Trail 1: Sonsierra Riojana
Length: 14km.
Accumulated height difference: 150m.
Difficulty: Easy.
Approximate time: Three and a half hours
Start/finish point: San Vicente de la Sonsierra (GPS: 42.5674N, 2.7418W)
Let Riojatrek show you La Rioja from the olden days, a borderland between Navarra and Castilla where, in the times of peace between battles, people timidly began to produce wine.
Places like San Vicente de la Sonsierra or Ábalos, among others, display an unusual concentration of wine presses carved out of the limestone, remains of burial grounds from the Middle Ages and chapels such as that of Santa María de la Piscina, which you just can’t miss when you visit La Rioja. And it goes without saying that all this is surrounded by a sea of vineyards that display an ever-changing landscape throughout the whole year.
Trail 2: The Sierra del Toloño
Length: 14km.
Accumulated height difference: 465m.
Difficulty: Average
Approximate time: Four hours, including a stop for lunch.
Start/finish point: Rivas de Tereso (GPS: 42.6035N, 2.7509W)
The Sierra del Toloño is one of the most unfamiliar places in La Rioja. It is located on the boundary that separate the autonomous region of La Rioja with the province of Álava, offering shelter to the vineyards planted in Rioja Alavesa. When you contemplate the breathtaking views from the summit you will immediately forget about the strenuous effort of climbing the steep slopes, as on a clear day you can see San Lorenzo, the highest summit in La Rioja, over 40 kilometres away and, if you follow the meandering of the River Ebro with your eyes, you will be able to see the beauty of the Riojan geography and its most emblematic villages.
The path towards the summit leads us to the chapel of the Humilladero de Toloño. The ancient monastery of Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles, further up, is where we will stop to take a rest and have lunch. We will start our journey back by walking through a leafy beech wood and a field where there are usually cattle and wild horses grazing.
Trail 3: Castillo de Davalillo
Length: 8km.
Accumulated height difference: 120m.
Difficulty: Easy.
Approximate time: Two hours.
Start/finish point: San Asensio (GPS: 42.5205N, 2.7470W)
Go back in time to when the view from a watchtower played a vital role in the safety of a castle, the rivalry between the kingdoms of Navarra and Castilla during the Middle Ages. On this simple route that takes about two hours, you’ll be able to learn about the times in which the River Ebro acted as the frontier between these two kingdoms.
Because the whole way is flanked on either side by all classes of vineyards, we’ll take advantage of this to tell you about the different aspects of viticulture in this area and the traditions that have arisen from them. For example, San Asensio is where the “clarete” battle takes place every year on 29 July (St Jame’s Day – Santiago, the patron saint of Spain) or on the following Sunday.
Trail 4: The Islallana Crags
Length: 10km.
Accumulated height difference: 350m.
Difficulty: Medium-high.
Approximate time: Three hours, including a break for lunch.
Start/finish point: Islallana (GPS: 42.3234N, 2.5151W)
Islallana, which means “Flat Island”, is known in La Rioja as the village of the three lies, because it is neither flat, a village or an island. Proof that the first is a lie is given by the craggy limestone rocks that protect this hamlet. Twenty minutes from Logroño, it is inhabited by birds of prey that people say are a signal to tell us we are approaching the Camero Nuevo and the Sierra de Cebollera.
From the highest point you will have a wonderful view of the landscape of La Rioja and Álava: Logroño, a multitude of villages of the Rioja Alta, the sierra de Cantabria, River Iregua that bathes the orchards that grow on the riverside, the variety of crops that are produced in the area. This trail can also be combined with an interpretive walk and activities for you to do in the vineyards. In this case, the trail will last 45 minutes longer.
Tourist guide service
Riojatrek offers you official tourist guides who will be delighted to accompany you on your trekking trails around La Rioja. Please ask for an estimation by phoning us on (+34) 941.587.354 or (+34) 679.010.804 or complete the form below and we will get in touch with you:
