FUENTES del VINO MTB
The Mountain Bike Route through the Wineyards and Mountains of LA RIOJA
FUENTES del VINO MTB
Self-guided point to point by stages route
Three Sierras and a River, these are the geographical elements that, together with your mountain bike, give form to FUENTES del VINO MTB. Sierra de Cameros, Sierra de La Demanda, Sierra de Cantabria -Montes Obarenes- and the Ebro River in the center articulating everything.
A simply overflowing and varied geography in which each stage prints its own personality.
- Options from 4 to 6 stages -
THE ROUTE
FUENTES del VINO MTB is the mountain bike route that will allow us in equal parts, navigate through the spectacular sea of La Rioja vineyards and ride along the trails of the Sierras that, like cliffs, fly over and feed this sea, the SOURCES of WINE.
Of the stages of the point to point alternative, we could say that they are essentially rolling, since the common denominator of all of them is a first section of small paved and unpaved roads which among crops and vineyards allow us to "eat kilometers" with relative ease and as if good gregarious ciclists were treated, they put us at the foot of the "wall" of the mountain range where we will have to manage alone.
Once up and except in the last stage - the Ebro River - in which the above is not met as we will not have "wall", in the other 3 stages we can choose depending on our style of "bikers" if we descend by tracks and essentially easy and rolling paths, or if we decide on the options, but harder, at least if more technical, All Mountain we could say. Those options sometimes by technical sections, and sometimes of authentic "flow" deposit us in the same end points of stage as those of the more rolling options.
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.
The structure of FUENTES del VINO MTB is a base route with 4 point to point stages -A, B, C y D- and 3 optional circular stages -E, F and G- which, randomly combined with the first 4 allow up to a maximum of 7 stages.
TEMPORARY NOTE: The Ezcaray Circular Stage (F) is currently out of use.
These 3 minutes of video can help you understand what FUENTES del VINO MTB is.
- Datos
- Stage A
- Stage B
- Stage C
- Stage D
- Stage E
- Stage G
POINT TO POINT STAGES
Stage A: Logroño / Albelda de Iregua - Nájera
Distance 72 / 54 km - Unevenness 1.375 / 1.225 m
Stage B: Nájera - Ezcaray
Distance 49 km - Unevenness 1.690 m
Stage C: Ezcaray - Haro
Distance 77 km - Unevenness 1.075 m
Stage D: Haro - Logroño
Distance 75 / 58 km - Unevenness 620 / 855 m
Stage D: Haro - Albelda de Iregua
Distance 71 / 65 km - Unevenness 675 / 1.405 m
CIRCULAR STAGES
Stage E: Circular Albelda de Iregua
Distance 44 / 67 km - Unevenness 1.200 / 1.795 m
Stage G: Circular Haro
Distance 59 / 45 km - Unevenness 1.335 / 955 m
Cameros Range
Stage A: Logroño / Albelda de Iregua - Nájera
Distance 72 / 54 km - Unevenness 1.375 / 1.225 m
FUENTES del VINO MTB can start in Logroño or in Albelda de Iregua.
If we start the route in Logroño the stage is clearly divided into 2 sections, a first gently ascending part, between Logroñ and Portal de Cameros, following the banks of the Iregua river, and a second part in which the crops and vineyards that have shaped the landscape until here give way to Sierra de Camero Nuevo with its mountain meadows and its cattle.
If we start the route in Albelda de Iregua the route includes an apparently "harmless" section between Viguera and Torrecilla in Cameros, the Calzada Romana del Iregua, which in this section becomes a fairly technical singletrack and demanding progress.
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.
La Demanda Range
Stage B: Nájera - Ezcaray
Distance 49 km - Unevenness 1.690 m
La etapa B el recorrido transcurre por una sección monopolizada por el viñedo primero, para después enfrentarse al "muro" de la Sierra de la Demanda hasta alcanzar los 1.825 metros de altitud del Pico Chilizarrias al que asciende por la ruta de San Millan de la Cogolla, La Fonfria y Pazuengos.
