Hiking and routes

The Turó de l'home i les Agudes are the two highest peaks of the Montseny massif. Despite being the two highest moutains, the difficulty level isn't too high, making it an enjoyable hiking route.

The route I personally recommend is a circular route that starts at la Font de passavets, returning for la Font de Brinaçó. The hike starts at Font de Passavets, where we can park our cars in the nearby parking lot next to the road. To get there from Sant Celoni, we take the road towards Campins and Pantà de Santa Fè del Montseny. Shortly after passing the parking lot at Pantà, at the end of a long straight, we'll see the parking lot for Font de Passavets on the left. As soon as we begin, we can take the opportunity to fill our water bottles at Font de Passevets, an idyllic spot right from the start. The path starts to climb moderately, with a couple of steeper sections, but overall, the ascent isn't too strenuous. The trail is shaded by tall beech trees, and once we leave the Passavets stream behind, it winds gently uphill. We'll leave behind the Aveteda area with its large firs and pass near the Pou del Comte, an ancient ice well, now restored. A bit further, we'll emerge from the forested area, reaching a spot known as Rocs Cremats at an altitude of 1575 meters. From here, we have magnificent views of Turó de l'Home, Turó Gros, Les Agudes, and the entire Passavets slope. From here, it's not much effort to reach the summit of Turó de l'Home, which we can see all along the way, although the final ascent may be a bit challenging. We'll turn left and reach Coll Pregón, offering fantastic views of the southern slope of Montseny, including Turó de Sant Elies, Suí, Samon, and further back, Cingles de Bertí, Sant Llorenç, and Montserrat. We'll make a detour to reach the summit of Turó de l'Home, at 1707 meters above sea level. From here, we can also see Matagalls and Les Agudes, our next objective. We descend towards Collet de Sesbasses and, after crossing the road, take the path leading to Les Agudes. The path is mostly flat, except for the final ascent to Les Agudes, once we've passed Puig Sacarbassa and Collet de les Agudes. Les Agudes, the highest point in Selva, is at an altitude of 1706 meters. From here, we can enjoy views of the snow-capped Pyrenees, fantastic vistas of Matagalls and its northern slope, and on the other side, Pantà de Santa Fè, Morou, and Montsoriu Castle. The final stretch of the ascent is quite rocky, so be careful, especially while descending. At Collet de les Agudes, we find a deviation to the left leading to Font de Briançó, which is the path we'll follow. Initially, the descent is steep until we reach a flatter track, making the descent easier. Be cautious if the ground is covered with dry leaves, as it can be slippery on steep sections. We can refill our water bottles at the beautiful Font de Briançó, and then continue descending gradually. Later on, we'll take a sudden turn and descend steeply to join the course of the Passavets stream. You'll notice landmarks guiding the way along this shortcut. Once near the stream, we'll descend a bit along the left bank before crossing to the other side to find a track that will take us back to Font de Passavets and the starting point of the route.

Pedraforca

Catalonia

Difficulty: High

Elevation: 2.506 meters

Pedraforca is one of the most emblematic mountains of Catalonia. I personally love this hiking route since it was the first I did in my own. Pretty difficult if you are not used to go on one-day exausting routes, but very enjoyable.

