Hiking in the Bardenas Reales: the 3 official trails

The three trails the park publishes

The list comes from the “Rutas a pie” section of the park app; distances and times from Visit Navarra, which gives El Fraile as “almost 6 km” in one place and 5 km in another. Vive Bardenas did not time them. Official GPX and KML tracks download from the park app.

Castildetierra and the Barranco de las Cortinas

This is the walk that fits almost any visit: short, flat and in the area most people come to see. It pairs with the roughly 25 km track from Arguedas that Visit Navarra describes, and works with children on a day that is not too hot.

You look at Castildetierra from below: climbing is banned throughout the park. What the cabezo is: Castildetierra guide.

El Fraile, in the Bardena Negra

Visit Navarra describes it as a climb to the cabezo del Fraile past the remains of a medieval fortification, easy to moderate. It is a different scale from the Castildetierra walk: bring water and a hat, and leave margin to exit one hour before nightfall (leaving time date by date).

The Bardena Negra is reached via Fustiñana or Ejea; read about the South Gate before choosing your access.

Walking rules and the bird reserve

• You may walk on the trail network and on the park’s tracks and paths (ordinance, art. 25). Never in the military zone.
• Hours: 8 a.m. to one hour before nightfall.
• Dogs identified and on a lead of 3 m maximum.
• Banned: camping, sleeping outdoors, recreational drones, fires and climbing.

Since 16 September 2026 walkers can again reach La Ralla, Rallón, Pisquerra, La Gorra and Balsa de Zapata, inside the “El Plano – Blanca Alta” ZEPA bird reserve. The park notice allows only the paths authorised in the PORN plan, “never paths or trails” beyond them, and bans bikes, horses and vehicles there.