made the route through the interior of the gorge, so at this point it is time to retrace the path, it is time to return to the parking. For those who want to continue walking, you can do so until you reach Liédena. This circular route has a length of about 6 kilometers. We are sure that you will finish the Foz de Lumbier route with a smile on your face. We never tire of mentioning that the route through the interior of the Foz de Lumbier is one of the most beautiful routes that we have enjoyed so far. Remember that this route is suitable for children’s chairs, wheelchairs or bicycles, but be aware that it has the limitations of walking on a path of stones (gravel), so we understand that it is not at all pleasant.

Foz de Lumbier with children.

Children are the main protagonists of the route of the Foz de Lumbier, and is that the characteristics of this Navarre route, quiet, without difficulty and of great beauty, make this place a perfect place from which to show the little ones the importance of caring for and respecting nature. Of course, although the route through the Foz de Lumbier has no difficulty, we must pay special attention to children, and if they decide to try to go down the slope that separates the road and the river, they can get hurt. Be very careful. On the other hand, the fact that this dirt and gravel route is suitable for mountain biking (MTB), makes it even more attractive for the little ones of the house. Can you imagine a family bike route through the Foz de Lumbier?

Lodging in Foz de Lumbier.

If you are looking for accommodation in the Foz de Lumbier, if you want to know where to sleep near the Foz de Lumbier, we strongly recommend reading our article about the tree cabins in the Navarrese Pyrenees. Some accommodations, which, along with the rest of the rural houses of Agroturismo Mari Cruz, offer us a great option to sleep near this impressive place. In this sense, we offer you an intuitive, fast and secure reservation center, which we recommend you to use to book your getaway to this area of Navarra. We leave you the link here.

Devil’s Bridge.

The Devil’s Bridge, also known as the Bridge of Jesus, is located at one of the ends of the Lumbier Gorge, in the territorial limits of the town of Liédena. This historic bridge, now in ruins, was built in the 16th century to join the two sides of the Lumbier Gorge. A strategic bridge, which prevented the inhabitants of the village from having to cross the fearsome waters of the Irati River or having to go around this impressive geographical feature. According to experts, this bridge was destroyed in 1812 by French troops as a strategic objective of the War of Independence. In case you dare to visit the remains of the Devil’s Bridge, remember that due to the landslides and the very nature of the road, extreme caution should be taken. Be very careful.

Parking Foz de Lumbier.

Although the Foz de Lumbier parking lot is open all year round, the surveillance service is only in operation during the high season. It is in these periods of the year, when the Foz de Lumbier has more influx of people, so it is practically mandatory to regulate the proper functioning of this parking. If the surveillance service is active when you visit the Lumbier Gorge, you will have to pay the parking fee for your vehicle. At present, the fees to be paid are as follows:

It is also worth mentioning that during the period when the security service of the Foz de Lumbier parking lot is not active, the toilets and other services will not be operational either. A small detail to take into account in any getaway to this corner of Navarra. In case you are planning to visit the Lumbier Gorge in high season, we recommend that you do it early in the morning, otherwise, you will run the risk of encountering parking problems. These facts would tarnish the always incredible experience offered by this place in Navarra.

Recommendations and frequently asked questions.

In this section we wanted to group the recommendations and frequently asked questions about the Foz de Lumbier. We hope you find them helpful. In case you do not find an answer to your questions about the Lumbier Gorge, we recommend you to use the comments system that you will find at the bottom of this article to send them to us. We will try to answer as soon as possible.

• Is it possible to go with a baby carriage? Yes. Although the route runs along a gravel track, with loose stones, the fact that it has hardly any slope makes it possible to walk without any problem. However, we do not think it is very comfortable for children or parents. We recommend that you pay special attention to the ground in our photos and videos so that you can get an idea of what the surface of the Foz de Lumbier route is like.
• Is it possible to go with dogs? Yes, as long as the regulations are respected.
• How difficult is the Foz de Lumbier route? No. On the contrary. This route is very easy to do. Suitable for all the public.
• What is the best time of the year to do the Foz de Lumbier route? All year round, although it is always more attractive to see the Irati River with a good flow of water.
• Are there places to eat outdoors? Yes, there is a small recreational area with tables next to the parking lot.
• Is the parking lot at Foz de Lumbier paid? Yes, as long as the surveillance service is operational. That is, in high season.
• Is it advisable to carry flashlights? Yes. The 2 tunnels that we find along the way make it advisable to carry headlamps or flashlights.
• Is it essential to carry binoculars to see the vultures? Although the vultures usually fly over the Foz de Lumbier continuously, they are at an altitude that does not allow us to see them in detail, so the use of binoculars or telephoto lenses is usually recommended.

How to get there by car.

Getting by car to the Foz de Lumbier is easy. We must set course to Lumbier, a small town located about 40 kilometers from Pamplona Iruña. Once in Lumbier, we must follow the signs that make us go around the town center to later reach the parking lot for visitors to the Foz de Lumbier. The road is somewhat narrow, but there is no way to get lost.

Foz de Lumbier ETA.

Although we prefer not to mention violent events such as the one we are about to narrate, we believe it is important to know the history of the space we are passing through. Even more so, when a plaque reminds us of this sad event. You will find this plaque at the entrance of one of the tunnels of the Foz de Lumbier route, on its right side. It reads “In memory of José Luis Hervás Mañas, murdered by ETA on 25-6-1990”. We believe it is important to provide the visitor with enough information to understand this plaque. According to official media, the events took place in Foz de Lumbier between June 25 and 26, 1990. As a result of an armed confrontation between the Civil Guard and members of ETA’s Nafarroa commando, Civil Guard sergeant José Luis Hervás Mañas and ETA members Susana Arregi and Jon Lizarralde were killed. While Germán Rubenach, the third ETA member who was at the Foz de Lumbier that day, was seriously wounded. These historical events, popularly known as the “Events of the Gorge of Lumbier”, continue to be shrouded in confusion. The official version was questioned both socially and politically from the very first minute. According to official sources, after the murder of the Civil Guard sergeant, the members of the armed organization decided to commit suicide, being Germán Rubenach responsible for killing his companions.

Video Foz de Lumbier.

As usual, we have created a small audiovisual so that you can get a more realistic idea of what awaits you inside the Foz de Lumbier. We hope you like it. Remember that in case you want to continue watching more videos of this type you can subscribe to our YouTube channel.

We take this opportunity to present a video about the Foz de Arbaiun, another of the great charms of the area. A highly recommended space. Remember that you can enjoy this impressive place just by visiting the impressive viewpoint of Iso, about 18 minutes by car from the parking of the Foz de Lumbier.

What to see near the Foz de Lumbier.

The pre-Pyrenean valleys of Navarra are full of treasures to discover. A rural space of great charm, in which nature lovers find a perfect tourist destination to enjoy our vacations. On the other hand, the great historical and cultural heritage of these valleys completes the wide range of possibilities offered by this area of Navarre. Here is a small selection of some of the most interesting places in the Navarre Pyrenees, we hope you like them:

The Foz de Lumbier is one of those magical and incredible places that you should visit at least once in your life. If you are thinking of visiting this corner of Navarra, do not think twice, it is an ideal destination for all types of tourist profiles. Your opinion is very important to us. In case you have any questions or suggestions about the Foz de Lumbier, we encourage you to use the comment system that you will find below these lines to let us know. We will try to respond as soon as possible. Ondo pass!