It is located in the heart of the Barazar Gorbeia Natural Park, at the foot of the rocks of Atxuri. To get there, take the N-240 that connects Vitoria with Bilbao. On our way to Vitoria-Gasteiz, we will climb the port of Barazar and from there we will deviate to the right by a wide cement road. Continuing for three kilometers, we arrive at the Saldropo wetland on an old peatland that was exploited almost until it disappeared.

Orientation in Barazar

The starting point will be the esplanade located in Saldropo, indicated by a triangle on the map. From there and on the way to the first point, we will notice the many species of trees that we can find in Barazar: the replanted Corsican pine tree, the Douglas fir, the American oak, the Japanese lerian and the Lawson cypress predominate.

We have the first stop –indicated by a circle– in the open pine forest; the absence of weeds and low vegetation makes us think that we are on a green carpet. The second point will lead us to the highest point of this forest that leaves the concrete path and lets the rare rays of sun penetrate.

From there the path to the third stop will be different: we will take the path down and immediately, going out to the open area full of awakenings, we will see the most representative rocky mountains of the Urkiola Natural Park. From then on, and until we enter again into the middle of the trees, we will be accompanied by cows, horses and sheep. As soon as we finish the descent slope, we pass a small wetland as we can and stop at the third point.

Continuing along the path that will appear there towards the south, we arrive at one of the most spectacular areas that we will find in Barazar, like the wonderful beech trees that are described in the stories. Multicolored leaves that cover the earth; a luminosity that transcends the semi-bare branches of this time of year; streams that create small meanders by ducting cold and transparent water... All of them will definitely invite us to press the button of the camera.

We've already done half the tour. The following meters will be made from green fields full of cattle –we have placed the sixth and seventh traffic controls in solitary trees. As we walk through this area, we will see Gorbeia and Aldamin face to face. In addition, without much effort, we will also be able to see the cross of Gorbeia that joins the sky. On a clean day, of course.

Continuing along the path that faces the seventh point, we will pass through the ranches of cattle ranchers that show us that the Gorbeialdea is a land of long tradition in grazing – in fact, the economy of the farms of this area is still based on cattle ranching – and we will enter a forest that is more stubborn than the ones left behind. Unfortunately, we won’t find only low vegetation, because although we are in the heart of a natural park, several of its forests are used for the timber industry and branches of trees that don’t make money are scattered without much concern by woodworkers, seriously damaging the valuable ecosystem.

The Ikaztobi

Entering through the aforementioned forest, we will find terraces that appear artificially on the slope of the mountain; in ancient times, in the forests of Bizkaia, they are icachovies that were created for the cultivation of coal. The seventh point of passage invites us to know one of them.

The time has come for us to reach the final stretch of the tour. Heading southwest, even to the bottom of the slope, on the way from Atxuri to the Zeanuri reservoir, crossing a dark pine forest, we find another stream. We could think of it as a place of little interest, but in the midst of the supposed gloom there is a magical corner: we jump into one of the small waterfalls and wells that the stream produces, the immense beech that has managed to resist the forces of the years and the activities of man prevails; one of those that, although it seems a simple place, gives us great joy.A

few minutes after leaving this mysterious and solitary place, we arrive at the Interpretation Center of Saldropo, which is usually more populated. This is, usu, the starting point for mountaineers who want to reach the summit of Gorbeia. Once there, we can observe the central wetland of the Saldropo plain. There is a very special ecosystem there, of great ecological value.

Peatland of Saldropo

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few years ago, a peatland with an area of three hectares and between 2,500 and 4,000 years old was exploited in Saldropó. The peat layer that could be found there was a great thickness –supposedly of three meters–, so the industrial exploitation of this area was initiated by a company that prepared the land for gardening. But as is often the case in these cases, overexploitation almost exhausted the peat reserves. Later plans have been made to revitalize the area with the aim of improving the living conditions of plants and animals.

In this Interpretation Center, after having had the opportunity to understand the importance of these fragile ecosystems, we only have to turn to the car, following some 700 meters of the cement track that has brought us from the port of Barazar to Saldropo.

Although the excursion is not too hard, the opportunity to rest is always appreciated; for this we have the esplanade of Saldropo ideal. Surrounded by a fence with railroad crossings, we will be able to use the tables and grills located in the cypress forest before returning home.