
Is the road to Alto de San Miguel de Aralar paved?
Spain, europe
11.5 km
1,233 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, picture this: you're in Navarre, Spain, itching for an adventure. Head toward the Aralar mountain chain (practically the foothills of the Pyrenees!), and get ready for Alto de San Miguel de Aralar. This climb kicks off near Uharte-Arakil, and it's a solid 11.5 km push to the 1,233m summit.
The road? Fully paved, but hold up – it's mostly concrete, which can be a bit slippery. Get ready for a consistent workout! You're looking at an average gradient of 6.72% with sections hitting a max of 14.2% right at the top! We're talking 773 meters of climbing, so pace yourself. While there aren’t any crazy-steep sections, it's relentlessly tough, with many kilometers hovering above 9%.
The payoff? Epic. At the top sits the historic San Miguel de Áralar sanctuary (aka San Miguel in Excelsis), with views that stretch across the Arakil corridor, San Donato, and the Urbasa and Andia ranges. Trust me, the scenery alone is worth the effort!
Road Details
- Country
- Spain
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 11.5 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,233 m
- Difficulty
- hard
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