Ezcaray: Valley Trails and Local History

Ezcaray combines trails through the valley with varied landscapes and buildings from different eras. During your stay, you can enjoy nature and culture together: the municipality is home to a range of woodland and meadow habitats, while the town centre is characterised by arcades and well-preserved architecture. The trails also vary in route, distance and difficulty—a helpful starting point for planning your day around your own interests.

Nature and Trails in the Valley

The municipality includes beech, pine and oak forests, as well as meadows where numerous species of mushroom grow. The flora along local walking paths and routes is diverse, including fruit trees, poplars and alders, as well as beech and pine trees. If you plan to pick mushrooms, observe the regional regulations that apply.

Seven short, marked hiking trails run through the valley. Their routes, distances and difficulty levels vary. Compare these details when choosing a trail so it suits what you’re looking for in a day’s hiking. The GR-93 (Sierras Riojanas) and GR-190 (Altos Valles Ibéricos) also pass through Ezcaray.

The route and endpoints of the Camino de la Herradura are clearly defined: it starts in Ezcaray, runs through the Oja Valley and ends in Posadas. The trail is considered easy and is more than ten kilometres long each way. Ezcaray also has numerous mountain biking trails, paths and descents. The Vía Verde del Oja offers another way to experience the landscape: the former railway line ran from Ezcaray to Haro; the section from Ezcaray to Casalarreina has been developed as a Vía Verde. The Ruta Verde del Ciloria connects Ezcaray with Zorraquín and Valgañón and has rest areas.

Buildings and History

The town centre features well-preserved architecture and covered arcades. Ezcaray also retains a network of old streets lined with palaces bearing coats of arms and manor houses. Two religious buildings add their own historical significance. The Church of Santa María la Mayor dates from the 12th to 14th centuries and is listed as a historic-artistic monument. Its style is considered unique in La Rioja: it features Aragonese Gothic architecture.

The Ermita de la Virgen de Allende houses a 14th-century Gothic image of the Virgen de Allende, the city’s patron saint. The Real Fábrica de Santa Bárbara, founded in 1752, is part of the area’s industrial history. These buildings and stories add another perspective on Ezcaray alongside its nature trails, giving your stay a cultural focus in addition to hiking or cycling.

Events and Local Information

Jazz festivals are held in Ezcaray. If a festival is important to your trip, check in advance whether an event has been announced for your chosen dates. For tourist, cultural and gastronomic information about Ezcaray and La Rioja, you can contact the municipal tourist information office; its opening hours may change.

You can shape your stay around your own priorities: explore marked valley trails by distance and difficulty, get to know the named routes, or set aside time for the townscape and architectural history. Nature, trails and architecture are distinct yet easily combined aspects of Ezcaray.

Discover more destinations: Ausejo, Enciso, Nalda, Alcanadre, Arrúbal, Treviana, Cervera Del Río Alhama, Sajazarra

For the regional travel overview: La Rioja.