Salto del Nervión is the highest waterfall in Spain and in the whole of the Iberian Peninsula, with a fall of 222 metres. It runs along the first few kilometres of the river Nervión which, at its mouth, forms the Bilbao estuary, 75 kilometres further on.
The watercourse is formed by the confluence of the Ajiturri, Iturrigutxi and Urita streams, which form the river Delika a few dozen metres before it jumps into the void through the Delika gorge, and called the river Nervión some kilometres further downstream.
- When to visit the Salto del Nervión waterfall
- How to get to the Salto del Nervión waterfall
- Hiking trails in the area
- Things to see nearby
The karst terrain is one of the main characteristics of Salto del Nervión’s orography, where the water also filters through the rocks and in summer the waterfall may have no flow at all.
The natural site in which the waterfall is located is called Sierra Salvada (or Sierra Gorobel in Basque), a spectacular mountain range that stretches between the provinces of Álava and Burgos, reaching peaks of more than 1,100 metres in altitude, creating impressive landscapes in the form of a natural wall or balcony.
When to visit the Salto del Nervión waterfall
As we stated earlier, Salto del Nervión does not always have water. In the summer months, the waterfall is dry or has a thin trickle of water since the small flow of the river filters and circulates between the karst rocks and returns to the surface at the base of the waterfall.
However, visiting Salto del Nervión in winter, in the rainy or snow-melting season, is a true natural wonder. The waterfall reaches its maximum splendour and does not disappoint anyone.
Remember to check the weather forecasts or recent photos on social media to know the status of the waterfall’s flow before your trip, so that you can be sure that there is enough water.
Whether it has water or not, Salto del Nervión is worth the effort, although it may seem a little dull without the water falling.
How to get to the Salto del Nervión waterfall
You can visit Salto del Nervión from different areas. The main one is the waterfall’s viewpoint, which allows you to see the waterfall in all its splendour. It can be reached by several local roads that lead to the viewpoint from the Basque town of Orduña, from the Burgos municipality of Berberana or from the AP-68 turn-off, at Zuazo de Cuartango.
You leave your car in one of the three car parks provided for this purpose and the final stretch to the viewpoint is done on foot. Car park 3 is the closest to the waterfall, a 20-minute walk away.
You can also get impressive views of the Arrastaria valley from the Balcón de Rubén viewpoint located on another trail that starts at the Park’s Visitor Centre.
If you want to see the waterfall from below, the path starts at the railway bridge in the village of Delika, downstream. You go up the river Nervión, which gradually squeezes you into its canyon, until you reach the breathtaking waterfall that rises above your head. This trail is a round trip of around two hours.
We recommend you see the Nervión waterfall from both sides.
Hiking trails in the area
There are several trails that will help you see the impressive area surrounding Sierra Salvada more closely:
- Trail to Salto del Nervión from Delika: as stated earlier, this is an essential route for getting close to the base of the waterfall. It is a round trip of around 8 kilometres.
- Circular trail along the path of Salto del Nervión and Monte de Santiago: if you want to walk around the whole area and admire the waterfall and the gorge from different sides, this 7-kilometre circular trail takes you to the Salto, Rubén and Monte de Santiago viewpoints. The views are breathtaking.
- Nervión Linear Park Greenway: a pleasant 10-kilometre greenway that connects the towns of Amurrio and Llodio.
Things to see nearby
In addition to natural landmarks such as the Rubén viewpoint and the Delika canyon, there are towns and places of interest near the Nervión waterfall to round out your journey:
- Orduña: this town is considered to be a site with historic monuments such as Saint Mary’s church (15th century), Ortés de Velasco palace, Mimenza palace, the city walls and Fueros beach.
- Amurrio: this is one of the towns nearest the waterfall which has beautiful architecture that combines buildings, ‘Indiano’ mansions, hermitages and open-air sculptures. This is a pleasant town just a stone’s throw away from the waterfall where you can also enjoy Txakoli wine in wineries.
- Sierra Salvada: the mountainous area where the Salto del Nervión waterfall is located is also worth a visit. Apart from climbing peaks such as Txarlazo, it is a good place for bird watching.
- Vitoria: the Basque capital is about 50 kilometres away and is a pleasant place to spend a day in the city, enjoying its historic quarter and good food.
- Gorbeia Nature Reserve: this is one of the main protected parks in the Basque Country, located between the provinces of Álava and Vizcaya. There you will find the famous Otzarreta beech grove and another waterfall, Gujuli, with a height of 100 metres.
