What is the Terrain Like?
The terrain of the Camino Francés is wonderfully varied. Much of the trail is stunningly beautiful and picturesque, and some of it is not so beautiful and picturesque. It is a bit like life in that regard!
The trail traverses three mountain ranges and more than 200 kilometers of high plain. It takes you through vineyards and valleys, beautiful cities, and countless villages, towns, and hamlets.
You walk for several days through the picturesque Basque Country at the beginning, and for several days through the verdant Galician countryside at the end.
You will walk on pavement in all its forms, including cobblestone streets, medieval bridges, one-lane roads, and busy motorways.
The Camino goes up and down and up and down, seemingly endlessly, with elevation changes from 200 to 1550 meters (1000 to 5100 feet). The first 28 kilometers (18 miles) alone, from Saint Jean Pied de Port in France, take you up a staggering, breathtaking 1200 meters (4000 feet).
The best way to preview the terrain of the Camino Francés is with photos.
From Saint Jean Pied de Port, France, to Roncesvalles, Spain, on the High Road (Napoleon Route)
A busy morning leaving the pretty town of Saint Jean Pied de Port, Baasque country, France
One-lane road with a local resident
A trail marker in France, on a one-lane road, brilliantly green year-round
On the steep climb from Honto to Orisson
What a traffic jam looks like on the Napoleon route
A steep stretch shortly before the border crossing from France into Spain
The border crossing from France into Spain – you just step over a cattle guard and you have changed countries!
Snow takes over part of the trail, mid-May, on the last climb before the descent to Roncesvalles
A good break spot, above the clouds and above the first stop in Spain – Roncesvalles
On the Low Road, from Saint Jean Pied de Port to Roncesvalles, Through Valcarlos
The trail through the valley, on the Low Road
The path through the forest on the Low Road
The Chapel at the Ibañate Pass, after the climb from the valley on the Low Road
From Roncesvalles to Burgos
One-lane road, approaching the pretty Basque town of Espinal
The trail after Pamplona, in the fall season (September)
You will cross beautiful old bridges, full of history
The Camino passes through beautiful cities
The small hamlet of Irache, home of the famous wine / water fountain, after Estella
Dirt track, after Estella, on the alternative route
Crossing a busy road, the safest way
The trail goes from road to track, across a road
Walking through the vineyards of Navarra
Approaching Santo Domingo de la Calzada, in the fall season (September)
Approaching Santo Domingo de la Calzada, in the spring season (late May / early June)
The Cathedral in Burgos, as seen from the Camino trail
From Burgos to León: The Meseta
A long road into Hornillos del Camino on the meseta
A rare and welcome source of shade on the meseta
Muddy conditions on the meseta
A flat stretch on the meseta, leaving Boadilla del Camino
A rare shelter for walkers on the long stretch from Carrion de los Condes to Calzadilla de la Cueza
Leaving Sahagún, more flat terrain
Rolling hills, green in the springtime, on the meseta
A long, dry stretch on the old Roman road
Walking the meseta in the spring
Walking on the meseta
Big sky on the meseta
Sometimes meseta seems to go on and on…and on and on and on…
From León to Santiago
A long stretch after Villares de Orbigo
The village of Santibañez
Approaching Astorga, with the spires of the Cathedral in the distance
Leaving the village of Foncebadón
The city center of Ponferrada
Pilgrims walking after the village Trabadelo
Walking up into the clouds
After a climb in the mountains, up to O’Cebreiro
Cobblestone streets in O’Cebreiro
A church in a tiny hamlet after O’Cebreiro
The approach to the historic city center of Santiago
At last! The Cathedral in Santiago