IREGUA VALLEY MTB
MOUNTAIN BIKE
in stages along the paths, canyons and mountains of IREGUA VALLEY
LA RIOJA - SPAIN
FUENTES del VINO IREGUA VALLEY
SELF-GUIDED ROUTE WITH GPS
- Options of 3 or 4 stages -
LA RUTA
IREGUA VALLEY is a variation of the base route of FUENTES del VINO MTB. Instead of spreading throughout LA RIOJA as the latter more or less does, IREGUA VALLEY concentrates its activity primarily in the mountains, canyons and trails of the Iregua valley.
The choice is not casual. Located only a few kilometers south of Logroño we find a territory of "high potential" for the practice of MTB.
The most palpable argument of this is that the territory we are talking about is the same in which La Rioja BIKE RACE MTB stage test is held annually. Even allowing themselves the luxury of changing the track of the route every year.
We are talking about a UCI scoring event for the international ranking of the world championship.
We are not really wrong if we say that both because of its location and its cycling style, IREGUA VALLEY is something like a Rioja BIKE RACE in stages without competition and without an audience.
The mountains of the Sierra de Cameros, which are what make the valley possible, hide -literally- among their canyons, pine groves and beech trees, an infinity of singletracks - "flows" sometimes and enduring others - worked by local bikers, who give walk to a multitude of route options for each of the stages of the tour.
On the left bank of the valley we have the mountain range of the Sierra de Cameros with the peaks of El Viso, Peña Saida and Cerroyera -among others- hiding the Sendas de la Barguilla, Preciosa, Aspero, del Monolito, Bonita and La Guandara... among many.
On the right bank of the Valley, the mass of Moncalvillo and the Serradero fields with the Sendas of Moncalvillo MTB Center, and above all with the altruistic work -again- of the local bikers, have given rise -to name just a few- to the Trails of the Deer, the Wild Boar, the Greyhound, the Fox ... among which they pay homage to the animals of the field and many others ... Dark, of Silence, of the Beech, Forgiveness, Millers, Neveras, Natural, Bosquecillo, the forgotten Berrendo... I mean, task for years!
The proposals of LA RIOJA PUNTO BIKE for IREGUA VALLEY are based on logical linkages of these Paths and Summits, adapted -when possible- to different lengths and difficulties, which together give rise to a 3-stage proposal.
The experience offered by LA RIOJA PUNTO BIKE consists, in broad terms, of a Self-Guided Tour pack. This includes Accommodations, the GPS Tracks for the route, a detailed map-sketch with alternatives for each stage, and Luggage Transport from hotel to hotel.
With start point at Albelda de Iregua, the structure of the proposal is the one of 1 circular -E- and two point to point stages -A and H- which are mainly developed in the IREGUA VALLEY. Optionally we can add one more circular stage through the Najerilla Valley -I- then making a four stages route.
- Full technical
route totals - Stage E
Circular Albelda - Stage A
Albelda - Nájera - Stage H
Nájera - Albelda - Stage I
Circular Nájera
POINT TO POINT STAGES
Stage A: Albelda de Iregua - Nájera
Distance 63 / 54 km - Unevenness 1.510 / 1.225 m
Stage H: Nájera - Albelda de Iregua
Distance 44 / 54 km - Unevenness 1.155 / 1.790 m
CIRCULAR STAGES
Stage E: Circular Albelda de Iregua
Distance 44 / 67 km - Unevenness 1.200 / 1.795 m
Stage I: Circular Nájera
Distance 44 km - Unevenness 1.120 m
Circular route through the Sierra de Cameros - Rioja Bike Race Territory
Stage E: Circular Albelda de Iregua
Distance 44 / 67 km - Unevenness 1.200 / 1.795 m
The 2 options that we give for this circular stage starting in Albelda de Iregua consist of 2 tracks, Cameros and Gran Cameros, with the same philosophy but different difficulty. Both cross the mountains of the Sierra de Cameros, taking advantage of the many trails adapted for MTB by local bikers.
