The whole of La Rioja is full of routes and trails to get lost onthe most famous of which is The Way of Saint James which runs through the Ebro Valley area.
However, for those looking for greener routes with breathtaking views we recommend the following hiking routes in the mountains of La Rioja.
1. Climb the San Lorenzo peak, the roof of the mountains of La Rioja.
The Peak San Lorenzo is the highest in the region. A summit of 2,271 maslthat adorns the horizon of La Rioja Alta.
To reach the top of this peak you can do so by undertaking a circular route of 8 km. from the ski resort car park which can be found at the foot of the hill, or if you prefer something lighter from the pass of the Tres Fuentes on a linear route of 4.5 km in total.
To get to the peak you have to go from the town of Ezcaray, which has one of the most important most interesting examples of popular architecture in La Rioja.
2. Enter the Sierra Cebollera natural park in La Rioja.
The Cebollera mountain range is the only natural area in La Rioja that has been awarded the distinction of natural park.
This area has recovered its landscape, after centuries of intense transhumance activity, extensive natural forests of Scots pine, beech and Pyrenean oak, with outstanding ecological and landscape values in the course of mountain streams, with waterfalls and small waterfalls in a setting of riverside woodland.
The natural park covers an area of 23,640 hectares, but if we take into account the entire extension of the Sierra de Cebollera, its surface area is 106,934 hectares. Among those that exist numerous hiking trails to enjoy the mountains of La Rioja, such as the ones we present below:
- La Dehesa Trail: Circular route of 8.8km, +600 metres of elevation gain, starting from Villoslada de Cameros.
- Achichuelo Trail: Circular route of 9.3km, 400 metres of elevation gain, starting from Achichuelo.
- Trail of the waterfalls: Circular route with a linear out-and-back section that takes you to the Ra bridge waterfalls. 6.6km and starts from the Ermita de Lomos de Orios.
- Pajares Path: A demanding circular route of 23.7km, +600 metres of elevation gain starting from Villoslada.
- Path of Lumbreras and its villages: 11.7km circular route with 200 metres of gradient starting from Lumbreras.
3. Hiking route through the beech forest of Castroviejo
From the village of Castroviejo you can walk up to its recently opened viewpoint or walk to the hermitage of Las Santitas.
But if what you are looking for is a real route we suggest the following one route through the beech forest of Castroviejo to enjoy the mountains in La Rioja.
Departing from Castroviejo, this is a circular route and covers a distance of 15km with a difference in altitude of more than 500 metres.
The itinerary which starts in the village, crosses the Yalde reservoir, passes the Piedrahincada peak, the Cocote de la Risca and continues ascending until it reaches the peaks of the Serradero and descends to the recreational area at the source of the Yalde river.
Another option is to do a shorter route of just 7km enjoying the beech forest. The start of the route would be the same, but before reaching the Cocote de la Risca the descent would begin. With a difference in altitude of around 400 metres.
4. Sierra de la Hez in the Ocón Valley | Hiking in the mountains of La Rioja
The Ocón Valley is characterised by the fact that it is a valley without a river and is formed by several villages close to each other that function as a single municipality.
Surrounding this valley is La Sierra de la Hez a spectacular expanse of beech, oak and pine trees through which picturesque hiking trails wind.
We propose the following route through this mountain range of La Rioja:
A demanding circular route of 22,15km with almost 800 metres of ascent that starts in La Villa de Ocón, in the direction of Las Rueda de Ocón, and climbs up to the Cabimonteros shelter and reaches San Vicente de Robres. From there it descends until it reaches the starting point.
Shortening the route are endless options to choose the route that best suits you.
5. Route through the Río Leza Canyon in La Rioja
The Canyon of the river Leza is one of the places worth visiting in the mountains of La Rioja.
By following the route we propose below, we would be enjoying this beautiful landscape not from the viewpoint, but rather from inside El Cañón.
This is a round-trip route suitable for children that starts in the village of Soto en Cameros, after crossing the medieval bridge and arriving just before the hermitage of El Cortijo, where, choosing the opposite direction to the hermitage, the track starts.
Total length of almost 9km and a difference in altitude of +400 metres.
6. Hiking in Camero Viejo from San Román de Cameros
San Román de Cameros is the epicentre of the region of Camero Viejo and from this pretty village in the mountains of La Rioja there are some spectacular mountain routes.
- San Román de Cameros - El Chozo Blanco - Santa María de Cameros: Circular route of 15km and 500 metres of elevation gain. Departure from San Román de Cameros towards the local cemetery, from there you take an unpaved road towards Santa María de Cameros, after 2 kilometres you pass by a fire raft and the Pozas de Villa Cristina.
- Cross the border of Viguera and continue straight on to the "Chozo Blanco" of Viguera. Once there, follow the track to the right, where the dolmens of "Collado Palomero" are. From here there are impressive views of the Hoyo de Viguera and the N-111 that joins Logroño and Soria via Camero Nuevo.
- On the way back to "El Chozo Blanco" we return to the summit, with the Val de Murcia ravine on the left and the Antoria ravine on the right as a reference point.
- The descent to Santa María zigzags down to the orchards and the ruins of the village of Santa María.
- Go down the slope until you reach the confluence of the three ravines again and return to San Román along the track you took at the beginning of the route via the Santa María ravine or the old Cambero river.
- San Román de Cameros - Santa María de Cameros: The previous route can be simplified to 8.5km and 320 metres of height difference by shortening it from the Pozas de Villa Cristina towards Santa María de Cameros.
- San Román de Cameros - Torremuña: A linear out-and-back route along the GR-93 parallel to the stream, including a waterfall.
From San Román de Cameros, as from most of the mountain villages, there are endless routes to discover.
7. Mountain routes from Munilla in La Rioja
Munilla is a town in La Rioja from where there are many routes to enjoy the mountains and the environment, among them the GR-93 which crosses the mountains of La Rioja from Santo Domingo de la Calzada to Cervera de Río Alhama.
- Munilla - Enciso - Munilla: A section of the GR-93, 12.8 km round trip and 655 metres of difference in altitude. It passes through the uninhabited village of Valdevigas. From the village of Enciso there are also some interesting routes, as well as the dinosaur trail, 6km on the trail of these terrestrial reptiles.
- Munilla - Santa Ana Chapel - Munilla: Linear out and back route with a circular part. 13.75km and 447 metres of elevation gain.
- Munilla - Peñaportillo Site - San Vicente de Munilla - Munilla: 10.6km route and 285 metres of ascent. Leaving from Munilla in the direction of the site. You reach an intersection where the site is on the right and the village of San Vicente de Munilla is on the left. You can choose which one you want to see first, retrace your steps and go to the next one to come back again and finish in Munilla.
The mountains of La Rioja are a great unknown that is well worth a visit to discover its landscapes, towns and villages while enjoying nature and discovering its history.
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