Antzaramendi (ANT)
Height: 430m
Location: North of St Jean PdP
General Comments
Three-sided pass, with steep minor lanes from Issarry and from Osses. SW approach from Nive valley not on Michelin.
Road Condition and Hazards
Surfaces uncertain. No reports by Cycloclimbing OCD members.
Facilities
No reports by Cycloclimbing OCD members.
Collado de Arichulegui (ARI)
Height: 450m
Location: ESE of San Sebastian, near coast
General Comments
A useful, moderately graded route avoiding trunk roads. East side from Lesaca reaches 550m before dropping to reservoir (250m), preceding further ascent to col (which is in a short tunnel).
Road Condition and Hazards
Short tunnel, as noted above.
Facilities
No reports by Cycloclimbing OCD members.
Puerto de Artesiaga (ART)
Height: 996m
Location: Just west of the Coll de Urquiaga, 890m, on a north-south secondary road, just inside Spain.
General Comments
One of the higher passes in this vicinity. Rather long climb from the north with steep first kilometers, easier middle section and nasty steep last 2 kilometres. The south side is significantly easier. Both sides are mainly in the woods hence lots of shadow on the road. Especially the north side has some great views over the Basque mountains. The north side passes by an intermediate col: Collado de Meaka at 536m altitude according to altimeter measurement though the sign claims it is 636m. (2003)
Road Condition and Hazards
Road surface is very good, but the road is narrow and winding, making descending tricky. Traffic is very low.
Facilities
There are no facilities at all for 28 kms between Irurita (north side) and Eugi (south side).
Artzamendi (ARZ)
Height: 926m
Location: South of Cambo-les-Bains, on western edge of the Pyrenees, near Spain.
General Comments
A challenging peak. Narrow lane starts at Laxia (just 40m altitude) and climbs erratically through dank woodland, before genuinely steep approach to grassy summit on open road (19% to Col de Mehatche, 716m, and then 22% to dead-end summit!) Sheep, wild horses and griffon vultures here in 1998. Military installations on top, and great views.
Road Condition and Hazards
No reports by Cycloclimbing OCD members.
Facilities
No reports by Cycloclimbing OCD members.
Puerto de Ataburu (ATA)
Height: 640m
Location: 10km NNW of Pamplona, just north of Marcalain village. No sign.
General Comments
Gradual but exposed climb among crop fields, on very quiet (1998) but dull secondary road. Avoids busy main routes.
Road Condition and Hazards
No reports by Cycloclimbing OCD members.
Facilities
No reports by Cycloclimbing OCD members.
Mt Baygoura (BAY)
Height: 897m
Location: SE of Cambo-les-Bains - at the very edge of the Pyrenees.
General Comments
A peak, shown accessible by possibly now surfaced route, with tower and panorama. Hang-gliding done from summit. No reports by Cycloclimbing OCD members.
Road Condition and Hazards
No reports by Cycloclimbing OCD members.
Facilities
No reports by Cycloclimbing OCD members.
Alto de Bianditz (BIA)
Height: 711m
Location: Border pass near coast, ESE of San Sebastian, but no through route.
General Comments
There are ancient standing stones below nearby Bianditz summit. NW side from Oyarzun (81m) is a 14km road climb. Dead end descent to Articuza reservoir (353m) - surface not known.
Road Condition and Hazards
No reports by Cycloclimbing OCD members.
Facilities
No reports by Cycloclimbing OCD members.
Bidarray-St Martin d’Arossa (BID)
Height: 320m
Location: Unnamed pass, midway between Cambo-les-Bains and St Jean PdP.
General Comments
Located in very pretty countryside. Unmarked even on newest Michelin. Road runs west of and parallel with D918 main road in Nive valley.
Road Condition and Hazards
No reports by Cycloclimbing OCD members.
Facilities
No reports by Cycloclimbing OCD members.
Coll de Esquisaroy (ESQ)
Height: 516m
Location: Spanish lane with four variants of approach, running SW from the summit of Puerto de Otxondo. Links with C133 main road, and also with villages of Etxalar and Zugarramurdi.
General Comments
Alternate name is Collado Also. Profiles indicate many quite steep undulations, with spot heights up to 570m. No reports by Cycloclimbing OCD members.
Road Condition and Hazards
No reports by Cycloclimbing OCD members.
Facilities
No reports by Cycloclimbing OCD members.
Gastigarlepoa (GAS)
Height: 340m
Location: On a newly made little lane (1998) running due south of Bidarray to St Etienne-de-Baigorry, still unmarked on latest Michelin.
General Comments
Unnamed pass, at site of this place name. Preferable to main road, affording otherwise-hidden close-up views of the dramatic Iparla ridge, towering above. North side is steep.
