The best walks and hikes around Montaña Alavesa

beautiful hermitage with a 2.5k climb at an average of 11%

Genevilla is a small Navarrese village located in the Estella Occidental region, near the border with Álava, surrounded by mountains and tranquil rural landscapes. Its town center retains its traditional charm, with stone houses and narrow streets that reflect its historical past. From here, pleasant hiking and cycling routes lead to the nearby mountains and villages of the Sierra de Codés. It is an ideal destination for those seeking peace, nature, and a chance to discover rural life in the heart of Navarre.

In La Llana, you must directly cross the GR-1 Historic Trail and climb the path that seeks the second summit of the mountain range. Before entering the beech forest, it passes close to the edge of the stone bell towers and offers good views of the Ribera de Navarra and the Rioja Baja, in the Ebro valley. The path is deceptive; it seems to seek the ridge of the mountain but maintains a path at altitude on the north face, even making small descents to adjust to the terrain, until it finally climbs to the ridge of the mountain and passes by the sculpture of La Plana (1,338 m). Just as the Joar mailbox has a colorful tree, mountaineers, flowers, animals and other curiosities. The path continues along the plain of the summit to the east, the meadows abound with clumps of eguzkilore, the witch-repelling thistles that are placed at the doors of houses. The trail reaches a milestone at the eastern end of the plateau and changes course to begin the descent south along the ridge of the mountain.

The trail runs through the beech forest and ends at Joar Peak (1,417 m), the highest point in the Codés mountain range. The summit houses a telecommunications center and antennas of all kinds. There is also the service lane that ascends from Santa Cruz de Campezo, used by mountain bikers. The geodetic vertex is next to the antennas, but the stop is a few meters further on, at the cliffs where the sculptures and the best views are located. The atmosphere is magnificent on both sides. The route returns along the same path and descends again through the beech forest to begin the ascent to La Plana Peak.

The route follows the red and white GR-1 markings to the plain of La Llana Pass. At several points, other trails appear, but they are shortcuts, variants, or detours to different parts of the mountain range. The path is easy to follow despite the steep slope and the loose stone scree. The trail passes near the impressive limestone tower of Peña de los Cencerros and continues toward the mouth of the two prominent peaks of the mountain range at the entrance to the La Llana plateau. At the GR-1 marker, a path leads off to each side, and the Historic Trail continues straight ahead to Santa Cruz de Campezo. The climb to the summit of Joar begins along the path on the left, first through bushes and then through a welcoming beech forest nestled in the limestone slope of the mountain's north face. These unique forests are isolated near the peaks and are the southernmost beech forests in Navarre.

The Sanctuary of the Virgin of Codés is located at the foot of the mountain range. It is a splendid 16th-century building built on the remains of a hermitage. The Baroque tower dates from the 18th century. The holy water fountain is next to the arcades, and there is also a guesthouse and gardens for relaxing and passing the time. The route climbs to the left of the building to a parking lot where signs and signs display the hiking trails. The path continues along the GR-1 long-distance trail, the Historical Trail, to Santa Cruz de Campezo, on the Álava side of the mountain range. The path is quite steep through a tunnel of oak trees, some of which are centuries old and stand out in a disturbing way against the dense forest.

Shelter in a magnificent location. It's not in bad condition, but it needs some improvements to make it an excellent shelter.

Dangerous area if wet. There are staples on the wall for easier climbing.