If you are coming from Barcelona (by car), the starting point you should mark as an starting point should be the village of Saldes. After going on about 2 km, we find a well-signposted right turn that leads us to the parking lot of Mirador de Gresolet. We start walking from the parking lot via some stairs. In 10 minutes, we reach the Refugio Lluís Estasen. We continue westward along a gently sloping trail until we're near Bauma de la Rua Gran, where, turning left, the slope becomes steep, and we must ascend in zigzags until we reach the Collada del Verdet. At this point, we can see the western side of the Cadí Massif i Gòsol below in the foreground. This is a good place to rest, have a snack, and gather strength for the climb that awaits. (In case of bad weather, consider turning back at this point, as the climb is long, delicate, and difficult to backtrack). Leaving Verdet, we circle around a large stone block on the left, and soon the climb begins (or rather, the climbs), quite vertical at some points but with good handholds and even chains in some delicate sections. This section of climbing and descending can be a bit long if you're not used to such climbs. There are also some slightly airy ridges to traverse, but with calm weather and no wind, they pose no significant danger. Once at the summit, we see that it's not very large and has several areas to relax. After enjoying the views and resting, we begin to descend in the opposite direction from where we ascended. Initially, it's a simple descent, and soon we reach the Enforcadura, where La Tartera de Pedraforca and La Tartera de Gòsol meet. We head left towards Saldes (Tartera de Pedraforca) and begin to "fight" with the grip of our boots on the rocks. It's best to look for areas with medium-sized rocks (15-25 cm in diameter) (located on the right side of the tartera) and slide along with the stones. If you step on smaller stones, it's much more slippery, as if you were descending on marbles. However, in any case, the poor boots suffer a lot. After a long, very long time, we reach the end of the tartera, where we turn left, and, happy to walk on "solid ground," we take the gently descending path that will lead us, passing by Refugio Lluís Estasen again, back to the car.

Montserrat

Catalonia

Difficulty: Low

Elevation: 1.236 meters

This is the classic route from Barcelona to Montserrat via GR-6. It begins at the Horta Labyrinth Park. You can tackle it either in a single day or in stages, with the track featuring waypoints to mark each stage. Conveniently, each stage concludes near a public transportation hub for the return trip. Stage 1 (20 km) ends at the FGC station of Las Fonts de Terrassa, Stage 2 (18 km) at Olesa de Montserrat, and Stage 3 (14 km) at the Montserrat Monastery.

Matagalls

Catalonia

Difficulty: Medium

Elevation: 1.697,9 meters

The Matagalls is also one of the highest mountains of the Montseny massif, but not located near the Turó de l'Home nor Les Agudes. That is why this hiking route is apart from the other two. The route begins at Coll de Sant Marçal, where there is ample space for parking. From there, the ascent is continuous almost from the beginning, first along a sandstone path before entering the beech forest. Although this obstructs views, the landscape is beautiful and provides shade for almost the entire ascent. We continue through the beech forest, with occasional clearings, until reaching the final col just before the summit. There, the trees disappear, and we can see from Barcelona to Montserrat and the Pyrenees, including nearby places like Vic or Viladrau. It's not a complicated route, and the path is easy to follow as we always follow the GR 5.2, which is well signposted.

Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici

Catalonia

Difficulty: Low-Medium

Elevation: 2.390 meters

The Natural Park of Aigüestortes is the best option if you are getting started in hiking. There are several routes that are for begginers, however the ascencion to the Estany de Sant Maurici is not recommended if you are just starting. This route is for begginers who are looking to challenge themselves. The route starts from the parking lot of the natural park, near the village of Espot. In its first part, which is very crowded, it leads to Lake San Mauricio. From there, we continue along the path, skirting the lake to the right, until we reach the Ratera waterfall. From there, we continue ascending to Lake Ratera, which is as beautiful or even more so than San Mauricio. We continue on, and a few meters from this lake, we find a detour to the viewpoint. We take it and reach a privileged viewpoint of Lake San Mauricio in a few meters. Once we reach this point, we backtrack for a few meters to take a detour marked with a sign. We head towards Lake Les Obagues de Ratera. This trail takes us on a beautiful and different route towards Lake Gran D'Amitges and its refuge. Right next to the refuge, instead of heading to the right to reach the lake, we take the left path to reach another wonderful spot, Estany Dels Barbs and Estany de la Munydera. We follow the trail, which runs parallel to the outflow of this last lake, and now we reach Lake Gran D'Amitges. We skirt this lake until we return to the refuge and start the return journey, first to Lake Ratera, passing first by Lake La Bassa, which we hadn't seen on the way there, and then we continue towards San Mauricio, which we will approach in a different way than on the way there, through a much quieter and more beautiful route. To do this, we return to the lake viewpoint, and from there, a trail with stunning views of the lake begins descending towards San Mauricio, reaching it by the dam and seeing it from a different perspective. From the lake to the parking lot, we follow the same path as on the way there.

