Arrazola Reception Area

Arrazola is the entrance to the Irati Forest through the Aezkoa valley, the western side of the forest. It is about 8 minutes by car from Orbaizeta, along the road that climbs towards the Irabia reservoir, and is the reception area from which the trails on the Aezkoa side leave. If you come from Pamplona via Aribe and Orbaizeta, it is the natural access; if you come via Ochagavía, the equivalent is Casas de Irati.

What there is

The area has an information point with a ranger service, a car park and a picnic area with four barbecues, tables with benches and bins. About 100 m away there is a small building with four public toilets and a washbasin. The information point and the toilets are only open in high season, which the valley places between Easter and the November bridge, with some weekends and the December bridge; the exact dates change every year, so ask beforehand at the Ochagavía tourist office or those of the Aezkoa valley. Outside those dates, the information point and toilets are closed. The rangers' information hut, 1 km from the Larraun district on the way to the reservoir, has a telephone: +34 948 764 375.

The maintenance fee

Vehicles arriving at Arrazola or continuing to the Irabia reservoir pay a public fee for the upkeep of Irati:

• Cars: €7; with a discount ticket, €4.
• Motorbikes: €3; with discount, €2.
• Minibuses: €28; with discount, €18.
• Coaches: €45; with discount, €22.

The valley website does not explain who is entitled to the discount ticket: ask when you pay. The access via the Orbaizeta Arms Factory and the Azpegi pass never pays a fee.

Trails from here

From Arrazola leave the Anbulolatz and Azalegi trails to the hermitage of San Esteban. About 15 minutes by car away, next to the Irabia reservoir dam, there are two small car parks from which the Paraísos-Erlan trail, the Plaza Beunza Track and the loop round the Irabia reservoir start. If you want to go by bicycle, small repairs can be done at Irati's reception centres, Arrazola among them; to hire an electric one, see the page on Irati by electric bike.

Camping and other areas in the valley

100 m before the information point is the Orbaizeta campsite, a fenced meadow for camping, with parking on the other side of the road, a fountain, tables and benches. The valley also has other areas with no fee: Olazar, about 2 km from the Arms Factory along a gravel track, with barbecues and tables; the free Azpegi refuge, about 4 km from the factory, and the Betolegi recreation area, beside the River Irati between Aribe and Orbara, with an unsupervised bathing spot. The Azpegi and Egurgio refuges are only for mountaineers on a crossing, with no booking.

Do not leave rubbish at the picnic area: use the area's bins.