We are talking about a geography that is becoming internationally known for being the usual scenary of La Rioja BIKE RACE, the MTB stage race held annually in the area. The routes enter the Sierra de Cameros by the Senda de la Barguilla -de la Barriguilla in biker slang- they enter the paths of the neighboring Leza Valley, and ascending the peaks of El Viso or Peña Saida descend towards Viguera or Nalda linking several of the most popular singletrack trails in the area; Senda Preciosa, Aspero, Senda del Portillo de las Monjas ... Bonita ... del Monolíto ..
Great Cameros is our proposal for seasoned bikers who always want more.
Apart from the 2 options presented here, we have other more specific tracks with which we try to adapt the routes more if possible to the profiles of the cyclists.
From Albelda de Iregua to Nájera through the Sierra de Cameros
The stage that takes us from Albelda de Iregua to Nájera consists of 2 well differentiated sections. The first one takes full advantage of the original track from the Calzada Romana del Iregua to Torrecilla en Cameros, a much more technical and demanding route - with many kilometers of "singletrack" - than the term "Calzada" may suggest.
In the 2nd part we will have to ascend the "wall" of the Sierra de Cameros, pedal through the spectacular spaces -which seem created for cycling- at the top of the mountain, and then descend to the NAJERILLA VALLEY to meet again with the vineyards that will be our guide to Nájera.
Option A7 between Albelda de Iregua. and Logroño climbs straights throughg Moncalvillo. The result is a shorted option of 54 kms and 1.225 meters of unevenness.
MTB Moncalvillo
The stage in which we return to the starting point of IREGUA VALLEY takes advantage of the very high potential for MTB practice that is hidden on the North slope of Moncalvillo.
There are so many hidden "gems" - certainly well hidden - that it is impossible to give a single option. The result is these different proposals that we show in the profiles, Gran Moncalvillo, Integral Moncalvillo... and even others that we do not show here.
All of them, with their different lengths and difficulties, and with their different combinations of Paths -Ciervos, Neveras, Molineros, Oscura, del Perdón, del Zorro, Natural...- return us to the Iregua Valley from which we started, through the spectacular rocks and canyons of Portal de Cameros in Islallana. A "National Park" style end for what is usually the last of the IREGUA VALLEY stages.
And when the snow prevents pedaling through the high areas, our resource is Medio Moncalvillo.
The Cradle of the Language
If we decide to add a 4th stage to the IREGUA VALLEY tour, the Entreviñas proposal will lead us through the trails near Nájera and through the sea of vineyards that stretches between the Najerilla River and the slopes of the Sierra de La Demanda.
THE ROUTE IN DATA
What you could feel!
- Stage E
Circular Albelda - Stage A
Albelda - Nájera - Stage H
Nájera - Albelda - Stage I
Circular Nájera
Circular route through the Sierra de Cameros - Rioja Bike Race Territory
Hole in the clouds over Nalda.
Vineyards Los Valles -of Bodegas Vinícola Real - under the peaks of the Cameros Range. Today's track territory.
Cameros Gate - La Rioja “National Park”
View over the old Kingdom of Viguera
Remnants of the past in the Col of Cerro del Castillo de Viguera.
Slopes of Cerroyera above Portal de Cameros. Long descent from the Portillo de las Monjas to the Iregua Valley.
Typical Riojan singletrack under the Castle of Clavijo.
Chozo Blanco, an exhibition building at the top of the mountains.
Autumn colors in the Iregua Valley.
From Albelda de Iregua to Nájera through the Sierra de Cameros
Portal de Cameros, transition from the vineyard to the Sierra in the Iregua Valley.
Iregua Roman Path under the rocks of Peña Bajenza.
Spectacular viewpoint of Peñueco on the Portal de Cameros - Viguera, Camero Nuevo Range -
Portal de Cameros, American West environment between Islallana and Viguera.
Hermitage of San Bartolome, a historical and geographical reference in the heart of Camero Nuevo. Better to ignore the bull.