7 Gorgs

Catalonia

Difficulty: Low

Elevation: 973 meters

The 7 gorgs are seven natural pools or waterfalls located in the area of Campdevànol, Catalonia, Spain. These pools are renowned for their crystal-clear waters and beautiful natural surroundings, making them popular destinations for hiking and swimming. There is no specific route to reach the 7 gorgs, as they are scattered throughout the area, but visitors can explore the pools by following the well-marked trails and paths that connect them.

Pica d'Estats

Catalonia

Difficulty: High

Elevation: 3.143 meters

The "Pica d'Estats" is known to be the cealing of Catalonia, since it is its highest mountain. The typical route also ascends the neighbour peak "Verdaguer" since once having climbed the Pica, it's effortless. To reach the starting point of the route, we must go to the village of Areu and continue along the road that crosses the village until it becomes a forest track, which we will not leave for the entire 10 km. This will take you a little over an hour and quite a bit of patience because unless you have a 4x4, you will be driving at about 10 km/h most of the time. The forest track is in decent condition except for a few points where we need to be a bit more careful, although it's nothing critical. The condition of the track remains the same throughout the journey, neither improving nor worsening as we ascend. The route goes back and forth along the same path, although sometimes in the track, it may seem that the ascent and descent separate. This is because there are sometimes several paths to take, and on the way up, you choose one, and on the way down, you take the one that seems easier. The entire route is very well marked from start to summit with PR marks and stone cairns. Once we have arrived at Areu, we start walking, and in a few minutes, we pass by the Vallferrera refuge, which we leave on our left as we continue the ascent. After a while of climbing, we encounter a small descent. After some more climbing, we come across the first of the lakes, Estany de Sotllo. Both this one and the one a little further ahead, Estany d'Estats, are truly beautiful. The water is transparent, and the views are spectacular. From Estany d'Estats, we have a direct view of Pica d'Estats and its neighbor Verdaguer. After leaving Estany d'Estats behind, we head to what, for me, is the hardest and most daunting part of the route: the scree slope leading up to Port de Sotllo. This col will allow us to cross over to the French side. After losing some altitude, we begin a steady ascent where, a little further ahead, we will already have a direct view of the summit. Although we are still far away, we can perfectly distinguish people at the top. With patience, we climb up to the col that separates Pica d'Estats and Verdaguer. To our left, and after a few more minutes of climbing over rocks, we find ourselves on the summit of Pica d'Estats, where we enjoy privileged views. On the way down, we take the opportunity to climb up peak Verdaguer since from the col, it's only a few minutes' walk along an easy trail. Just like from the other summit, we can see the two lakes we passed on the way up.

Montmalús

Andorra

Difficulty: Medium

Elevation: 2.781 meters

I personally recommend the circular route, which is just over 10 km in length and follows the ridge of the Circo de los Colells. The trail, starting in Grau Roig and ascending to the peak of Montmalús, continues towards the Circo de los Colells and returns to the starting point. The route is signposted up to Lake Coma Estremera, and up to the peak of Montmalús, we encounter stone cairns along a well-maintained path. From the Montmalús pass and throughout the ridge route to Portella de Joan Antoni, we will find traces of a trail and some cairns, but it is a very rarely frequented path. From Portella to Grau Roig, there is good signage. It is a high mountain itinerary with aerial and exposed ridge sections but without notable technical difficulties.

