Balerdi (1,195 m), also called Mallozarra, is a mountain of the Aralar

massif A massif () is a principal mountain mass, such as a compact portion of a mountain range, containing one or more summits (e.g. France's Massif Central). In mountaineering literature, ''massif'' is frequently used to denote the main mass of an ...

closing the mountain range at its northern end as well as standing last in the imposing ridge-line called the ''Malloak'' (a term used by locals to refer to them, translating roughly as 'jagged ridge') looming over the valley ''Araitz''. It lies on the border between

Gipuzkoa Gipuzkoa ( , ; ; ) is a province of Spain and a historical territory of the autonomous community of the Basque Country. Its capital city is Donostia-San Sebastián. Gipuzkoa shares borders with the French department of Pyrénées-Atlantiqu ...

and

Navarre Navarre ( ; ; ), officially the Chartered Community of Navarre, is a landlocked foral autonomous community and province in northern Spain, bordering the Basque Autonomous Community, La Rioja, and Aragon in Spain and New Aquitaine in France. ...

as most of Aralar forms the border between both Spanish provinces. Despite its descending shape from the higher mount Artubi, the summit is popular with locals and hikers for its characteristic outline of

limestone Limestone is a type of carbonate rock, carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material Lime (material), lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different Polymorphism (materials science) ...

walls and the tricky access to the summit at the end of a narrow rocky stretch with cliffs on either side. As a result, there have been many fatal accidents. The main access points are in the villages at the foot of the mountain, i.e. ''Gaintza'' (388 m) and ''Azkarate'' (460 m) on the

se side. The trail rises west in a zigzag to the pass of ''Astunalde'' (1203 m), the ascent being steep. It takes no more than to 2 hours on foot. Another approach starts in the

n town of Amezketa and leads through the highland valley of the quarries (''Minak''). It takes 2.5 hours to reach the top of Balerdi from there and the paths are signposted clearly all along.

External links

Summitpost: Azkarate-Urdilleko lepoa trail description

Mendikat: Ascent to Balerdi
Site in Spanish Basque Mountains Mountains of Navarre {{basqueCountry-geo-stub