Road Condition and Hazards
No reports by Cycloclimbing OCD members.
Facilities
No reports by Cycloclimbing OCD members.
Pico Gorramakil (GOR)
Height: 1090m
Location: Surfaced road going east from Puerto de Otxondo to peak.
General Comments
Apparently not steep. Panorama seems assured at abandoned military installation on top. No reports by Cycloclimbing OCD members.
Road Condition and Hazards
No reports by Cycloclimbing OCD members.
Facilities
No reports by Cycloclimbing OCD members.
Mont Harrigorry Col (HAR)
Height: 760m
Location: An obscure unnamed pass, south of St Etienne-de-Baigorry (Mont Harrigorry is the adjacent minor peak).
General Comments
This tortuous minor lane makes a circuit beginning and ending in Banca, in the Aldudes valley. Road not all detailed on Michelin.
Road Condition and Hazards
Surface unconfirmed, No reports by Cycloclimbing OCD members.
Facilities
No reports by Cycloclimbing OCD members.
Alto de Huici (or Uitzi) (HUI)
Height: 799m
Location: Westernmost entry in guide, 30km NW of Pamplona.
General Comments
Best cycling alternative to main roads between San Sebastian and Pamplona, incorporating Puerto de Usateguieta, 695m and Puerto de Zuarrarrate, 780m on either side. Secondary road. Appears easy. No reports by Cycloclimbing OCD members.
Road Condition and Hazards
No reports by Cycloclimbing OCD members.
Facilities
No reports by Cycloclimbing OCD members.
Alto/Puerto Ibaneta (IBA)
Height: 1057m
Location: In Spain SSW of St. Jean PdP. Summit sign.
General Comments
Forms important part of Santiago de Compestella pilgrimage route, hence chapel on pass. Roncesvalles on south side is also a religious centre. Alto Mezquiriz (or Auritzberri), 922m and Alto Erro, 801m are further SW on same road with little extra climbing. The north side is a fairly long hard climb. Orzanzurieta, 1570m continues up from the pass. Very pleasant road to cycle down toward France.
Road Condition and Hazards
Well surfaced (1998) but can be quite busy. Well surfaced (2001).
Facilities
Hotel ‘Mastona’ at Valcarlos recommended (1997).
Col d’Ibardin (IBD)
Height: 317m
Location: South of St Jean-de-Luz
General Comments
Small and easy border post climb. Like many coastal area roads, noticeably busy (1998). Thickly wooded on Spanish side from Vera de Bidasoa(40m). Brief glimpses of nearby La Rhune peak (900m) and coast view from top. French climb is slightly the harder.
Road Condition and Hazards
The French side of the road is very busy but well tar sealed. The Spanish side is quiet but the road surface is in a terrible state with lots of cracks and potholes. (2000)
Facilities
Heavily commercialized at summit (with café).
Col d’Ispéguy (or Izpegi) (ISP)
Height: 672m
Location: West of St Etienne de Baigorry.
General Comments
Fairly easy, very attractive and well surfaced climb (1998). Agricultural but beautiful from the west, and wilder to the east. Wild camping done in 1998 on flat-topped spur near road, on east side - but free-roaming cattle were a nuisance!
Road Condition and Hazards
Well surfaced climb (1998). In 2000, the road was still in good condition; slighlty better on the west (Spanish) side than on te east (French) side.
Facilities
Café/shop at border summit.
Izcolegui (IZC)
Height: 841m
Location: West of Col d’Ispeguy.
General Comments
Road or track to wooded peak in Natural Park. Access unconfirmed.
Road Condition and Hazards
No reports by Cycloclimbing OCD members.
Facilities
No reports by Cycloclimbing OCD members.
Alto del Jaizkibel (JAI)
Height: 445m
Location: On the Atlantic coast, between San Sebastian and Hendaye.
General Comments
Scenic and never steep. Used during August each year in the San Sebastian Classic cycle race. Also a motor racing hill-climb.
Road Condition and Hazards
No reports, but since the road is used in the San Sebastian Classic cycle race, the surface should be reasonable.
Facilities
No reports by Cycloclimbing OCD members.
Jarra (JAR)
Height: 812m
Location: Peak NW of St Jean PdP. Dead-end road accessible both from Iroulegy and from Nive valley.
General Comments
Summit belvedere with all-round panorama. No reports by Cycloclimbing OCD members.
Road Condition and Hazards
No reports by Cycloclimbing OCD members.
Facilities
No reports by Cycloclimbing OCD members.
Col de Leizarze (LEI)
Height: 828m
Location: South of St Etienne de Baigorry. Minor lane, not on Michelin. Climbs from Col d’Aharza, 734m.
