Camino Francés

Length 769 km: the stated length (Wikipedia (en)). Measured on our map line: 767.1 km, the route as OpenStreetMap maps it along the official track. The charts on this page run along the same line, and the search sorts trails by it, so lengths compare the same way.: 769km
Ascent · descent Estimated from the terrain model, as the sum of every main stage's climbs and drops between samples 100 m apart. No source states them. The model measures the treetops in forests, so it reads high there.: estimated: 13,960m ↑13,950m ↓
Difficulty
How hard a trail is, in three ways: the terrain, the climate in season and the length of the days. Each is rated from Easy to Hard with the same thresholds for every trail, and takes its hardest measure. It describes the trail, not how it will feel to you: that depends on your fitness, experience, pack and the weather you get.
Terrain: ModerateClimbing: ≈ 18 m per km
Climate: Moderate in Jun–OctHeat: 25 °C by day (August)
Effort: HardLongest day: ≈ 9 h 15 (stage 1)
All measures: Terrain: Moderate; Climate: Moderate in Jun–Oct; Effort: Hard
Days No source suggests a number of days, so the page counts one day per main stage (36).: 36days
Per stage The 36 main stages' totals over their number (Wikipedia (en)), so the averages come from one source. The ascent is the terrain model's estimate per stage (≈), since the stages state no climbs.: 21.6km· about 390 m ↑
Landscape Land cover along the main route, from ESA WorldCover satellite data: Farmland and villages: 49% Grassland and shrubs: 29% Forest: 21% Bare rock and sand: 0% Water, snow and ice: 0% Landscape along the route: Mainly Farmland

Location

Country: France, Spain
Regions: Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Navarre, La Rioja, Castile and León, Galicia
Start: Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port
Finish: Santiago de Compostela
Route type: Point to point
Travel hubs: Gare de Bayonne52.9 km by road · 57 min
Biarritz Pays Basque Airport (BIQ)53.9 km by road · 60 min
Managed by: Xunta de GaliciaOfficial website

Trail
Start
Stage start
Finish
Contour lines

Difficulty

Terrain

How hard is the ground to walk: the path, the climbing, the steep bits, the ground underfoot? Rated over the whole main route. The rating takes its hardest measure.

Path grade: the trail's SAC grade, stated, converted or estimated.

EasyT1
ModerateT2
DemandingT3
HardT4 to T6

Climbing: ascent of the main stages over their length.

Easyunder 15 m per km
Moderate15–30 m
Demanding30–50 m
Hard50 m or more

Steep stretches: share of the route steeper than 15 %, up or down (terrain model).

Easyunder 5 %
Moderate5–15 %
Demanding15–30 %
Hard30 % or more

Natural ground: share on footpaths and trails (OpenStreetMap); never Hard on its own.

Easyunder a third
Moderatea third to two thirds
Demandingtwo thirds or more

Moderate

SAC hiking scale
Trails rate their difficulty in many local scales, or only describe it in words. We translate each rating into the Swiss Alpine Club's hiking scale, from T1 (easy) to T6 (very hard), so trails can be compared. It stays an estimate: how hard a trail feels depends on your fitness, experience, pack and the weather.
This trail: T1 (our estimate). The Xunta's guide plans the way at a normal walking pace of 4 km an hour; Wikipedia's itinerary runs through villages and towns on paths, tracks and lanes, its highest point about 1,515 m near Manjarín in the Montes de León. Easy walking without alpine terrain (T1).
1. T1 · HikingWell-made paths, mostly flat or gently sloping. No risk of falling; trainers are enough.
2. T2 · Mountain hikingA continuous path, steep in places, where a fall can't be ruled out. Be sure-footed; wear hiking boots.
3. T3 · Demanding mountain hikingThe path is not always visible; exposed spots may have chains or ropes, and you may need your hands for balance.
4. T4 · Alpine hikingOften no path. Hands are needed in places, terrain is exposed, and there can be easy snowfields.
5. T5 · Demanding alpine hikingMostly pathless, with easy climbing and exposed, demanding terrain. Needs alpine experience.
6. T6 · Difficult alpine hikingPathless, very exposed, with climbing and glaciers. For experienced mountaineers only.
The scale at the Swiss Alpine Club
estimated T1
Climbingestimated 18 m per km
Steep stretches1 % of the way
Natural ground16 %