Comapedrosa

Andorra

Difficulty: Medium-High

Elevation: 2.942 meters

This semi-circular route spans a little over 14 km in length, leading us to the highest peak in the Principality, Comapedrosa, at an altitude of 2,942m. The trail is marked with yellow paint up to the summit of Comapedrosa, but for the most part, we'll also follow the white and red marks of the GR 11. The itinerary traverses various types of paths and, despite a considerable elevation gain, presents no technical difficulties, except for a slightly exposed section. It's ideal for people accustomed to full-day hikes in high mountain terrain. The route begins in Prats Sobirans, near Arinsal, in the parish of La Massana. From here, we ascend along the Pedrosa river valley to the Pleta de Comapedrosa. We follow the traces of the trans-Pyrenean trail to Lake Negre, where we leave the GR 11 and ascend to the summit of Comapedrosa peak via its SW ridge. We begin the descent along a trail towards Portella de Baiau. Just before reaching this mountain pass, we reconnect with the GR 11 and descend to Pleta de Comapedrosa. From there, we pass by the Comapedrosa refuge and visit the nearby Truites lake. We then rejoin the ascent path to the Comapedrosa pass and descend back to Prats Sobirans. This excursion not only allows us to reach Andorra's highest point and contemplate the extensive panorama of surrounding peaks but also enables us to discover the Comapedrosa Valley Natural Park, declared a protected area in 2006. Along the route, we can appreciate the different types of vegetation that make up the area. We venture into the forests of red pine and fir trees of the mountain floor, ascend through the black pine and birch forests of the subalpine level, and reach the alpine level, dominated by meadows and rocky areas.

Medacorba

Andorra

Difficulty: High

Elevation: 2.914 meters

An demanding high-mountain circuit that allows us to explore part of the Comapedrosa Natural Park, located in the parish of La Massana. This peak, standing at over 2900m, is the most technical in the Principality. The trail begins at the top of the village of Arinsal, at the Natural Park parking lot. After the first stretch of forest track, we will encounter a barrier and take the path to the right, then turn right again to cross a forest until we reach a meadow, where we will find the Coruvilla sheepfolds. From there, we follow the red and white route markers of the GR route to Pla de l'Estany and the refuge of the same name, where we will discover an exceptional glacial cirque. Continue along the GR route until we reach the Estanys de Forcats, with their dark blue waters, and then to the Coll de Forcats. From there, we pay attention to the signs marking the path that will lead us to the summit of Peak Medacorba. The return will be along the same route.

Escobes

Andorra

Difficulty: Medium

Elevation: 2.779 meters

Linear Route to Escobes Peak via Juclar Lakes, which spans nearly 14 km (round trip), reaching Escobes Peak via Juclar Lakes. Starting from the Incles Valley, we ascend to Juclar Lakes and the Juclar Refuge. Subsequently, we ascend to the Alba Pass and reach the summit of Escobes at an altitude of 2,779m via its ridge. The descent follows the same route as the ascent. Up to Juclar Lakes, the itinerary is marked with yellow paint points. From this point onwards, we follow the GRT marks to Juclar Pass and Alba Pass. We then continue following the stone cairns, guiding us to the best path to reach the summit of Escobes Peak. This route allows us to conquer one of the most rugged peaks in the Andorran Pyrenees, Escobes Peak, while discovering Juclar Lake or Estany de Juclar, the largest in Andorra and one of the most beautiful in the Pyrenees! The visited area is situated in the northeast of Andorra, bordering France. This area and this specific itinerary stand out for their beauty, high mountain landscapes, rugged mountains, and the multitude of glacial lakes surrounding them. The Incles Valley lies within the parish of Canillo and is located very close to the nucleus of Soldeu.

Monteperdido

Spain

Difficulty: High

Elevation: 3.355 meters

The usual route to Monte Perdido starts from the Góriz Refuge. To reach this refuge, the two most common options are: From Cuello Gordo: Starting from the village of Nerín, you can either hike or take a 4x4 bus (during the summer season) to reach this broad col hanging above the walls of Ordesa. From this point, it's about a two-hour hike with little elevation gain. From the Pradera de Ordesa: Following the entire Ordesa Valley to the Cola de Caballo, and from there, ascending either via the "clavijas" (metal spikes) or the Senda de los Mulos (Mules' Path). To reach the Pradera de Ordesa, you can drive your own car, except during summer, Easter, and some other holidays when access by private cars is restricted, and you need to take a bus from Torla (€3 one way and €4.5 round trip). The ascent from this refuges is quite popular and is well marked at all times with cairns that guide us. So, we bundle up properly for the morning cold and start the hike. During this route, we ascend passing by the Frozen Lake and the famous "escupidera", a steep slope near the summit where we have to make an extra effort. In summer and without snow, this section is less dangerous than in winter, so it is quite passable. Finally, we reach the summit of Monte Perdido. After enjoying the views, we descend through the "escupidera" and then follow the trail back to Goriz.

