Descent La Rhune 5.3 km

The easy way: ascent with la Petit Train de la Rhune, and descent on foot. The visit to the summit of La Rhune (905 m) with excellent views across the western Pyrenees, the Basque coastline and foothills is really worth it. The descent is about 1h45m. The ascent by train takes about 35 minutes, including a short wait for the descending train at the intermediate station. In summer it is highly recommended to make a reservation for the train, see the website https://www.rhune.com/en/. Leaflets with the hiking route for ascent/descent are available for free in the station (and on the website). There is a restaurant at the summit, on the Spanish side, which has a great view, including passing griffon vultures. Other restaurants can be found around the station Saint Ignace (~180 m) at the start of the train. There are no facilities on the way. There is parking at Saint Ignace, but this can fill up on a busy summer day: start early.
After arriving at the summit station you first take a look around the summit with the communication tower, the Larruna restaurant at the Spanish side, the excellent views, an Obelisque, and circling vultures. You then descend back to the station, cross the railroad and start the descent. The path first more or less follows the railroad, and you then steeply descend on open terrain with grass, rocks and ferns and the typical horses of the area: Pottoks. The path serpentines its way down, but I regularly cut the turns short. After about half a kilometer you enter the forest and leave it near a kind of saddle point with open wetland. You cross a stream and then take a path around and below the Altsanga ridge. At the end of the ridge you get to the ruins of Koralhandia fort (large enclosure in Basque). After having taken a look you descend further along the valley of a small stream opposite the railway tracks. The path descends steeply via steps and a straight path along a conifer forest. When you leave the forest, views open up of the foothills. The path takes you through an area with ferns to another more natural forest along the stream. You pass the stream and continue down until you pass the railroad to the garages for the railcars. A little further you end up at Saint Ignace station.