Navarre steps out in fall hues: mycology, trails, and unique experiences
This season unveils colors, routes, and experiences that blend culture, gastronomy, and the landscape
Navarre is an exceptional destination from which to experience fall in all its intensity. Its beech and oak forests, trails leading to waterfalls and reservoirs, abundance of mushrooms, and cuisine marked by seasonal products combine with cycling routes and wine-tourism attractions. A selection of initiatives invites you to explore the community with all five senses and discover how this season transforms its landscape and gastronomy. In Navarre, forests take center stage in the fall. The Irati Forest, the second largest beech-fir forest in Europe, reveals a network of trails leading to beautiful waterfalls and reservoirs. Other spots, such as Urbasa-Andía, Bertiz, or Belagua offer paths through beech forests, while places like the Orgi Forest or the monumental oaks of Etxarri Aranatz present walks in the shade of hundred- and thousand-year-old trees. Our fall trails are enriched by the prominence of water. The Urederra spring, with its turquoise pools, the Xorroxin waterfall in Baztan Valley, or the reservoirs of Leurtza are just a few examples of nature at its most scenic. What’s more, in the Roncal Valley, waterfalls mark the end of a series of walks combining forest and water.
In Navarre, the change of season can also be witnessed at the table. Piquillo peppers from Lodosa, freshly picked mushrooms, and winter vegetables mark the season. Dishes such as pochas beans from Sangüesa, migas from Ujué or game meats accompany menus complemented by wines from the Navarre Wine Route, which organizes a host of oenological attractions for all types of travelers during the fall months.
The fall season also offers the perfect opportunity to explore Navarre by bike. The Greenways cross landscapes of vineyards, forests, and gorges, while the region’s mountain-biking areas invite visitors to take on hundreds of miles of routes of varying difficulty. Those seeking a more relaxed holiday can enjoy the chance to pick mushrooms in a regulated environment at the Ultzama and Erro-Roncesvalles mycological parks, while discovering the wealth of their beech and oak forests.