Climate

How hot, cold, wet and windy does it get? Rated for each month from 30 years of weather (ERA5). Without months picked (the search's When filter), the rating is for the trail's best run of at least two months in its season, and each measure shows its hardest month of that run; a pick re-rates it for your months. The rating takes its hardest measure.

Heat: mean daily high at the lowest point.

Easyunder 22 °C
Moderate22–27 °C
Demanding27–32 °C
Hard32 °C or more

Cold: mean nightly low at the highest point.

Easy8 °C or more
Moderate3–8 °C
Demanding−2 to 3 °C
Hardbelow −2 °C

Wet days: days a month with 1 mm of rain or more, the wetter of both points.

Easyunder 10
Moderate10–14
Demanding14–18
Hard18 or more

Snow: days a month with 1 cm of snow or more at the highest point.

Easyunder 1 day
Moderate1–3 days
Demanding3–6 days
Hard6 days or more

Wind: mean of the day's strongest wind (hourly mean, 10 m above ground), the windier of both points.

Easyunder 15 km/h
Moderate15–20 km/h
Demanding20–25 km/h
Hard25 km/h or more

Moderate in Jun–Oct

Heat · August25 °C by day
Cold · October5 °C at night
Wet days · June13 days
Snow · October0 days
Wind · October13 km/h

Effort

How long are the days? Rated by the longest main stage; a time range counts its upper end. The rating takes its hardest measure.

Longest day: walking time of the longest main stage, stated or by DIN 33466.

Easyup to 4 h
Moderate4–6 h
Demanding6–8 h
Hardmore than 8 h

Hard

Longest day · stage 1estimated 9 h 15

Climate

Days · lowest point: 11–25°C
Nights · highest point: −3 to 10°C
Wet days a month: 5–13
Daylight: 9.0–15.3h

Climate by month, 1995–2024 average
Month	Lowest point, day high / night low (°C)	Highest point, day high / night low (°C)	Wet days	Snow days	Frost nights at the highest point	Daylight (h)
January	10.5 / 3.9	4 / -2.6	11.3	6.5	24.9	9.4
February	11.6 / 4	5.5 / -2.6	9.2	5.3	23	10.5
March	14.5 / 5.8	8.1 / -1.3	11.6	4.6	20.4	11.8
April	16.5 / 7.7	10.4 / 0.5	12.9	2.3	13.1	13.3
May	19.6 / 10.7	13.9 / 3.4	11.7	0.4	4.2	14.6
June	23 / 14.1	18.6 / 7.4	8.4	0	0	15.3
July	24.7 / 15.8	21.9 / 9.7	4.8	0	0	15
August	25.3 / 16.3	22 / 10	5.3	0	0	13.9
September	22.7 / 14.1	18.1 / 7.5	7.6	0	0.1	12.4
October	19.8 / 11.8	13.1 / 4.5	11.2	0.4	2	11
November	13.7 / 7.2	7.1 / 0.2	12.3	3	14.5	9.7
December	11.4 / 4.9	4.7 / -1.7	11.6	5.2	22.2	9

Climate by month

Averages for 1995–2024 from ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, at the trail's lowest and highest point, adjusted to each point's elevation. Bars span the mean night low to the mean day high; wet days have at least 1 mm of rain, snow days at least 1 cm of snow. Daylight runs from sunrise to sunset in the middle of the month. The shaded months are the trail's season.

