The route from Gorostiza to El Regato in Barakaldo, covering 7.57 kilometers with a positive elevation gain of 104 meters, provides visitors with a unique opportunity to explore a territory shaped by mining, ironworks, and the water that fueled the city's growth, where nature has gradually reclaimed its space. The path offers a journey through the living history of the municipality.
The starting point is Gorostiza, a place deeply embedded in the collective memory of Barakaldo. For decades, it served as a spot for family picnics and summer afternoons by the Castaños river. Today, it remains a meeting point and the gateway to one of the most interesting green corridors in the Gran Bilbao area. Crossing the bridge over the river, the trail narrows and enters an unexpectedly tranquil landscape. The murmur of water accompanies the initial steps, while alder and ash trees form a green tunnel that softens any urban trace, making it hard to imagine that just a century ago this valley was a hub of industrial activity.
The path proceeds smoothly, with minimal incline, following the river's course. To the left, the first remnants of channels and small auxiliary dams appear; to the right, stone walls from former hydraulic installations. After a comfortable, shaded stretch, the trail leads to the neighborhood of El Regato, one of Barakaldo's most distinctive areas. Its traditional houses, small bridge, and riverside terraces offer a stark contrast to the industrial image often associated with the municipality. El Regato was, for centuries, a strategic enclave, featuring hydraulic ironworks from the 15th century and later transformed by iron mining in the 19th century.
Part of this history can be explored at the Centro de Interpretación Histórico-Medioambiental, housed in the former Casa de la Energía. It's an ideal location to understand how water, minerals, and industry shaped the landscape. As you leave the village, the path opens up to reveal the calm surface of the Regato reservoir, built in 1897 to supply water to a growing Barakaldo. It was one of the first urban-use reservoirs in Bizkaia and a significant technical achievement for its time.
The circuit around the reservoir is a perfect walk: a comfortable track, abundant shade, silence, and constant water views. In spring, the banks are covered in ferns and wildflowers; in autumn, oak and chestnut trees paint the landscape in ochres and golds. In recent years, otters have even been spotted, indicating the valley's environmental recovery. The route preserves numerous vestiges of its industrial past, such as the alignment of the Galdames mining railway, now a pedestrian path, and remnants of old iron extraction sites.
The route around the Regato reservoir is more than just a walk; it's a way to witness how a territory profoundly transformed by industry can be reborn as a natural, educational, and recreational space. The valley has regained its biodiversity, the river is once again a living ecosystem, and the industrial heritage is integrated into the landscape as a reminder of Barakaldo's recent history. It's an ideal route for those seeking a simple, accessible, and informative walk, also offering extensions for those wishing to explore further.
