geocalia
The Cubo Waterfall, a cascade in the Irati forestMikipons · CC BY-SA 3.0 es

What to do · Irati Forest

Cubo Waterfall on the Errekaidorra circuit

10 km circuit with 226 m of ascent from Casas de Irati through the beech forest to the Cubo Waterfall · 3–3 h 30 · Easy

InformationOn your own · parking fee in high season
Price
On your own · parking fee in high season
Duration
3 h 20
Distance
10.0 km
Season
Spring to autumn; with snow, only with snowshoes
Who it's for
Families used to walking

This is the classic Irati route. It leaves from the Casas de Irati car park, enters the beech-and-fir forest along forest tracks and paths and reaches the Cubo Waterfall, a cascade that falls into a round pool. Visit Navarra includes it in the Errekaidorra circuit: 10.04 km, 226 m of cumulative ascent and low difficulty. You can also reach the waterfall by the Urbeltza river path.

The route

The Errekaidorra circuit explains Irati's forestry history with six outdoor interpretation points (oars, masts, the lock, the ash, the cables and the rails), with panels on flora, fauna and geology. The forest passes through lands of Salazar, Aezkoa, Soule and Cize. After the waterfall, the return follows the river in a last loop back to the start. Allow about three hours at an easy pace with stops.

Getting there and parking

From Ochagavía, on the NA-2012: about 24 km and 40 minutes to Casas de Irati. In high season a parking maintenance fee is paid. At Casas de Irati there is an information point, open every day from 9:00 to 18:00 in November 2026, and a bar-restaurant.

When to go

In the second half of October the beech forest is at its best, and the waterfall carries water in spring and after the autumn rains. In November 2026 the Casas de Irati road is closed from 16 to 20 and from 23 to 27 for works.

Tips

  • Wear shoes that can take mud Visit Navarra warns that some stretches turn muddy after rain.
  • Start early in autumn The Casas de Irati car park fills up at weekends in October.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to reach the Cubo Waterfall?

The full circuit is 10 km; allow about three hours with stops.

Can you go with children?

Yes, with children used to walking: the ascent is gentle but the distance is long.

As a family

Opening hours and prices can change: check them before you go.

Round off the plan

Where to eat, where to stay and what else to do

To eat nearby

Casas de Irati bar-restaurant

Bar · Ochagavía (Casas de Irati) · €€€€

What to order: a sandwich or a combination plate on returning from the Cubo Waterfall; for groups of 10 or more, the pochas and lamb chilindrón menu by booking

Irati-Abodi Mountain Centre café

Café · Izalzu (Irati-Abodi) · €€€€

What to order: a hot coffee and something to nibble before the colour-coded routes or after cross-country skiing

The restaurant's dining room, spacious and bright© Hotel Rural Auñamendi

Bar Restaurante Auñamendi

Restaurant · Ochagavía · €€€€

What to order: the weekend menu if you go from Friday to Sunday, or on the bar terrace a plate of octopus or the chicken salad with Roncal cheese

To stay nearby

A standard double room at the hostel© MendilatzSmall hotel

Hostal Rural Mendilatz

On the Irabia road · Bike store with e-bike charging · Combination-plate dinner to order · No pets

Why we like it: 16-room hostel at km 4 of the Irabia reservoir road, in Orbaitzeta, with a bike store with charging sockets, a workshop and eleven mountain bike routes with tracks.

The stone and wood façade of the hotel on a street in Ochagavía© Hotel Rural AuñamendiSmall hotel

Hotel Rural Auñamendi

13 rooms named after the valley · Two family rooms · Two adapted · Balconies onto the square · Bike and ski store

Why we like it: Family hotel of thirteen rooms on the square in Ochagavía, 40 minutes from Casas de Irati, with a lift, restaurant, two family rooms and two adapted ones.

From €85 / night View details
Bungalows and wooden cabins at the campsite© Camping OsateCampsite

Camping Osate

105 pitches · Bungalows for 2 to 8 · Wooden houses · Hostel · Mountain bike centre

Dogs welcome

Why we like it: Campsite at the entrance to Ochagavía with 105 shaded pitches, bungalows, wooden houses, pods, a 56-bed hostel and a certified mountain bike centre.

From €57 / night View details

Itineraries

Features in these plans