Stages

Stage	Route	Distance	Ascent	Descent	Elevation
1	Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port Roncesvalles	25.0 km	estimated 1,430 m ↑	estimated 650 m ↓	estimated 170 → 950 m
2	Roncesvalles Zubiri	21.5 km	estimated 430 m ↑	estimated 840 m ↓	estimated 950 → 540 m
3	Zubiri Pamplona	22.0 km	estimated 400 m ↑	estimated 480 m ↓	estimated 530 → 460 m
4	Pamplona Puente la Reina	23.5 km	estimated 500 m ↑	estimated 600 m ↓	estimated 460 → 360 m
5	Puente la Reina Estella	22.0 km	estimated 500 m ↑	estimated 430 m ↓	estimated 350 → 430 m
6	Estella Los Arcos	22.0 km	estimated 450 m ↑	estimated 420 m ↓	estimated 430 → 460 m
7	Los Arcos Logroño	28.0 km	estimated 530 m ↑	estimated 600 m ↓	estimated 460 → 390 m
8	Logroño Nájera	29.0 km	estimated 430 m ↑	estimated 350 m ↓	estimated 400 → 490 m
9	Nájera Santo Domingo de la Calzada	21.0 km	estimated 420 m ↑	estimated 270 m ↓	estimated 490 → 650 m
10	Santo Domingo de la Calzada Belorado	23.0 km	estimated 380 m ↑	estimated 260 m ↓	estimated 650 → 770 m
11	Belorado San Juan de Ortega	24.0 km	estimated 520 m ↑	estimated 280 m ↓	estimated 770 → 1,010 m
12	San Juan de Ortega Burgos	28.0 km	estimated 250 m ↑	estimated 390 m ↓	estimated 1,010 → 870 m
13	Burgos Hornillos del Camino	20.0 km	estimated 210 m ↑	estimated 260 m ↓	estimated 870 → 820 m
14	Hornillos del Camino Castrojeriz	20.0 km	estimated 220 m ↑	estimated 230 m ↓	estimated 830 → 820 m
15	Castrojeriz Frómista	23.0 km	estimated 260 m ↑	estimated 300 m ↓	estimated 820 → 780 m
16	Frómista Carrión de los Condes	19.0 km	estimated 130 m ↑	estimated 80 m ↓	estimated 780 → 830 m
17	Carrión de los Condes Calzadilla de la Cueza	17.0 km	estimated 70 m ↑	estimated 40 m ↓	estimated 830 → 860 m
18	Calzadilla de la Cueza Sahagún	22.0 km	estimated 190 m ↑	estimated 220 m ↓	estimated 850 → 820 m
19	Sahagún El Burgo Ranero	19.5 km	estimated 150 m ↑	estimated 100 m ↓	estimated 820 → 880 m
20	El Burgo Ranero Mansilla de las Mulas	19.0 km	estimated 60 m ↑	estimated 140 m ↓	estimated 880 → 800 m
21	Mansilla de las Mulas León	19.0 km	estimated 220 m ↑	estimated 180 m ↓	estimated 800 → 850 m
22	León Villadangos del Páramo	24.0 km	estimated 250 m ↑	estimated 200 m ↓	estimated 840 → 900 m
23	Villadangos del Páramo Astorga	28.0 km	estimated 240 m ↑	estimated 270 m ↓	estimated 900 → 870 m
24	Astorga Rabanal del Camino	20.0 km	estimated 340 m ↑	estimated 60 m ↓	estimated 870 → 1,150 m
25	Rabanal del Camino El Acebo	16.5 km	estimated 440 m ↑	estimated 450 m ↓	estimated 1,150 → 1,150 m
26	El Acebo Ponferrada	16.0 km	estimated 140 m ↑	estimated 750 m ↓	estimated 1,150 → 540 m
27	Ponferrada Villafranca del Bierzo	23.0 km	estimated 320 m ↑	estimated 350 m ↓	estimated 550 → 520 m
28	Villafranca del Bierzo La Faba	25.0 km	estimated 630 m ↑	estimated 220 m ↓	estimated 500 → 910 m
29	La Faba Fillobal	24.0 km	estimated 680 m ↑	estimated 630 m ↓	estimated 920 → 970 m
30	Fillobal Sarria	17.5 km	estimated 420 m ↑	estimated 940 m ↓	estimated 960 → 450 m
31	Sarria Portomarín	22.0 km	estimated 520 m ↑	estimated 610 m ↓	estimated 460 → 370 m
32	Portomarín Palas de Rei	25.1 km	estimated 650 m ↑	estimated 480 m ↓	estimated 380 → 550 m
33	Palas de Rei Melide	14.6 km	estimated 310 m ↑	estimated 400 m ↓	estimated 540 → 450 m
34	Melide Arzúa	14.5 km	estimated 360 m ↑	estimated 440 m ↓	estimated 460 → 390 m
35	Arzúa O Pedrouzo	18.4 km	estimated 470 m ↑	estimated 560 m ↓	estimated 380 → 290 m
36	O Pedrouzo Santiago de Compostela	20.2 km	estimated 440 m ↑	estimated 470 m ↓	estimated 290 → 260 m