General Comments
Scenic and steep.
Road Condition and Hazards
Newly surfaced in 1998. Tarmac descends beyond col into Vallee d’Aldudes, but link to valley floor is unconfirmed.
Facilities
No reports by Cycloclimbing OCD members.
Col de Lizarrieta (LIZ)
Height: 441m.
Location: East of Vera de Bidasoa, not far from coast.
General Comments
A border pass with easy grades each side. Well wooded winding climb.
Road Condition and Hazards
No reports by Cycloclimbing OCD members.
Facilities
Camping at Sare.
Orzanzurieta (ORZ)
Height: 1567m.
Location: A peak NE of Roncesvalles.
General Comments
Accessible by dead-end road to summit, continuing up fairly steeply from the Puerto Ibaneta, 1057m. 1400m of uninterrupted climbing to the summit from St Jean PdP makes this the biggest continuous ascent this far west in the Pyrenees, yet no reports by members! Col Lepoeder, 1430m, is passed en route to summit telegraph station, amid beech forest. Scenic value unknown.
Road Condition and Hazards
No reports by Cycloclimbing OCD members.
Facilities
No reports by Cycloclimbing OCD members.
Puerto de Otxondo (OTX)
Height: 570m, or 602m
Location: On N121 road in Spain, NW of Col d’Ispeguy, 672m.
General Comments
South side from Elizondo is an easy approach, and the north side from Dancharinea (67m) is moderately difficult. Minor third approach from the west is shorter but steeper (starting at 240m), and links from ESQ Col Esquisaroy, 516m. A scenic pass, but can be busy, on the main approaches at least.
Roughstuff: Col des Trois-Croix, 511m is situated NNE of Puerto de Otxondo. Marked as panoramic on Michelin, which shows a track circuit from Espelette, via Col de Pinodieta, 176m. It incorporates a part of the GR10 walking route.
Road Condition and Hazards
Wide and smooth road on both sides. (2003)
Facilities
Camping and several large supermarkets at the border in Dancharinea.
Puerto de Usateguieta (USA)
Height: 695m
Location: Some way south of San Sebastian.
General Comments
Three-sided pass. Gradual climbs, secondary roads. No reports by Cycloclimbing OCD members.
Road Condition and Hazards
No reports by Cycloclimbing OCD members.
Facilities
No reports by Cycloclimbing OCD members.
Col d’Urdanzia (URD)
Height: 869m
Location: South of St Etienne de Baigorry.
General Comments
A very narrow lane on GR10 route, clinging to a steep hillside, overlooking rural idyll. Reaches 900m before descending to broad col.
Road Condition and Hazards
In 1998 eastern approach from St Jean PdP via Lasse was fresh tarmac (not on latest Michelin).
Roughstuff: In 1998 the St Etienne approaches were still partly easy roughstuff, incorporating the highly scenic Col d’Aharza, 734m, among bracken.
Facilities
No reports by Cycloclimbing OCD members.
Coll de Urquiaga (URQ)
Height: 890m
Location: SSW of St Etienne de Baigorry.
General Comments
Overall, quieter than neighbouring main routes that link France and Spain. North side has pretty agricultural landscape to Col d’Esnazu, 755m, then dips into dense woodland before climb to Urquiaga pass. On the southern Spanish side there is uninteresting woodland, quarries and a reservoir above Zubiri (which is unattractive except for ancient bridge).
Road Condition and Hazards
The section between the cols Esnazu and Urquiaga was very badly surfaced in 1998, but fine elsewhere.
Facilities
Bar/restaurant near junction with Alto Erro, 801m
Puerto de Velate (VEL)
Height: 847m
Location: In the westernmost foothills of the Spanish Pyrenees, the major C133 road links Hendaye with Pamplona.
General Comments
Fortunately a new tunnel means that the upper reaches to the pass are all but abandoned. Partly wooded there, with peaceful picnic areas (where wild camping reported possible, before 1995).
Road Condition and Hazards
Expect huge lorries on the lower approaches (1998). Boldly re-engineered road below tunnel on north side creates steep, straight ramp (partly avoidable).
Facilities
Café above tunnel on north side in 1998. Also picnic areas (see General Comments above).
Puerto de Zuarrarrate (ZUA)
Height: 780m
Location: About 20km NW of Pamplona, on the western edge of the Pyrenees.
General Comments
An apparently easy minor wooded road, more scenic on south side descending to N240. No reports by Cycloclimbing OCD members.
Road Condition and Hazards
No reports by Cycloclimbing OCD members.
Facilities
No reports by Cycloclimbing OCD members.