Ruta del Cares

Spain

Difficulty: Low-Medium

Elevation: 1.450 meters

We cross the Cares Bridge in Poncebos and parallel to the river on its right bank towards Caín until we reach the information booth, which is closed because it's very early, where we make a 90-degree turn to the right. Be careful not to continue straight ahead because it's an old road that was started 60 years ago and was abandoned after three kilometers, and we would have to climb up a scree slope to reach the trail, risking slipping. Until Los Collaos is where we have the most elevation gain, 300 meters, and we have covered two kilometers. We descend to Cullembro with a 350-meter elevation gain and 7 kilometers of our path. The views of the gorge to Caín are impressive, as you can see in the photographs. When we arrive in Caín, we have accumulated 500 meters of elevation gain and 12 kilometers behind us, which we will make on the return journey. Before reaching the dam in Caín, we have several dark tunnels, so be careful with your heads. I tested the hardness of the material. In Caín, we have a fountain, several restaurants with very affordable menus, and numerous vending machines for soft drinks. The return journey is along the same trail. Before reaching the Bolín Bridge, we have a small crevice called La Argentina, which leads to the La Tranvía area, and we climb a few meters to take some panoramic views of the trail. Once done, we return to the Cares trail, and with a little effort, we reach the entrance of the Bulnes funicular, concluding this beautiful route.

Aneto

Spain

Difficulty: High

Elevation: 3.404 meters

The itinerary for the southern route starts at the Coronas Bridge (1995 m) in the Vallibierna valley, at the unguarded refuge with radio assistance at Coronas or Les Riberetes. To find out how to get to the Coronas Bridge, check here. From the Coronas Bridge (1930 m), take the GR. 11 and leave it after 5 minutes to ascend through the Coronas Valley, following a defined trail, to the Ibonet de Coronas (2230 m; 1 h). From here, we enter high mountain terrain, the trail becomes less defined, and attention must be paid to the cairns (stone markers) that indicate the route to follow. Ascend below the Llosas ridge to the Baixo de Corones lake (2630 m, 1 h, 10 min) first, and then northwest to the Altos de Coronas lakes (2740 m; 30 min). Once at the Altos de Coronas lakes, follow the large glacial moraine on its left side until reaching the base of the Collada de Coronas (3208 m; 1 h 25 min). Before reaching the pass, we must overcome a chimney with a climb that may be more challenging with snow. At the Collada de Coronas, the route from the south merges with the route ascending from the north from Besurta and the La Renclusa refuge. Depending on the time of year, there may be no snow until the Collada de Coronas, but at this point, we enter the Aneto glacier, and the use of crampons, ice axe, and helmet is mandatory. If you do not have this equipment or are not trained in its use, you should not venture onto the glacier. Hiring a mountain guide would be a good idea in this case. From the Collada de Coronas (3208 m), we will ascend through the steepest part of the glacier to the sub-peak and from there to the summit of Aneto (3404 m; 40 min). The Mahoma Bridge is the last obstacle before reaching Aneto. It consists of a narrow and exposed horizontal section where one must scramble up onto a rock. The sensation of emptiness in these last meters of the route is significant and should not be attempted if you are afraid of heights. The density of people at the passage and fatigue can compromise the safety of the passage. The sub-peak is also a great reward. The return will be made along the same route to the Coronas Bridge (3 h 30 min). Another option is to descend via the northern route to Besurta and, from there, take one of the buses back to Plan de Senarta. Don't forget to check the schedules if you choose this option.