Open lands on the summits of Serradero.
Torrecilla en Cameros, the track includes at this stage the section of the old Roman Path between Viguera and Torrecilla, 13 wild kilometers, for "pedestrians" and practically with just enough space for a bike wheel.
Towards the South, the high pastures of the Sierra de Camero Nuevo extend on the horizon, exerting a hinóptico power of call.
There is no doubt, we are in a space created for our bikes.
We reach the upper area of the Sierra, the landscape towards the opposite slope to which we have climbed can be impressive, we are in one of the "star" points of FUENTES del VINO MTB, the Najerilla Valley and the peaks of La Sierra de La Demanda take care of it.
The route continues for a long time over the Sierra de Camero Nuevo. If weather permits, the Sierra de La Demanda will accompany us as a backdrop for a few kilometers.
Again through small roads and vineyards we reach Nájera, from the Arabic "Naxara" -place among mountains-. A place brimming with history that invites you to "get lost" and wander around.
MTB Moncalvillo
The rolling hills of the Moncalvillo hide an authentic "arsenal" of singletracks among their forests and pine groves. It is difficult to choose the Paths, whenever you choose one you lose another.
Spain Tour 2020 runs wild in search of the Moncalvillo ramps, an area also interesting for road cycling.
Impressive descent line from Moya Pic to the Iregua Valley in Islallana through the Berrendo hills. A finishing touch for IREGUA VALLEY.
Autumn textures on the slopes of Moncalvillo
Watercolor of vineyards in the Iregua Valley.
In Islallana, with only 6 kilometers - flat - to reach the end, with a bar with beer & wine, we can say that we have finished IREGUA VALLEY.
The Cradle of the Language
We begin the stage under the ancient gaze of the caves / refuge that characterize Nájera.
Scenes of the the route in the intermediate zone between Nájera and the Sierra de La Demanda.
Matute and its rocks, the protagonists of today's stage.
Descent to Tobia along the GR-93 path.
Path in Nájera looking for Biker.
THE ROUTE IN PICTURES
Expect to feel it!
OUR LODGES
The half of the Trip
- Lodging for stages with start in ALBELDA DE IREGUA
- Lodging for stages with start in NÁJERA
La Casa del Cofrade
It will be difficult to find a more suggestive accommodation option than a Hotel / Winery like this one of La Casa del Cofrade to start and end a route like FUENTES del VINO.
Our PUNTO BIKE is - we dare to affirm it - a four star hotel "camouflaged" in one of two. Located in the same place as the Vinícola Real Wineries to which it belongs, it allows us access from its facilities to the calados -caves- dug in the rock of the mountain on which it is attached, and in which the renowned wines of 200 Monges as well as other elements of historical value that will make us immediately perceive that we are in a special place. Something more even than a Winery + a Hotel.
If to all this we add the link and the total dump with everything that sounds like cycling, the choice could not be more obvious. Sports activity here becomes almost an excuse to live this part of the global experience of FUENTES del VINO.
Hotel Duques de Nájera
All rates with starting and ending point of the route at Hotel-Bodega La Casa del Cofrade - Albelda de Iregua
FUENTES del VINO IREGUA VALLEY
3 Stages / 3 Nights
420 €
Price per person for groups of 6 or more people
432 €
Price per person for groups of 4 or 5 people
465 €
Price per person for groups of 2 or 3 people
Single room supplement: + 116 €
When the group consists of an even number of people, an even number of applications will also be necessary to access this supplement.
FUENTES del VINO IREGUA VALLEY
4 Stages / 4 Nights
524 €
Price per person for groups of 6 or more people
549 €
Price per person for groups of 5 people
530 €
Price per person for groups of 4 people
594 €
Price per person for groups of 3 people
575 €
Price per person for groups of 2 people
Single room supplement: + 142 €
When the group consists of an even number of people, an even number of applications will also be necessary to access this supplement.
Add night at the end of the route
Add a night at the finalising point of the route - B&B
+ 46 € in doble room or + 67 € in single room
In these proposals when the groups are odd, the accommodation is offered in double rooms and a single room.
