Natural wonders in the natural parks of Bilbao Bizkaia.

Gorbeia Natural Park, the summit of biodiversity

Between Bizkaia and Alava lies the Gorbeia Natural Park with the Gorbeia mountain as its summit at an altitude of 1,418 metres, where you can find the famous Gorbeia Cross, 18 metres high.

From the climb to the summit, to the simpler trails such as a visit to the Gujuli waterfall, this natural park offers an ideal experience for both family and solo visitors.

Emphasizing the significance of the Itxina Protected Biotope within the park, spanning over 450 hectares, it serves as an exemplary illustration of a karst formation.

The undisputed star of this park is its majestic beech forest, a dense and luxuriant forest that stretches across vast expanses. The well-marked trails offer visitors the opportunity to immerse themselves in a green world, where sunlight filters through the leaves of the trees, creating a magical play of shadows.

The biodiversity in Gorbeia is surprising, with a variety of species of flora and fauna that find their home in this ecosystem. In addition to the imposing beech forests, the park is home to a rich diversity of birds, mammals and endemic flora.

Historically, Gorbeia has been the setting for a multitude of stories from Basque mythology with lamias, witches and gentiles as protagonists.

Urkiola Natural Park, where history merges with nature

Urkiola, a natural park of singular beauty, perfectly combines historical and cultural richness with the majesty of its beech forests. The Urkiola forests, with their centuries-old trees, offer an impressive visual spectacle in every season of the year. In spring, green budding trees colour the landscape, in summer the leafy canopy provides shade and coolness, in autumn warm hues paint the ground and in winter, snow blankets the trees, creating a fairytale scene.

In addition to its natural beauty, Urkiola is also known for its historical and spiritual value. In the foothills of its mountains are hermitages and places of pilgrimage that have attracted visitors for centuries. The Sanctuary of Urkiola, at the top of the mountain, offers breathtaking panoramic views and is a place of peace and contemplation.

Armañón Natural Park, geological treasures and imposing forests

The Natural Park of Armañón is located in the western end of Bizkaia, on the border with Cantabria, within the landscape of Las Encartaciones.

It is a geological paradise with beech forests on the slopes and in the valleys. The diversity of landscapes in this park is impressive, from steep cliffs to gentle forest-covered hills. The beech forests of Armañón intertwine with ancient rock formations, creating a unique visual harmony.

The Park has more than 200 caves and fissures with a unique value. Among them is the singular Pozalagua Cave, popular for its spectacular formations such as its eccentric stalactites.

The park is also home to a variety of wildlife, including different species of all kinds, such as the blonde- and black-faced Karrantza sheep.

To explore the natural parks of Bilbao Bizkaia is to enter a world where the beech forests become the backdrop to a unique experience. Whether walking the trails of Gorbeia, marvelling at the fusion of history and nature in Urkiola, or exploring the geological treasures of Armañón, each park offers a different perspective on the natural beauty of Bizkaia.