A demanding gravel day linking extinct volcanoes and beech forest on varied, sometimes rough tracks.
from €135 per rider
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Volcano gravel day near Santader — 88 km, 1,600 m is a hard full day gravel tour in Santader, taking in Santader, Beech forest.
Places on the way: Santader, Beech forest
Volcano Gravel Day is a full-day, 88 km off-road ride from Santader that links extinct volcanoes with beech forest. It packs about 1,600 m of climbing into one day, on tracks that vary from firm and fast to loose and rough in places.
The route leaves Santader and works up into the volcanic country, then drops into shaded beech woods where the surface and the light change. Expect sustained climbs rather than short punchy ones, and descents that need attention on loose ground.
Among the Ride Santader gravel options, this is the hardest. The Riverside gravel intro near Santader is a gentle first taste of unpaved riding, and the Forest Gravel Loop east of Santader (72 km) is the middle step. The volcano day is for riders who already handle long off-road days and want the most demanding landscape on the site.
This is a hard ride. You should be comfortable spending a full day in the saddle and climbing around 1,600 m over 88 km, with much of it on unpaved surfaces that slow you down compared with tarmac.
You also need basic off-road bike handling: braking on loose descents, picking lines on rough sections and staying relaxed when the track changes underfoot. If you have not ridden gravel before, start with the Riverside gravel intro near Santader, then step up through the Forest Gravel Loop.
The ride's character comes from two contrasting settings. In the volcanic country the terrain is open and shaped by extinct cones, and the tracks tend to be exposed, with long views and changing surfaces.
The beech forest is the other half of the day. Under the trees the air is cooler, the light is filtered and the tracks can be damp or covered in leaf litter, which changes how the bike grips. The mix of the two is what separates this route from the shaded farmland feel of the forest loop to the east.
With that much climbing on gravel, moving time will be well above what 88 km suggests on the road. Ride the early climbs steadily and keep something back for the second half, when rough tracks and tired arms make descents harder.
Carry enough water and food for a full day, plus a spare tube and layers for the forest and higher ground. Ask the partner when booking what is provided on the day and what tyre width they recommend.
Spring and early autumn usually suit a hard off-road day best, with cooler air for the climbs and firmer tracks. Midsummer can be hot on the exposed volcanic sections, so an early start matters. After heavy rain, forest tracks can be slippery, so check conditions with the partner before you travel.
It is rated hard: 88 km with about 1,600 m of climbing on varied, sometimes rough gravel tracks, over a full day.
Not really. Beginners should start with the Riverside gravel intro near Santader and then try the Forest Gravel Loop before this ride.
A gravel bike suits the route. Check with the partner when booking whether bikes can be provided and what tyre width they advise.
The forest loop is 72 km and shaded, through forest and farmland. The volcano day is longer, with more climbing, rougher tracks and open volcanic terrain.
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