Desde lo alto de la Sierra de La Demanda a Ezcaray nos espera uno de los mejores descensos tipo "flow" de toda La Rioja.
Montes Obarenes
Stage C: Ezcaray - Haro
Distance 77 km - Unevenness 1.075 m
As in stages A and B, the first part of this stage starts crossing the Oja and El Tiron basins on flat terrain using small roads and paths among crops and vineyards. From Sajazarra the route begins to ascend towards Cellorigo, already located in the Sierra de Cantabria, and from this point starts the path that will take us to Peñalrayo, the highest peak of the Obarenes Mountains with its 953 meters. It will be the moment to decide which option of the route we do, the one of easy pedaling or the technique.
After traversing a good section of the Montes Obarenes, always oriented towards the East, the 2 options converge at the Hermitage of San Felices and descend together until the famous "Barrio de la Estación" of Haro through the vineyards of Muga Wineries. The technical data is practically the same so we only show one of the profiles.
The Ebro Basin
Stage D: Haro - Logroño
Distance 75 / 58 km - Unevenness 620 / 855 m
If FUENTES del VINO MTB was started in Logroño we have 2 options for this stage between Haro and the starting point. One through the Ebro Basin and the other through the Sierra de Cantabria slope.
Thus, if we go to Logroño, this last stage (D1) is undoubtedly "the Ebro stage", the old "Iber" which gave its name to the entire Iberian Peninsula. We will constantly pedal through vineyards through the meanders that shape the river in a continuous succession of monumental towns such as San Vicente de la Sonsierra, Baños de Ebro, Elciego or Lapuebla de Labarca.
Without any doubt the atmosphere will be "River and Wine" with vineyards, huts or guardaviñas and countless wineries scattered throughout the landscape among which undoubtedly we will be surprised by the spectacular "Guggenheim" building of Marqués de Riscal.
From San Vicente de la Sonsierra we can also choose the option of leaving the Ebro (D2) and going up the slopes of the Sierra de Cantabria to reach Logroño passing through Laguardia. An alternative about 20 kilometers shorter than the Ebro route and specially designed for those who need to use the same day to complete the stage and the journey back home.
Stage D: Haro - Albelda de Iregua
Distance 71 / 65 km - Unevenness 675 / 1.405 m
If FUENTES del VINO MTB was started in Albelda de Iregua we can choose whether to return through a fast stage with a flat profile (D4) among the Ebro vineyards or by a more serious stage (D9) heading directly to Nájera and then go uphill to Las Neveras de Moncalvillo summit looking for a down line with the combination of the MTB trails developed by local bikers such as the named El Ciervo, Perdón and Natural, the culmination and final icing of FUENTES del VINO MTB
Circular Sierra de Cameros
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 routes 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 ..
Gran Cameros is our proposal for road bikers to whom everything seems little.
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.
Cantabría Range - Tulonium Tour
Stage G: Circular Haro
Distance 59 / 45 km - Unevenness 1.335 / 955 m
We call the proposed circular route of FUENTES del VINO MTB starting in Haro TULLONIUM because this is the Roman historians' reference to a god with whom the locals "negotiated" in the place before the implantation of Christianity.
br>The route ascends in the first part to the highest cyclable peak of the Toloño Massif, -although at some point you will surely have to push the bike- the Peña del León, and then heads out in search of the coolness, the beech trees and the vegetation of the North descending to Peñacerrada. Here the track lines up the Inglares River Valley, taking advantage of the well-traced "Sendero del Agua" -AQUA- which runs parallel to the river until it reaches Berganzo.
We will skirt the massif on the West side, ascending on the way two small -not innocent- heights which, with their corresponding descents, will return us to the vineyards of the South side in the monumental and welcoming Briñas.
The TOLOÑO TOUR option is a -SOFT- proposal designed for situations in which the body asks for a day of rest but the cravings ask us to continue pedaling, "active rest" is called.
The route goes around the massif but without ascending to the top of the mountain range. Vineyards and rocks on the southern slope, crops, beeches and waters on the North. Nor should we trust, it is not a walk.
