From Arguedas to the Desert Playground
- Agata ziemecka
- 4 hours ago
- 3 min read
If you ever wanted to know what it feels like to ride your bike on another planet, congratulations — Bardenas Reales is probably the closest you’ll get without NASA clearance. Bardenas Reales feels like another planet — but still very much part of Spain.
Tap the pic, let Strava do the guiding
We start in Arguedas, and no — it’s not just a random village. Sitting right at the edge of Navarra’s semi-desert, Arguedas has its own quiet charm, including Cueva de los Cien Pozos, a network of man-made cave tunnels once used for storage and shelter. It’s the kind of place where you stop for a quick coffee, lean your bike against a stone wall, and already feel the first hints of the desert rising in the distance.
A Quick Warm-Up Gravel Section
Before the real lunar landscape begins, there’s a short but very scenic gravel section just outside Arguedas. It's one of those places where you tell yourself: “Let’s just spin the legs a bit,” and 10 minutes later you’re stopping every 30 seconds because the views are stupidly beautiful. Rolling beige hills, interrupted only by small clusters of bushes and the crunch of gravel under your tyres—honestly, skipping this part should be considered a cycling crime.
Into the Badlands
After the gravel section, we ride roughly 12 km of smooth tarmac, and the scenery shifts dramatically as you enter the Bardenas Reales Natural Park, a 42,000-hectare UNESCO Biosphere Reserve sculpted by wind, water and centuries of erosion. It’s a place of clay, chalk and sandstone towers that look painted rather than formed, and it’s no surprise filmmakers keep coming back — including the crew of Game of Thrones. This is Spain, technically, but it doesn’t behave like it. The park includes distinct areas like La Bardena Blanca, Bardena Negra and El Plano, each with its own terrain and feel.
The riding itself is a treat: about 40 km of gravel, fast hardpack, long straight lines, playful rollers and wide-open panoramas that make you glance down at your tyres just to confirm you’re still on Earth. The colour palette shifts constantly — beige, gold, soft pink, dusty grey — as if the entire landscape was designed for cyclists who appreciate solitude and a touch of cinematic drama.
The Ride Experience
Wide horizons, strange silence, geological shapes that feel ancient and alive at the same time. If you're looking for a route that feels like stepping off the edge of a map, start in Arguedas, point your front wheel toward the semi-desert, and let the landscape do the rest.
This loop is not just another gravel ride — it’s one of the few where the landscape steals the spotlight. From beige badlands and sculpted ridges to silence that feels like sound, this section of Navarre is unforgettable.
From Arguedas to the Desert Playground
Distance: 65 km
Elev Gain: 635 m
Time: 3.00 h
Type: Semi gravel (but mostly gravel)
Strava link: https://www.strava.com/routes/3423994681872369054
Important Info — Before You Ride
Before entering Bardenas Reales, it’s worth stopping at the Visitor Centre, located about 6 km from Arguedas on the NA-8712 road. This is where you can pick up a detailed map of the park, get updates on trail conditions, and ask about any temporary restrictions. The staff are used to cyclists and will happily point out which areas are best for gravel riding on a given day. Bardenas Reales is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, which means the landscape is protected and there are a few rules to keep in mind:
ride only on marked and permitted tracks,
wild camping, fires and off-track riding are not allowed,
access is free.
And one more thing: Bardenas borders an active military training zone, which is why you may hear — and see — fighter jets overhead. It’s normal, part of the character of the place, and nothing to worry about.
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