How to hike el Salto del Nervión? Explore Spain’s tallest waterfall! [3 hikes]

Find out all you need to know to hike El Salto del Nervión and discover its 222mts waterfall!

Waterfalls are cool, and always on my list of things to visit when I travel or hike. When I moved to the Basque Country back in 2020, I had no clue that Spain’s tallest waterfall, El Salto del Nervión was just at the border between Burgos and the Basque Country. After visiting it many times and hiking different routes, I can say without any doubt that this is one of the MUST VISIT SPOTS for all nature lovers visiting the Basque Country.

Nonetheless, there is not a lot of information online about Nervión waterfall and the possible hikes in the area. Moreover, weather conditions play a key role, and will greatly influence your visit. If you are interested in visiting El Salto del Nervión, keep reading!

Where is El Salto del Nervión?

El Salto del Nervión is a massive waterfall located just at the border between Burgos (capital city of Castilla y León) and the Basque Country, in an amazing canyon named Delika canyon. The waterfall and the river are in Basque territory, however, for one of the three proposed hikes, you will need to leave the Basque Country and ride the Castilla y León roads.

What is the best time to visit Nervión Waterfall?

This is the trickiest question when it comes to visiting El Salto del Nervión. Unlike other waterfalls in the area, this waterfall is usually dry. It is only at the peak of autumn and spring when the waterfall is usually flowing.

But wait, don’t leave this page! You don’t need to wait until November or April to get the amazing view of the Delika canyon and the Nervi´ón waterfall. The Basque Country is known for being one of the rainiest areas of Spain, together with Galicia. After a huge storm or a few rainy days, no matter the season, the Nervión waterfall is flowing, and it is the best time to hike it!

Thus, the weather forecast is key. If you are visiting during the rainy season, Autumn or Spring, don’t worry. Your chances of getting a glimpse of the Nervión waterfall are very high. During winter, although the conditions are a bit harsher (snow and ice everywhere), with a bit of luck the waterfall will be there.

For those visiting during summer, keep one eye on the weather forecast. Look for a storm or a couple of rainy days, and for a few hours, Spain’s tallest waterfall will be flowing.

When not to visit El Salto del Nervión

There are a couple of moments when hiking to the Salto del Nervión is not worth it. Despite the breathtaking canyon views, if you are looking for the waterfall, keep these two situations in your mind:

• Dry summer week: if you are visiting Spain or the Basque Country during summer, you will notice that temperatures are quite high. If you have been checking the weather in the Nervión area for a week and there has been no rain, I can promise there will be no waterfall.
• Fog and mist: it might seem quite obvious, but when there is fog and mist, it is impossible to see the waterfall, the canyon and any of the beautiful views of the area.

3 hikes to explore El Salto del Nervión

There are three main ways to witness the waterfall: from the left side of the canyon, from the right side of the canyon, and from below, walking through the canyon.

• The hike from the left side of the canyon is the easy one, recommended for those that want to see the Nervión waterfall without a long hike.

• The hike from the right side of the canyon is the most beautiful one. It goes from the bottom of the canyon to the waterfall following the ridge, with amazing views of the waterfall and the valley.

It is possible to mix both hikes, going from one side of the canyon to the other one. However, this will only be possible if there isn’t a lot of water. Otherwise, crossing the river will be impossible (and quite dangerous).

• The third hike, the one that goes through the canyon, despite being very beautiful comes with some degree of difficulty. If the waterfall is at its best, it will be almost impossible to reach the massive waterfall at the end of the valley.

Keep reading for a detailed overview, tracks, and tips of each hike to the Nervión waterfall!

Hike 1: Nervión Waterfall from Monte Santiago

This is a short hike that can be extended depending on how much you want to walk. It leads to the official viewpoint of El Salto del Nervión. It is also the most famous and well-known route to the waterfall.

How to get to Monte Santiago

Getting to Monte Santiago has no secrets. If you are driving from nearby cities like Bilbao or Vitoria-Gasteiz, a scenic road with many u-turns will guide you to the gates of Monte Santiago.

Once there, you have three options:

• Leave your car by the road (1st parking lot) and walk all the way to the viewpoint. I don’t recommend this option, as most of the road is shared with cars that are going to the other parking lots.
• Drive to the second parking lot. This is a good option during busy months, when there are plenty of cars, and there are no empty spaces at the third parking lot.
• Drive to the third parking lot. Of course, the best option for those that want to get as fast as possible to the waterfall.