THE ROUTE IN DATA
What you could feel!
- Stage A
- Stage B
- Stage C
- Stage D
- Stage E
- Stage G
From Logroño or Albelda de Iregua to Nájera through the Cameros Range
Surroundings of Logroño. Among vineyards and crops we started pedaling
From Islallana the Sierra takes the lead, we could say that the cattle replaces the vineyard.
Spectacular viewpoint of Peñueco on the Portal de Cameros - Viguera, Sierra de Camero Nuevo -
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 land 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 time permits, tomorrow's stage through La Demanda Range 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.
From Nájera to Ezcaray through La Demanda Range
We started the 2nd stage under the old look of the caves / refuge that characterize Nájera.
When the snow still remains on the highest peaks of the Sierra de La Demanda, we chose the track we call "Spring option" which replaces the passage through the San Lorenzo - 2003 meters of altitude - with the Marrulla Pass 500 meters lower.
Spring vineyards between Nájera and San Millán.
A stop on the way before the ascent to La Fonfria, Monastery of San Millán de la Cogolla, too much history for a day like today with so much task ahead.
The Bulls of Pazuengos command respect during our passage through the Fonfria. Better not go over the fence.
Intermediate point of the ascent to Tres Cruces, Collado Artaza already at 1829 meters between the Pancrudos and Cabeza Parda.
Reaching the highest point of the route on La Cuculla hillside, gentle but long slopes.
Highest stretch of FUENTES del VINO MTB. Environment pulling inhospitable in the high part of the La Demanda Range.
Tres Cruces Mountain Pass, 1959 meters of altitude.
When the snow still remains on the highest peaks of La Demanda Range, we chose the track we call "Spring option" and the highest point of the route will be the Marrulla Pass. We will reach it by the route that emerges from the forest and through which the participants of the "Ezcaray BTT Extrem 2018" ascend.
Autumnal textures on the slopes that descend to Zaldierna.
More MTB scenes in the vicinity of Marrulla Pass - Ezcaray BTT Extrem 2018 -
La Demanda Range, MTB in its purest form.
"Red carpet" between the Sagastia Pass and Ezcaray - Ezcaray BTT Extrem 2018 -
More "Red carpet". It will be difficult to find such a sequence of "flow for all audiences" anywhere else in La Rioja.
Today the end of the stage is in Mountain Village. Ezcaray seen from the hermitage of Santa Barbara.
From Ezcaray to Haro through the Obarenes Mountains
Surroundings of Santo Domingo de la Calzada. We leave the Sierra de La Demanda and begin to cross the Oja and Tirón basins between crops and vineyards.
In Cuzcurrita del Río Tirón, the Obarenes Mountains to which we are heading begin to take their identity.
The castle and the village of Sajazarra warn us that we are leaving the basins and that the ascent to the Sierra de Cantabria begins.
Participants of the cycling tour "Hazla del Tiro BTT 2018" under the Montes Obarenes.
Cellorigo, the well-known "Pulpito de La Rioja". As soon as we arrive we will check it.
The Tirón and Cellorigo basins are already behind us, we are already in the Montes Obarenes.
Peak of Peñalrayo, 953 meters of altitude and maximum level of the 3rd stage.
Obarenes "overdose"
The "team" Zoroak on the trails of the Sierra de Cantabria - Hazla del Tirón BTT 2018 -
Mirador de La Rioja, another of the "star" places of FUENTES del VINO MTB.
Characteristic lanscape of the Obarenes Mountains.
In San Felices - the illuminated rock of the photograph - our march through the Sierra ends. We already started looking for the vineyards again, in this case, almost entirely of Bodegas Muga.
Today's stage ends in the city of Haro, the "Capital of Rioja". We will be able to verify it when crossing in our last kilometer of route the famous "Barrio de la Estación" with its impressive accumulation of wineries.
From Haro to Logroño or Albelda de Iregua through the Ebro Basin
We bid farewell to the Montes Obarenes, pedaling from the beginning of the day through the meanders of the Ebro in Briñas.
