Monte Oiz (Munitibar)

Start Town Altitude Elevation Gain Length Gradient Difficulty Rating
Munitibar 1,019m 832m 8.8 km 9.4% 1,422 ****






Monte Oiz - Munitibar - Cycling Profile

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Climb Description

Monte Oiz is one of the most important and celebrated mountains in Basque culture. It is one of the five Deiadar-Mendiak - visible summits from which messages were sent, summoning members of the local government to meetings. The messages were sent by fire or by a traditional Basque horn. More recently, in 1985, Monte Oiz was the scene of a plane crash, after a flight from Madrid to Bilbao hit the radar tower at the top of the climb in thick cloud.

From a cycling point of view, Monte Oiz is an excellent climb to ride. The climb from Munitibar follows a delightful narrow road for a few kilometres, before joining up with the main ascent from Gernika.

The scenery is pleasant throughout, but becomes really spectacular towards the top of the climb, with stunning views all along the coastline. The upper section is extremely challenging, and the last 500m before you reach a small plateau by the wind turbines is one of the toughest stretches of climb that you will ever do on a road bike. However, it is worth peservering here, even if you have to walk, in order to get above the tree line and enjoy the amazing scenery in the last 2km.

Monte Oiz is open throughout the year depending on the weather; it can close in winter for short periods following heavy snowfall.

To see more of Monte Oiz, check out our video of the climb.


Monte Oiz from Munitibar - Basque Cycling Climb

The top part climbs through impressive open scenery






Roads & Traffic

The road during the first 4km is very narrow but is in good condition. The last 5km are on a corrugated concrete road surface. This used to be quite rough, but prior to the climb being tackled in the 2018 Vuelta a España, the worst bits were all re-surfaced, and it is now fine for riding on a road bike.

There is little traffic throughout the climb.


Monte Oiz from Munitibar Forest

The climb begins along a narrow road through the forest.






Alternative Routes

Monte Oiz can also be climbed from Iurreta and Gernika.





Nearby Climbs


Arrate

Karabieta

Ixua

Asentzio

Elosua

Urkarregi

Azurki

Gontzegaraigane

Puerto de Urkiola

Kurtzeta

Untzella

Santa Eufemia

Kanpazar






Cycling Holidays

Monte Oiz is climbed from Gernika as far as the Balcón de Bizkaia (the easy part!) on our Basque Country Coast and Bilbao to San Sebastian

The full climb is tackled on our more challenging Basque Mountains tour.

In the links below you can find out more about these and other similar tours that we run in the region.




Monte Igeldo - Munitibar
Basque Flag Spanish FlagSpain

Self-Guided Cycling Holiday
Length: 7 Days
Level: Difficulty Easy to Medium
Price: from €1,390 EUR
*Bike Hire Included

Basque Coast Beach
Basque Flag Spanish FlagSpain


Guided Cycling Holiday
Length: 7 Days
Level: Difficulty Easy to Medium
Price: €1,760 EUR
*Bike Hire Included

Basque Mountains
Basque Flag Spanish FlagSpain

Self-Guided Cycling Holiday
Length: 7 Days
Level: Difficulty Easy to Medium
Price: from €1,480 EUR