The Harri Gorri via ferrata in Sobrón and its leisure center

Lantarón
Sport

Here we are in Alava, we are going for a very sporty hike , at the foot of the Ebro River. In Sobrón , there are two via ferratas, in a beautiful environment of arid and red mountains. To do them, you need experience and equipment, you can go alone with your equipment or accompanied by professionals. An activity to do with family with teenagers or for a group of sporty friends. Fun, exhilarating, dizzying, the via ferrata is a technical and exciting outdoor sport ! Shall we go?

Photos from the report: Basque Country Guide

Via Ferrata in general

Via ferrata is a mix between climbing and sport hiking. Equipment, i.e. ladders with rungs planted in the rock, rope bridges, sometimes zip lines, different elements to cross ravines or follow rock faces are pre-installed. To use them, you need specific via ferrata equipment (not climbing equipment). You need:

2 shock-absorbing lanyards to cushion the shock in the event of a fall (very rare)
A cow or loin to rest on
A harness to tie it all together
Pulleys to take the zip lines
Gloves and a helmet , good hiking shoes.

Via ferrata in France and elsewhere is often freely accessible. This is not the case for the via ferrata in Sobrón. To access it, you have to pay a sum (a paltry sum, a few euros) on a website . The easiest way is to go to the Centro de Aventura de Sobrón , which is located right at the start of the via ferrata. It is a place with a municipal swimming pool . There you can find the necessary information to book your passage , that is to say the time at which you will go there and rent equipment if you do not have any.

Do you like adventure? We invite you to come and do a sporty hike on the ridges of a mountain, in the Urkiola Natural Park !

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The Via Ferrata in Sobrón

Ferrata la Cresta : This is a family via ferrata, with 3 sections of 50, 250 and 250 meters. There are escape routes at the end of each section. The first section is easy (K2), the second more difficult (K3) and the last difficult (K4, the rating goes up to K6, very difficult). The difficulty lies in several criteria: the gas, that is to say the height and the dizzying sensation it provides, the sporty side linked to the slope of the wall, and the distance from the equipment (the bars, for the hands, feet, etc.). When you don't have vertigo and you're used to hiking, up to K4, it's fine ! This via ferrata is on a ridge. The landscape is nice but not exceptional, for those who are used to beautiful mountains with landscapes without electricity poles!

Ferrata Harri Gorri : This is the one we did and that you can see in the photos. It is a via ferra rated K5. It is 450m long, it is not very long, but it is difficult because there are often no bars for the feet . It therefore requires you to be comfortable with gripping the rock and good shoes that will not slip on the rock. The path is linear from right to left (usually from left to right) and it goes through rope bridges and offers zip lines. The start is from the parking lot of the Sobron Adventure Center. We had parked at the Museo del Agua, but it was a mistake because it is the end of the via that is there. So park in the designated parking lot (after having booked your slot to do the via on the dedicated website) and walk 10/15 minutes until you reach the start (everything is well indicated).

To do the via ferrata, you have to clip your carabiners, always at least 1 to ensure your safety and as often as possible, both! I recommend that you do not do this via ferrata if you have never done one! Start with La Cresta and if it is your very first, go with a guide (see the adventure center, they have accompanied group outings) to learn the basic manipulations. You will then be independent to do other via ferrata elsewhere.

The estimated time for each of the 2 via ferrata is 3 hours. We did Harri Gorri in less than an hour, because we have already done via ferrata. It is no less impressive and sporty, because the lack of equipment for the feet can be disconcerting if you are not used to it! The landscape on Harri Gorri is pleasant and turned towards the Ebro river of a pretty turquoise blue. We had a great time!

What to do near Sobrón

Head to the Sobrón Adventure Center , there are a multitude of activities to discover!
You can go kayaking , stand up paddle , play paintball , climb , do archery , orienteer and swim in the pool! There is a small restaurant to refuel after your sporting adventures! The staff is super friendly and the place is warm!
Read our tourist guide to this region of Alava
The nature around Sobrón is beautiful! It is a classified site of Community Interest with hikes in the heart of a rich biodiversity.
You can visit the Water Museum which is located at the end of the via ferrata
Visit Villanañe a little further away, and the Salinas de Añana to learn all about the salt mines in this valley like no other. It is a seaside town where you can have a good little spa thanks to the richness of its waters.