Izki Natural Park

Birdwatching The home of the medium-sized woodpecker.

The star bird at Izki is the medium-sized woodpecker, a challenge both for birdwatchers and for those responsible for its conservation, who have to ensure that the tranquillity of its breeding grounds is safeguarded. In Izki we can observe a wide variety of woodpeckers.

Rupicolous species such as griffon vultures or golden eagles, which are easier to observe, are a good alternative if we have not been lucky enough to come across woodpeckers on the forest paths.

There are 3 circular ornithological routes where it will be easier to observe birds:

Hiking Trails Enter Europe's largest sessile oak grove.

A network of 15 trails allows walkers to discover the beautiful landscapes of the Izki Natural Park, observe its flora and fauna and also appreciate the traditions and culture of the human beings who inhabited and still inhabit this territory.

The paths of El Agin and El Cartero take the visitor to monumental and unique trees: lime trees, yew trees, chestnut trees..., witnesses to hundreds of years of human history, palpable through the various monuments existing in the Park and its surroundings: artificial caves, monoliths, ruins of castles, bridges, mills, all of them accessible following different paths: San Roman, Marizurieta, Bujanda, Botondela, Los Molinos, Txarabitana...

In this way, walking through its forests and mountains, along rivers and streams and among its rocks, one clearly understands the reasons why Izki is today a protected natural area. It also helps to understand that it is everyone's duty to conserve it, so that when future generations walk along these same paths, they can continue to enjoy its varied forests and, in short, all its natural values.

From the network of routes, we make 3 proposals:

Bike. Izki MTB centre Montaña Alavesa The natural park on pedal power.

The Park houses a Euskadi MTB centre that offers routes that go around the heart of the area taking you to such interesting places as the Basque Navarra greenway.

The MTB centre is located on the Urturi golf course. It is the starting point for many of the routes. It has a total of 15 itineraries of varying difficulty. With its small valleys and mountains, medieval villages and beautiful towns, palaces and stately homes among primitive churches and hermitages, the Montaña Alavesa is an ideal place to discover the artistic and cultural wealth of the region by bicycle.

From the 15 routes we propose three options:

Astronomy A look at the stars.

Who hasn't been awestruck on a starry summer night when contemplating the Milky Way whizzing across the sky?

In the Izki Natural Park and the region of Montaña Alavesa it is possible at different astronomical viewpoints, ideal places for astronomical observation. These are 8 elevated places, equipped with a signpost. Each of them has a QR code. Scanning it will provide more detailed information about what you can see and enjoy at each of the observation points.

You can find all the information about its location here: https://www.arabakomendialdea.eus/arabako-mendialdea/miradores-astronomicos-montana-alavesa/

In addition, in the Izki Natural Park, next to its Parketxe or park house, there is an astronomical observatory. The Izki astronomical observatory, inaugurated on 30 September 2017, is a project carried out by the association La Otra Mitad, and financed and managed by the Provincial Council of Alava, the Arraia-Maeztu Town Council and the association. The annual agenda of activities organized by the Natural Park contains a series of activities to see the moon, the sun, eclipses or the Perseids. Don't miss out on this great plan!

Mining landscapes and industrial tourism Izki's forgotten memory.

Asphalt is a living relic in Montaña Alavesa, and the aim is to bring this natural environment back to life with the recovery of the old Mina Lucía, from which asphalt continues to emerge thanks to the natural conditions of temperature and humidity.

Since the mid-19th century, several mines have been exploited, shaping the landscape of the region. Over the last few decades, the mining environment has begun to recover through various restoration initiatives The old settlement of San Ildefonso stands out, as does the restoration of the Mina Lucía, which is now open to visitors who have previously registered. Its attractions include architectural, historical, social, ethnological, landscape interpretation and traditional production processes, among others.

Dip into this mining past by visiting the Greenway Interpretation Centre of the old Vasco-Navarra Railway.

If you prefer to experience the mining past first-hand, don't miss the guided tour of the Lucía Mine. It can be arranged through the offices of the Cuadrilla de Montaña Alavesa.