Obligatory stop at the Castle and fortified village of San Vicente de la Sonsierra.
It is clear, strategic position for the Castle of San Vicente. We back to the vineyard.
The Chozos or Guardaviñas will appear sequentially throughout the stage.
The track runs parallel to the river, sometimes it will be dirt roads or tracks and other small asphalted roads often dotted with agricultural remains, stones and mud left by tractors.
Spectacular and unique Chozo of the vineyard "La Veguilla".
Many points of "obligatory stop" in this 4th stage, Bodegas Marqués de Riscal in Elciego. Behind, Laguardia.
Finca Viña Lanciano from Bodegas LAN at the end of autumn. Located in an impressive meander of the Ebro, it is one of the most unique vineyards of the Rioja Denomination.
The same place a few months later.
In the vicinity of Logroño the Ebro is still a lonely river.
Surroundings of El Cortijo, last kilometers of FUENTES del VINO MTB.
Circular Cameros Range - 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.
Circular Cantabria Range - Toloño Tour
First autumn snows in La Demanda Range.
Scenes from the Atlantic-Mediterranean divide in the Iberian System. Long succession of fast tracks in the mountain range of La Demanda. It will be the usual if we choose any of the more geographical route options in this stage F.
In the vicinity of the Port of Pradilla, territory of the demanding alternative "Integral Valdezcaray"
"Flow" on the slopes of Cerro La Puerca.
MTB scenes in the vicinity of Marrulla Pass. - Ezcaray BTT Extrem 2018 -
Spectacular chain of bikers on the slopes of Cerro Mingaña. - Ezcaray BTT Extrem 2018 -
A regular meeting in the mountains. Harmless as long as they are not bulls. - Ezcaray BTT Extrem 2018 -
Line of descent on the slope of Cerro Mingaña towards the Sagastia Pass.
"Singletrack" between Sagastia pass and Ezcaray - Ezcaray BTT Extrem 2018 -
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
- Lodging for stages with start in EZCARAY
- Lodging for stages with start in HARO
- Lodging for stages with start in LOGROÑO
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
Hotel Palacio de Azcárate
Hotel Arrope
Our PUNTO BIKE in Haro is this 3-star hotel located in the Center of the "Capital of Rioja".
Comfortable, cozy and dedicated to cycling. The choice is obvious.
Hotel FG Logroño
We have chosen this hotel located on the banks of the Ebro for our days in Logroño. In addition to its unbeatable location, their quality is unquestionable, we are talking about a four star service "camouflaged" in one of three.
To the usual services of a hotel of these features we add that we have free access to the relaxation of the hotel zone, which consists of a jacuzzi, sauna and gym.
All rates with starting and ending point of the route at Hotel-Bodega La Casa del Cofrade - Albelda de Iregua
FUENTES del VINO MTB
4 Stages / 4 Nights
586 €
Price per person for groups of 6 or more people
639 €
Price per person for groups of 5 people
618 €
Price per person for groups of 4 people
710 €
Price per person for groups of 3 people
706 €
Price per person for groups of 2 people
Single room supplement: + 204 €
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 MTB
5 Stages / 5 Nights
4 point to point stages and 1 circular to choose from
729 €
Price per person for groups of 6 or more people
789 €
Price per person for groups of 5 people
756 €
Price per person for groups of 4 people
866 €
Price per person for groups of 3 people
839 €
Price per person for groups of 2 people
Single room supplement: + 255 €
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 TOTAL
6 Stages / 6 Nights
4 point to point stages and 2 circular
910 €
Price per person for groups of 6 or more people
988 €
Price per person for groups of 5 people
950 €
Price per person for groups of 4 people
1.085 €
Price per person for groups of 3 people
1.040 €
Price per person for groups of 2 people
Single room supplement: + 304 €
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
And you can add a Night with Breakfast at the end of the route -in the same hotel where you started it- for 56 € per person in a double room or for 116 € in a 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. - To replace the night before the start of the route per night at the end of the route
- 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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