Totals and averages count the main stages only. Stage 31 from Xunta de Galicia, Camino de Santiago official portal. Stage 32 from Xunta de Galicia, Camino de Santiago official portal. Stage 33 from Xunta de Galicia, Camino de Santiago official portal. Stage 34 from Xunta de Galicia, Camino de Santiago official portal. Stage 35 from Xunta de Galicia, Camino de Santiago official portal. Stage 36 from Xunta de Galicia, Camino de Santiago official portal. ≈ marks our estimates where the source gives no figure: ascent and descent and heights from the terrain model (Copernicus DEM, 30 m grid, sampled every 100 m), to the nearest 10 m.

Terrain

Highest · lowest point: 1,510m high169m low
Gradient The steepest 500 m of the trail in walking direction, uphill and downhill. On this trail the steepest climb is 20 % (11°, 98 m up over 500 m) on stage 1, the steepest descent −27 % (15°, 133 m down) on stage 1. A gradient is height per distance: 20 % means 20 m up for every 100 m forward. Percent and degrees don't grow alike: 100 % is 45°, not 90°. Gradient Angle Feels like 10 % 6° Noticeable on a road 20 % 11° A steep path, slow going 30 % 17° Very steep, often steps 100 % 45° Scrambling Averages over 500 m from a 30 m terrain model: short pitches within them, such as steps and ladders, are steeper.: 20% ↑−27% ↓
Steep stretches How many kilometres of the main route climb or descend at 15 % or more (9°, 15 m of height per 100 m), measured in 200 m stretches: on this trail 4.9 km up and 6.4 km down, the darkest parts of the profile. Such stretches are slow going uphill and hard on the knees downhill.: 11.3km
Surfaces
Natural ground: 16%, 123.2 km. Earth, grass, rock and roots: footpaths and forest trails. Can be muddy after rain.
Gravel: 57%, 437.1 km. Gravel, compacted and stony surfaces: mostly forest roads and farm tracks.
Paved: 26%, 200.6 km. Asphalt, concrete and cobbles: roads and village streets.
Unknown: 0%, 0.3 km. Stretches whose surface OpenStreetMap doesn't record.: 16% natural57% gravel26% paved

Gradient	Angle	Feels like
10 %	6°	Noticeable on a road
20 %	11°	A steep path, slow going
30 %	17°	Very steep, often steps
100 %	45°	Scrambling

Terrain along the route

Heights from the Copernicus terrain model (30 m grid, every 100 m along the main route); it measures the treetops in forests, so heights may differ from signposts by some metres.

The profile colours each 200 m by its gradient in walking direction: the steeper, the darker, climbs warm and descents violet, from level ground to ±30 % and beyond.