- TRIPLE ROOMS ARE NEVER USED -
Rates for the whole year, subject to availability.
The prices may vary when the dates coincide with the Easter holidays or with the Patron Festivities of any of the places of accommodation.
Check here for detailed Contract conditions
1 night of accommodation with breakfast
Corresponds to the 1st night as usually the groups prefer to choose themselves where to dine during the arrival trip to the destinationEl resto de las nights accommodation in half board
Transport of luggage between hotels
1 bag or package per personTracks of the route in GPX format for mobile phones or GPS devices
Warn us if you prefer them in another formatExplanatory printed map-sketch of the different route options for each stage
One per stage Download sampleShower and luggage reception at the end of the last stage despite you don’t spend the night at the finalising point of the route
Presentation of the route and delivery of information in hand the day of the arrival of the group to the hotel or the morning of the next day when groups are of 6 or more people
- Telephone assistance for incidents or consultations during the days of the contracted activity
Beers or other consumptions outside the proposed menus in the dinners or during the stay in hotels
Meals in restaurants at the time of the noon, unless it has been agreed previously to replace dinner with meals
Any kind of sports material, helmets, shoes, etc.
Mechanical Assistance during the activity
If possible, we will try to help you in case of a breakdown, but in many situations this help can be very limited due to lack of specific spare parts or other circumstances. The cost of the service if it can be done is € 18 per hour + € 0.40 per kilometer.Anything not expressly indicated in the offer
- Airport/station pick up
We put you in contact with the transfer companies that provide these services. We do not include its cost in our proposal. - Hire Travel Assistance insurance
- Add a hotel night at the finalising point of the route
- Hire individual room
When the group consists of an even number of people, an even number of applications will also be necessary to access this supplement.
- Best time to go: The route can be done at any time of the year as long as there is no snow in the high mountains. The altitude of the Sierra de La Demanda stage is 500 meters above the rest of the stages, so for the occasions when the snow covers these high areas blocking the entire route, we have the option that we call "spring" in which we modify the track by deviating it by lower levels.
Spring and autumn are usually the most pleasant seasons; In summer it can be hot in the low areas, if it is the case, it is advisable to get up early and have the whole afternoon to relax. Actually, excluding winter, we can conclude that it is more important the punctual weather of the days in which we are going to make the route than the season itself.
Anyway, at the end of autumn the days are short, but more than enough for our purpose. The vineyards of La Rioja "burn" red in those days, and the experience of descending from the Sierras at dusk to join that sea of vineyards becomes almost "brutal". So if you can afford to choose those dates, there is no question. This is the "Star" moment for FUENTES del VINO MTB. - Type of tracks: In general, trails and tracks with more physical than technical demand, both uphill and downhill.
For stages 2 and 3 we have more technical variants in which the path sections are increased n the same way as the difficulty of the route. - Ideal bike: Any mountain bike. The choice will depend on the priorities of each one: lower weight (rigid bike) or greater comfort and enjoyment of the descents (double suspension bike).
- Orientation: The route must be followed with a GPS device or with the mobile phone App that you are used to using for the same purpose.
It is not advisable to try to learn how to use an App on the fly.
We do not provide Apps or GPS user manuals. It is up to the users to have this knowledge.
There is no on-site signage. - Ciclability: Depending on the technical skills and the strengths of each one, the route is 98% cyclable.
- Philosophy: Although some stages can be demanding, the proposal is designed so that the stages can be finished and we still have part of the day to enjoy the place where we are.
The circular stages delve into the purpose of "slow down" the rhythm of the route as a whole, always offering a more relaxed track option that ensures that we have a free afternoon for other tasks beyond cycling. Believe it or not; There is life beyond the bike. - Provisioning: The situation is different depending on the stages and the chosen track options. The towns in the lower areas usually have bar services and fountains, but once we go up to the Sierras we will have to be self-sufficient in terms of food and water.
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