If there is a place in the Bardenas Reales de Navarra that is the Balcón de Pilatos. A location that will not disappoint any of its visitors because of the great desert landscape that can be seen there.
This week we propose a bike route to this magnificent place. It is a route with some sections a little demanding, so we recommend it for people who have some habit to take the bike. Not suitable for children.
The complete route (round trip) can be done in about 3 hours approximately, going at a moderate pace.
If you have thought about staying at our hotel we explain how to get there from here.
How to get to the Balcón de Pilatos from our hotel
The first thing to do is to go to the Ebro bridge (direction Pamplona). Once you have crossed the bridge you will have to take the path on the right side of the bridge, between the paper factory and the river bed. You will reach a fork in the road, this is the time to take the one that goes to the left.
You will soon reach the road that goes from Tudela to Cabanillas, you must cross it and continue along the path that will be right in front of the previous one.
This new path will take you to the road that goes from Tudela to Ejea de los Caballeros. During this stretch you will find three detours that you must take, the first one is a little confusing because it gives the feeling that the road is lost, but if you look a little further away you will see that it takes its shape. The second detour is another fork, in this case you will have to take the left direction. The third fork is also to the left.
At the end of this path you will reach the road. Here you have 2 options, we can continue by road or go down a path that runs parallel to this almost entirely. If you choose to take the road you can do it right at the end of the guardrail. At kilometer 6.5 of the road, just on the left side, you will find the entrance to the path.
The initial stretch is the most demanding of the entire route, an ascent of about one kilometer. Once you overcome it, the rest of the way will be smoother and you can begin to enjoy the characteristic landscape of the Bardenas Reales.
A reference point to know that you are on the right path is that you will find a huge white painted stone on which you can read "Valdecruz", a private property. Follow the path and you will come to another fork where you will have to take the path to the left. Take the opportunity to observe the landscape of the so-called Bardena Negra.
You will reach a kind of crossroads, take the one on the left again. There is less time left to reach your destination. You will reach another landmark that will let you know that you are on the right path. A ruined hut. If you look to the horizon you will see the climb to the Balcón de Pilatos. Take the detour you will see on the left and a little further on go left again.
At the end of the path, go up the ramp and you will have arrived. A spectacular site where you can see a large area of what is called the Bardena Blanca.