The strip under the profile shows the ground underfoot, from OpenStreetMap; for the 35% of the route without a surface tag, the type of way decides (footpaths natural, tracks gravel).

Landscape

Landscape along the route

Land cover from ESA WorldCover 2021 (10 m satellite map), every 100 m along the main route; each point takes the most common class within 30 m, so the path itself doesn't count as bare ground. Its eleven classes are folded into the six groups shown. It says what the landscape looks like, not which plants grow there.

Sleeping

Wild camping
Pitching a tent outside campsites. Whether it is allowed, restricted or prohibited depends on the land and the country; the rule for this trail is below the cards.
Not known
Camping
Official campsites along the trail. Bring your own tent.
Available where the trail's own source lists it, or where OpenStreetMap maps at least 3 within 1 km of the trail or 3 km of a stage's end.
Available
19 in OpenStreetMap
Huts
Mountain huts (often staffed, with meals) and unstaffed bivouac shelters, usually on the trail itself.
Available where the trail's own source lists it, or where OpenStreetMap maps at least 3 within 1 km of the trail or 3 km of a stage's end.
None listed
Hostels
Dormitory beds for walkers: hostels, hiker lodges and pilgrim hostels.
Available where the trail's own source lists it, or where OpenStreetMap maps at least 3 within 1 km of the trail or 3 km of a stage's end.
Available
Hostels and hiker lodges · 539 in OpenStreetMap
Rooms
Private rooms, usually in villages near the trail: B&Bs, guesthouses, hotels, farm stays and monastery guesthouses.
Available where the trail's own source lists it, or where OpenStreetMap maps at least 3 within 1 km of the trail or 3 km of a stage's end.
Available
B&Bs and guesthouses · 167 in OpenStreetMap

Places to sleep along the route

One tick per place to sleep along the main route, from OpenStreetMap: 19 campsites, 2 huts, 539 hostels, 167 guest houses within 1 km of the trail or 3 km of a stage's end (stage towns often lie off the trail). Hotels and day shelters are left out. The shaded column is the longest stretch without any, from km 364 to 380.5. The map may miss places or list ones that have closed, so book or check locally.

Water & Supply

Clean water 1030 fountains, taps and springs marked as drinkable in OpenStreetMap within 500 m of the trail, and 4 places to sleep OpenStreetMap marks as having drinking water. Clean water also counts the 658 huts, hostels, guest houses and campsites within 500 m where hikers usually fill a bottle: guests come first, and many close out of season, so ask, and carry a little more than the gaps need. Places OpenStreetMap marks as without drinking water are left out. The counts include the approach and variant; the chart shows the main route. Rated by the longest stretch of the main route without clean water: frequent up to 10 km, regular up to 20 km, scarce beyond. Here: from km 364.5 to 380.4, stage 17.: 15.9kmRegular
Any water Clean water, and the 18 springs within 500 m of the trail whose water is of unknown quality: filter, boil or treat it, and expect some springs to run dry in late summer. Here the longest stretch without any water runs from km 364.5 to 380.4. Rated like clean water: frequent up to 10 km, regular up to 20 km, scarce beyond.: 15.9kmRegular
Shops 776 supermarkets, convenience and general stores and petrol stations with a shop in OpenStreetMap, within 1 km of the trail or 3 km of a stage's end (stage towns often lie off the trail). Small village shops are often missing, and opening hours vary: check before relying on one. Here the longest stretch without runs from km 0.2 to 26.: 25.8km

Water and shops along the route

One tick per place along the main route, from OpenStreetMap: drinking water and springs within 500 m, refills at huts, hostels, guest houses and campsites within 500 m, shops within 1 km or 3 km of a stage's end. The shaded band in each lane is its longest stretch without; "Water" counts every kind, and opens into one lane per kind, each with its own. The map may miss places or list ones that have closed or run dry, so check locally.

Camino Francés

Key figures

Location

Difficulty

Climate

Stages

Terrain

Landscape

Sleeping

Water & Supply