TRAIL TALES: EREMUA

We venture into the endless beech forests of Eremua to uncover the origin and evolution of this fantastic destination in the north of the Iberian Peninsula.

With every pedal stroke we take in the Esteribar Valley (Navarre), we delve deeper into the forest, where the sensation of being surrounded by majestic beech trees envelops our entire body. We take a pause to appreciate this unparalleled setting and can only hear the gentle rustling of leaves beneath our feet. All that remains is to follow that sound along the path, which gently stands out over the endless blanket of fallen leaves.

As we continue up this winding ascent, we recall how the project officially began seven years ago a project that recognized the hard work of a few passionate cyclists who, for years and selflessly, had dedicated themselves to restoring and maintaining the trails, planting the first seeds of the destination we know today. Without them, we wouldn’t be here.

“I’d like to highlight everything we did together with Daf, Unai, Javi, Sergio, Juan, Eneko, and Rellan. Without that prior work, Eremua wouldn’t exist.”

Jorge Vaquero (Head of the Technical Office at Eremua)

At a time when bike tourism was barely talked about, one of the biggest challenges was finding a place and coexisting with the main uses of the natural environment especially considering the significant impact caused by forestry operations in the area, which erased several existing trails from the map.

Despite all the difficulties, the passion of those forest spirits endured in the trails that remained alive, and a beam of light pierced through the entire beech forest of Burdindogi, illuminating the end of the route.

Identifying with this group of passionate individuals who, from the very beginning, have given their all to shape every curve and build every berm, Orbea was clear about one thing: they had to keep contributing their own bucket of dirt. Beyond helping to recover old trails, they were supporting the socioeconomic development of the region.

Thanks to this, today the possibilities to explore the valley are endless through its 22 official routes, all of them carefully maintained year-round by Iñigo. Despite the physical effort it requires, the culture that is taking root in this small region motivates him to keep adding one more shovel of dirt.

“More and more people, especially young ones, are getting into mountain biking. It’s no longer unusual for someone to ask how the trails are for descending.”

Iñigo Ekisoain (Trailbuilder at Eremua)

A project where, just like in a beech forest, new sprouts of the future emerge in every sunlit patch. A future that is now secured thanks to the cycling school created four years ago, which already has more than 60 students each one leaving their mark on every curve of Eremua.

May they keep planting dreams and nurturing passions, because together, they are building a legacy that will bloom along every trail.