Mulhacén

Spain

Difficulty: High

Elevation: 3.479 meters

With this route, we undertake the most comfortable and one of the most popular ascents to the roof of the Iberian Peninsula, Mulhacén, standing at 3,479 meters above sea level. It is the ascent via its South face, from the Alto del Chorrillo through the Lomas del Tanto and del Mulhacén. But this ascent to Mulhacén, and we have done quite a few, has undoubtedly been the most special, exciting, and satisfying of all, as our little ones, some of them only 5 years old, have reached the summit of this great peak for the first time. Besides holding the honor of being the highest in the Peninsula, it is also the second in prominence in Western Europe after Mont Blanc. The challenge for them has been significant, as in addition to the inherent difficulties of high mountains (altitude sickness, strong winds, increased fatigue when exerting efforts...), despite the comfort of the ascent, they had to overcome an elevation gain of 800 meters in just over 6 kilometers. And they have met the challenge with skill, so we are already planning future challenges for them. In Capileira, we took the shuttle bus that took us up to the Alto del Chorrillo, a plateau where there is a fork in the road at 2,700 meters above sea level (the round-trip ticket costs €13, and it needs to be reserved well in advance). The route is a round trip, although we can make small variations to make it somewhat circular. Up to Mulhacén II (3,362 m), an old track ascends from Alto del Chorrillo, in very poor condition and full of rocks, but winding through numerous curves along the Lomas del Tanto and del Mulhacén in a much gentler way, making it much less steep than the trail that cuts through it. We ascended via the trail as it followed the Loma del Tanto, which is relatively gentle, but when we reached the Loma del Mulhacén, much steeper, we diverted in search of the track, which we followed up to Mulhacén II. From here to the summit of Mulhacén, there is only a little over 1 kilometer and about 100 meters of elevation gain, which are common both on the way up and on the way back. We return entirely via the trail, passing again by Mulhacén II, and with the only exception of a few meters before reaching Alto del Chorrillo, we detour to visit a bunker and machine gun nest from the Spanish Civil War, from the Republican side. The bunker is renovated and can serve as a bivouac shelter. To reach the bunker, a beacon painted with the colors red, yellow, and purple, and which is visible from afar, will indicate the exact location.

Camí de Cavalls

Spain

Difficulty: Low-Medium

Elevation: 135 meters

The length of the Camí de Cavalls is 185 km and is divided into 20 stages, which can be done as a traverse, in stages, or simply by taking walks following its route. Descubrir Menorca presents the 20 official stages independently, as full-day excursions, using the morning for the outbound journey and the afternoon for the return. With a whole day, the stages can be completed round trip without haste, enjoying all the details and attractions of the route. Thus, leaving the vehicle at the starting point or using public transportation, if available, we can avoid worrying about logistical and accommodation issues that we would always encounter otherwise. We just need to think about bringing food and water.

Peñalara

Spain

Difficulty: Medium

Elevation: 2.428 meters

The route begins at Puerto de Cotos and continues towards the Mirador de la Gitana to enjoy the views. It then ascends until reaching the Puente del arroyo de la laguna de Peñalara, followed by a visit to the Laguna de Claveles and then the Laguna de los Pájaros. Afterward, it ascends to the Risco de los Pájaros to obtain panoramic views and then traverses the Cresta de Claveles. The route culminates at the highest point, Peñalara, the highest peak in the Sierra de Guadarrama. Finally, it descends towards the peak of Dos Hermanas, another prominent summit in the area.

Selva d'Irati

Spain

Difficulty: Low-Medium

Elevation: 940 meters

Start your day by exploring the Lumbier Gorge to observe Griffon Vultures, then drive to the starting point of the route in the Irati Forest from Ochagavía or Orbaitzeta. From Ochagavía, follow the trail to the Cubo Waterfall for a spectacular landscape. Once in the heart of the forest, explore the trails among beech and fir trees, choosing from various routes based on your skill and time. Don't miss the Irabia Reservoir for a scenic rest stop and picnic. Finally, return to the starting point, either by the same path or exploring new views.