Yes, I will always give them to you no links within the article. I leave you this clean:
Those who begin the French Way in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port must use the Valcarlos variant between November 1, 2026 and March 31, 2027. The high route through Orisson and Lepoeder will be closed for safety reasons.
The Foral Police of Navarra has issued a clear warning to all pilgrims who plan to start the Camino Frances during the coming months.
From November 1, 2026 and until the March 31, 2027, it will not be allowed to use the Eastern variant of the first stage, the well-known route that passes through Huntto, Orisson and the port of Lepoeder.
During this period, the only authorized option will be the West variant.r Luzaide/Valcarlos.
The measure is not a recommendation.
It is a mandatory restriction for safety reasons.
The Napoleon Route is closed in winter
The stage between Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port and Roncesvalles has two main variants.
The first is the high route, commonly known as Napoleon Route, which ascends through Orisson and continues towards Lepoeder.
The second goes down the valley and crosses Valcarlos before reaching Ibañeta and Roncesvalles.
During the winter months, the first is closed and all pilgrims must use Valcarlos.
More than 1,200 meters of altitude difference
The main reason is the hardness of the mountain route.
The East variant requires you to overcome more than 1,200 meters of elevation, from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to the high areas near Lepoeder.
Under normal conditions this is already a demanding stage.
With snow, ice, fog, wind or sudden changes in weather, the risk increases considerably.
A particularly delicate section
There is also a particularly complicated area once the pilgrim enters Navarra.
For several kilometers, the Camino lacks easy exits or safe evacuation routes until reaching the Lepoeder area.
This isolation turns any problem into a potentially serious situation.
A faint.
An injury.
A loss of orientation.
Or simply a sudden change in weather can force rescue teams to be mobilized in difficult conditions.
Rescues every year
Emergency services continue to intervene each season for pilgrims who access this area without sufficient preparation or without adequate equipment.
Some get disoriented.
Others suffer from exhaustion.
And others simply underestimate how quickly the weather can change in the high mountains.
The problem does not only affect the pilgrim.
Each rescue also requires exposing firefighters, police, health workers and volunteers to complicated conditions.
Valcarlos will be the only route allowed
That is why it should be made especially clear.
From the November 1 to March 31, Valcarlos will not simply be “the safest option.”
It will be the obligatory route.
Pilgrims leaving Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port should follow the signs to Valcarlos and then continue towards the port of Ibañeta and Roncesvalles.
The route through the valley remains at a lower altitude than the one traced by Lepoeder and is the alternative used during the winter period.
Skipping closure can have consequences
Failure to comply with the restriction may have administrative consequences, but the real concern lies elsewhere.
Entering a closed area during the winter means taking an unnecessary risk to your own life and that of those who may have to intervene in a rescue.
The Camino should never become a competition against the mountains.
Be careful if you start the Camino this winter
Those who are preparing their Camino Francés for November, December, January, February or March should incorporate this change into their planning from the first moment.
It is not enough to download an old track.
It is not enough to follow an application that shows both variants.
It is not enough to think that the weather seems to be good that day.
The restriction affects the entire established winter period.
Before leaving, it is advisable to always check the weather, respect the signs and follow official instructions.
El Camino is not worth taking this risk
The first stage of the French Way is also one of the most spectacular.
But no photograph, no view and no desire to complete a certain variant justify putting yourself in danger.
In winter, the Pyrenees are still mountains.
And the mountain does not understand credentials, stages or travel plans.
Therefore, if you are going to start the Camino Francés between November and March, remember one phrase:
by Valcarlos.
Not for Orisson.
Not for Lepoeder.
From November 1, Valcarlos will be mandatory.
