Legutio, Álava – Reservoir Landscapes on the GR® 38 Route

Woodland shores, open water, and the transition toward Basque mountain terrain

Legutio (Legutiano) sits along the GR® 38 Wine & Fish Route north of Vitoria-Gasteiz, where the open plains of the Llanada Alavesa give way to reservoirs, wooded slopes, and greener landscapes. Approaching the village, the route leaves agricultural lowlands behind and enters terrain shaped by water, forest edges, and rising hills.

The settlement lies beside the Ullíbarri-Gamboa reservoir, one of the largest bodies of inland water in the Basque Country. Shoreline paths, wooded margins, and open views across the water create a strong sense of space and light, contrasting with the enclosed valleys crossed earlier in the journey.

Walking into Legutio, the GR® 38 follows quiet rural roads and tracks through pasture and woodland, with gentle undulations replacing the level walking south of the city. The presence of water and increasing tree cover signals the gradual approach toward the Basque mountain ranges.

Legutio provides useful services including accommodation, food, and small shops, making it a practical stopping point before the route climbs into more rugged terrain beyond.

Leaving the village, the GR® 38 continues north toward Otxandio and the foothills of the Urkiola and Gorbeia mountain areas, where the landscape becomes steeper, greener, and more mountainous on the approach to Bizkaia.