Casas de Irati Information Point

Casas de Irati, the "Virgen de las Nieves" reception centre, is the entrance to the Irati Forest through the Salazar valley. You reach it from Ochagavía by the NA-2012 road, which leaves just before entering the village: it is 23 km and about 40 minutes to the car park. Here is the information point with a ranger service, the place to ask about the state of the trails and where the route to the Cubo Waterfall begins.

Hours and season

In November 2026 the information point is open every day from 9:00 to 18:00. Casas de Irati operates in spring, summer and autumn; in winter the access may be closed, so check the state of the road first. Notice for November 2026: the access road is closed for improvement works from 16 to 20 and from 23 to 27 November. On those days, the alternatives for entering the forest are the Irati-Abodi mountain centre, also from Ochagavía, or the Aezkoa access via Orbaizeta, with the Arrazola area.

Services

As well as the information point and rangers, the centre has regulated parking, a picnic area, play areas, the bar-restaurant of the Casas de Irati café and a bicycle hire service with a small repair workshop. From here many of Irati's more than 400 km of cycling routes are ridden; if you want to get around by bike without worrying about the climbs, see the page on Irati by electric bike.

The maintenance fee

In high season a forest maintenance fee is paid when parking. The rates for this access are not published on the websites consulted; at the Aezkoa one, by comparison, a car pays €7. If you want to avoid it, the Irati-Abodi mountain centre and the Orbaizeta Arms Factory never charge it, although the trails from there are different ones.

Trails leaving from the car park

• Cubo Waterfall and the Urbeltza river path: the route that leads to the waterfall following the river.
• Errekaidorra: a circuit of about 10 km, of low difficulty, which also reaches the waterfall.
• Zabaleta Forest: a little under 9 km, of medium difficulty.
• Old track to Koixta, returning by the old track to Casas de Irati, and the old track to Irati and Muskilda, which links with Ochagavía and the hermitage of Muskilda.
• The senses walk and the loop round the Irabia reservoir.

If you prefer to go with a guide, see the guided walk through the forest. Before going up, the Ochagavía tourist office will confirm whether the road is open.