Urederra Spring
The turquoise water born from the rock
At the foot of the Sierra de Urbasa, in Baquedano, the river Urederra is literally born from the rock. The water gushes from the limestone, icy even in August, with a turquoise colour that looks impossible. The trail up to the spring is one of the most beautiful in Navarre: barely two kilometres among pools, small waterfalls and vegetation hanging over the water. A whole morning of woodland, the sound of water and light filtering through the beeches.
A turquoise that doesn't look real
Urederra means "beautiful water" in Basque, and the name falls short. The water that seeps through the limestone plateau of Urbasa reappears here, at the bottom of the valley, forming pools of a blue-green that shifts with the daylight. The stronger the sun, the more unreal the colour.
It is meltwater and rain that the mountain has stored and filtered for months. That is why it runs so clean, cold and constant, feeding a succession of falls and pools down to the Améscoas valley.
Two kilometres of pools and waterfalls
The route climbs gently from Baquedano up to the spring, always hugging the river. It is a path of earth and wood, shaded by a spectacular beech wood, with viewpoints over the prettiest pools. It is a circular route of around 6 kilometres and two and a half hours, with no difficulty, between 550 and 630 metres of altitude.
Swimming is forbidden —it is a Nature Reserve— but the spectacle of the water, the moss and the light among the beeches more than makes up for it. Wear comfortable footwear: the ground can be damp and slippery.
Book ahead and go early
Access is regulated to protect the area: there is a daily visitor quota and it is best to book ahead, especially on weekends, long weekends and in summer. You leave TTipiaenea after breakfast and arrive in just over an hour; the earlier you go, the quieter and more beautiful it is.
The route starts in Baquedano and is circular, with well-signposted out-and-back stretches. It can be combined with the Sierra de Urbasa on the same day: the enchanted beech wood, the Balcón de Pilatos and the spring are all close to each other.
Practical information
- From TTipiaenea73 km · 1 h by car
- How to get thereAP-15 → A-12 → Baquedano · car park in the village
- Starting pointBaquedano
- RouteCircular · 6 km · 2 h 30 min · altitude 550–630 m
- BookingDaily quota · booking ahead recommended (weekends and summer)
- ImportantNature Reserve · no swimming · footwear with good grip
