AIAKO HARRIA: IRUGURUTZETA FURNACES / AITZONDO WATERFALL / MEAKA RURAL ENVIRONMENT

Irugurutzeta furnaces/ Aitzondo waterfall/ Meaka Rural environment
The starting point is the car park of Ibarla, opposite a recreational area. The trail begins at this point and follows the white and green marks all the way. From the car park we cross the stream through a small bridge and arrive at the old mining railway; today it's a pedestrian-cyclist path. We walk upstream along this path for a while. The trail passes by the Ola forge, the fish farm where the Gipuzkoa Provincial Council raises salmon for the restocking of rivers, and a hydroelectric power station. The Irugurutzeta furnaces are just ahead. Once at the furnaces, we follow the white and green marks towards Aitzondoko ur jauzia (Aitzondo waterfall). From here we can access another section of the mining railway that connects the waterfall and the furnaces by means of two inclined planes. After a climb up the first inclined plane, which is undoubtedly demanding but not insurmountable, we'll walk on a flat section of the old railway. Here we see the remains of the mining works, mainly iron ore, which were active until the beginning of the 20th century. The landscape closes up to form a ravine with steep slopes. After crossing a small bridge, we reach the second inclined plane, made of steps. After this second climb we get to a wide track. From this point, we can reach the base of the Aitzondo waterfall. To do so, we need to follow the track to the left and pass by the ruins of an old mining shack located next to a closed mine entrance. This section requires caution as the path is steep and can be slippery.
Following the marked trail, after the last inclined plane, we turn right along the track. This dirt track leads to a concrete road that will take us downhill. Without deviating from this road, we will reach the Ola cider farm. From here we return by the pedestrian-cyclist path to the starting point in Ibarla car park.