GR-93   "SIERRAS DE LA RIOJA"

A hill walking to go over 6 stages of the GR-93 "Sierras de La Rioja" during one week, in the mountains, small villages and hamlets of the Sierra de la Demanda, High Valley of the Najerilla, the Siete Villas and Cameros, with outing and return in Ezcaray (at the foot of the ski resort of Valdezcaray). It deals with a 116 kilometres long path -72.5 miles-, in mid mountain, 19 kilometres ­12 miles- per stage on average and between 5 and 6 hours of walking, with an average high ground of about 600 metres, of moderate difficulty and within reach of people without specific training. The altitude of the highest height reaches near of 1,700 metres. This hill walking can be realized all along the year, but some difficulties can appear in some parts of the path because of the snow. We recommend to do it between march and novembre. The number of people who can do this route is limited because of the capacity of some of the refuges: between 1 and 12 places. Not only is the route interesting for the diversity of the woods, landscapes and exceptional views, but it also offers to go across 14 small villages situated between the valleys of the rivers Oja, Najerilla and Iregua. Villages with very few inhabitants and very attractive places of historical interest, and cultural traditions: the monasteries of San Millan and Valvanera, the dancers on stilts from Anguiano, the caverns of Ortigosa de Cameros, the seasonal moving to new pastures by the glen of the "Siete Villas" and the textile craftsmanship of Ezcaray. The first three stages, from EZCARAY to ORTIGOSA DE CAMEROS, are included into the main route of the GR-93, which then continues in the Rioja mountains to Cornago. The other three stages, from ORTIGOSA DE CAMEROS to EZCARAY, correspond to the path 93.1, which permits to come near to the highest mountains of La Rioja: Sierras de la Demanda, Irbión and Cebollera, more than 2,000 metres high.

The Stages

1st day: Arrival at Ezcaray - General information - Delivering of the vouchers of services - Accomodation, dinner and breakfast

2nd day: Ezcaray - San Millán de la Cogolla

Distance: 17 km Time: 4.5 hours - Villages: Ezcaray, Turza, Pazuengos, Lugar del Río, San Millán de la Cogolla - Mixed forest, beech, oak trees - Transport of the luggage - Accomodation, dinner and breakfast

3rd day: San Millán - Anguiano

Distance: 22 km Time: 5.50 hours - Villages: San Millán de la Cogolla, Tobia, Matute, Anguiano - Pine, beech, oak trees - Transport of the luggage - Accomodation, dinner and breakfast

4th day: Anguino - Ortigosa de Cameros

Distance: 17.9 km Time: 5.50 hours - Villages: Anguiano, Nieva de Cameros, El Rasillo, Ortigosa de Cameros - Beech, oak trees - Transport of the luggage - Accomodation, dinner and breakfast

5th day: Ortigosa de Cameros - Viniegra de Abajo

Distance: 19.5 km Time: 5.30 hours - Villages: Ortigosa de Cameros, Brieva de Cameros, Ventrosa de La Sierra, Viniegra de Abajo - Beech, pine, kerme, oak trees - Transport of the luggage - Accomodation, dinner and breakfast

6th day: Viniegra de Abajo - Monasterio de Valvanera

Distance: 16,6 km Time: 4.30 hours - Villages: Viniegra de Abajo, Venta de Goyo, Monastery de Valvanera - Pine, kerme, oak trees - Transport of the luggage - Accomodation, dinner and breakfast

7th day: Monasterio de Valvanera - Ezcaray

Distance: 23.3 km Time: 6.40 hours - Villages: Monastery de Valvanera, Ezcaray - Pine, beeche, kerme, oak trees - Transport of the luggage - Accomodation, dinner and breakfast

8th day: Salida de Ezcaray - Breakfast - End of the programme

NOT TO GET LOST