No matter your choice, at some point, you will make it to the third parking lot, where the route towards the viewpoint starts

The route

From the third parking lot of Monte Santiago, this short hike to the Nervión waterfall viewpoint starts. However, there is more than one possible route:

• The easy one: follow the road at the right side of the parking lot. In less than 20-30 minutes you will be at the viewpoint. Track here.
• The long one: from the parking lot, follow the signs to the “Mirador de la esquina de Rubén”. This viewpoint has a fantastic view of the canyon. From there, follow the ridge towards the waterfall, and you will eventually make it to the official viewpoint. Take the road back to the parking. This is a 7,5km route, track here.
• The different one: instead of following the road, find the trail that crosses the forest. This beautiful beech reaches its peak during the autumn season. For the section of forest, check this track.

Once at the viewpoint, if the river does not carry enough water, you can cross it and get to the viewpoints from the other side. For more information about this route, check hike 2.

Pros and cons

This is without any doubt the fastest way to get to el Salto del Nervión. Moreover, it is easy to park the car, and none of the routes involve any technical difficulty.

However, it is also the most well-known hike. This means that it can get a bit crowded, especially during the summer season. Despite the waterfall being waterless, people still walk to the viewpoint, as the canyon views are well worth it.

Finally, from my point of view, this is not the best viewpoint of the Nervión waterfall. Nonetheless, this is a pleasant hike, with beautiful scenery and easy access.

Hike 2: Nervión Waterfall from Unzá

This beautiful hike connects the small village of Unzá with the Nervi´on waterfall. With a 200mts elevation gain and about 11km, it is a fantastic morning hike with the best possible views over the canyon and the waterfall.

How to get to Unzá

Unzá is a small village of the Araba region, within the Basque Country. Getting there has no secret, and Google Maps does a fantastic job. However, the starting point of the route is not as easy to find.

Some people choose to start from the village itself, but it is possible to save a couple of hundred meters by crossing the village and reaching a parking lot by the road. Note that no unauthorized vehicles are allowed after the parking and that driving further away might end up in a huge fine. This is the location of the last legal parking spot.

The route

It is almost impossible to get lost on this route. Follow the road that goes up to the mountain, and whenever you find a bifurcation, choose the path at your right. At some point, you will see the fence that protects you (and livestock) from falling to the canyon.

Follow it and try not to stop every 5 minutes to take a photo of the views, as they are truly breathtaking. It is possible to find cows and horses on the way, just don’t get too close and it will be okay.

Eventually, you will make it to the waterfall itself. Just like in the first hike, consider crossing the river if there is not a lot of water. This way you can get to the official viewpoint and compare the views from both sides of the canyon.

Pros and cons

This is my favorite hike in the Nervión waterfall area. Despite the crazy views that can be seen in the third route, the difficulty of the path and the technical requirements make me choose this one as the best.

Despite being easy to follow, it is not as busy as the first option, and 11km feels like a perfect distance for a morning hike. The only drawback will be if you happen to hike it in foggy weather. The other routes have other attractions besides the view over the waterfall. However, this one, without the views over the canyon has not much to offer.

Remember to always check the weather forecast before visiting el Salto del Nervión!

Hike 3: Nervión waterfall from below (Délika)

For those looking for a different view and a more challenging adventure, it is possible to reach the end of the Délika canyon, where the Nervión waterfall is. A unique experience that comes with many challenges.

How to get to Délika

Finding the trail that connects Délika and the waterfall is quite easy. Most people leave their car at the Restaurante El Inferno parking. To get there cross the small village of Délika. This is the exact location of the parking lot.

The route

The real challenge starts almost at the beginning of the hike. The weather conditions will greatly affect your experience in this route. If the waterfall is at its peak, it will be almost impossible to reach the end of the route. However, if there isn’t a lot of water, it is a more feasible hike.

Nonetheless, the highlight of this route is at the end. Despite some nice waterfalls, the views of the canyon are not as impressive as the ones you see during the other two routes. At the end of the hike, there is a set of waterfalls created by the main Nervión waterfall, a really unique view.

Reaching this final point is extremely difficult when the waterfall is active. The hike requires crossing the river many times (there are NO bridges), and the water flow can be very strong after storms or rainy days. When the waterfall is not active, though, the final point loses almost all its interest.

The route itself is very easy to follow, and it is almost impossible to get lost.

Pros and cons

The main con of this route is that if the waterfall is active, it is quite difficult to hike, and if the waterfall is not active, the view at the end is not as impressive. However, it is a nice hike, and a different way to discover the Délika canyon and the Nervión waterfall.

These are three routes to explore Spain’s tallest waterfall. No matter which one you choose, it is a place worth visiting, especially in the right weather conditions. Find more photos and travel content on Instagram (@aniolvisuals). For any professional inquiries, feel free to reach out at hello@aniolvisuals.com.