Canigou to Montserrat

The way, useful information, daily stages, GPS tracks of the hike from Canigou to Montserrat and by extension from the Alps and the Massif Central to Barcelona.

The way from Canigou to Montserrat

Beautiful hike through the Pyrenees with very varied landscapes and connecting two emblematic sites of Catalonia: Canigou and the abbey of Montserrat. The way goes through the volcanic region of Garrotxa and the beautiful natural parks of Montseny and then Sant Llorenç del Munt i l’Obac.
This path extends the one from the Massif Central (see the page Alps to Pyrenees). This way, going through the Corbières, Canigou and the Sierra de Montseny, crosses the massif where the relief from north to south is widest.
To reach the Canigou summit from the Têt plain, there are several options: from Vinça, from Prades or from Casteil.
The way mainly follows marked paths and in particular GR83 Camí del Nord o del Canigó and GR5.
From Arbúcies, it is possible to reach Barcelona more directly without going through Montserrat by following the GR83 Camí del Nord and joining my way from Argelès sur Mer to Barcelona.
To hike further south on GR7, see the page GR7 – Caravaca to Montserrat

The others ways in Pyrenees described :

North-South trails on old cross-border paths, Toulouse-Barcelone, Argelès/Mer-Barcelone, Cazères to Pont de Suert, Via Garona, HRP, Pyrenees south side are described in the page Hiking through Pyrenees

Difficulties :

This path does not present any technical difficulties apart from the descent of the Canigou by the chimney (unmarked and steep). To avoid it, it is better to take the paths that go around the summit. Throughout this sector, it is advisable to wait for the snow to melt (in principle around the beginning of June).

Trail marks :

The way is almost entirely on marked trails GR (Grande Randonnée – Long hike) or PR (Petite Randonnée – Short hike). On some portions, the markings are less present and the path less frequented. A GPS track will then be useful.

Natural protected areas :

Natural Regional Park of Pyrénées Catalanes : wild camping is prohibited in all nature reserves and in classified sites of the Natural Regional Park of Pyrénées Catalanes. The bivouac is authorized around the refuges and along the GR.
Natural Park of Garrotxa
Natural Park of Montseny
Natural Park of Sant Llorenç del Munt i l’Obac
Natural Park of the Muntanya de Montserrat

Resupply :

Water : the further south you go, the more difficult it is to find water outside inhabited places. This is particularly the case in the Natural Park of Sant Llorenç del Munt i l’Obac. See the table below for more details.
Accomodation : there are frequently hotels (and refuges at the beginning). In the Spanish part, it is possible to stay in hotels around 40-50€ per night.
Bivouac in Spain : The regulations concerning the bivouac and wild camping is a competence of the autonomous communities with specific rules in certain natural spaces.
Catalonia: Wild camping is prohibited within 1km of a campsite or a village.

Internet websites :

See the website of the natural parks of Catalonia with for some parks, maps with trails. There is also information on accommodation or points of interest. See also more specifically the site of natural parks of Barcelona.
I uploaded some GPS tracks on wikiloc.

Maps :

For topographic maps of the French National Institute of Geography (IGN), the easiest is Geoportail.
To draw a track, the sites IGN Rando and Brouter.de allow to draw following the existing ways and trails.
Finally with MyGPSfiles , I link (sometimes in aerial view) and I assemble and correct the tracks. This allows me to ultimately have a “nice” GPS track of the entire route.

When I’m on my way, I’m using the Iphigénie application. With it, you can have offline IGN topographic maps (both for France and Spain). It’s also possible to send beacons of my position (if there is network); this can be reassuring on certain occasions.

GPS Track:

Attention ! The track below was made at my return. In all cases, the reality on the ground should be given priority. In case of passage on private land, ensure the authorization of the owner.
Link to download the draft route in GPX format:

The stages :

	Km	Cumul km	D+	Info
Prades		0
Saint-Michel de Cuxa	3	3	130
Taurinya	2	5	130	Épicerie
Refuge des Cortalets	15	20	2 180	Refuge des Cortalets Tél.04 68 96 36 19
Pic du Canigou	4	24	560
Cabane Arago	4	28	10	Cabane
Refuge de Mariailles	5	33	100	Refuge de Mariailles Tél : +33 (0)4 68 05 57 99
Cabane de Pla Guillem	4	37	590
Col Baix	10	47	170	Refuge Les Conques Tél.+33 (0)7 57 06 40 59 / +33(0)9 88 66 66 37
La Preste	4	51	20	Hôtel Val du Tech Tél.0468397112 – Hôtel Ribes Tél.0468397104 –
Col de Prats	7	58	630	Cabane d’Artigues de En Cases au nord-est et Font de la Torre – Font Les Dous côté espagnol
Beget	12	70	190	Hostal El Forn de Beget Tél.+34972741230 – bars
Canigou to Beget	From Canigou, descent via the Durier chimney (difficult) then path. After the Mariailles refuge, marked trails (Tour du Canigou, Ronde du Canigou…). From the Pregon pass, I followed a path on the southern flank to pass by the Dous fountain. The fountain is a basin fed by a spring. Water must be taken directly from the basin. I had planned to go through Comanegra, the southernmost point of France, but I chose the easiest way (to get water) by descending to Beget from the Col de Malrems.
Vers Oix	9	79	410	Camping et hôtel La Soleia d’Oix Tél.(+34) 972 29 45 61
Vall del Bac	3	82	110	Refugi El Bagatell Tél.+34972195194
Llocalu	9	91	260	Bar-restaurant
Olot	4	95	100	Tous services – Camping Les Tries  Tél.+34 972262405- Auberge de jeunesse – Tél.+34 972 264 200 – Hostal Sant Bernat Tél.+34 972 26 19 19
Beget to Olot	From Beget to Olot following the GR83 (with some shortcuts). The markup is ok but needs a bit of attention. It seems uncrowded with vegetation gaining in places. Water in the climb to El Salomó
Les Planes d’Hostoles	21	116	640	Camping L’Alguer Tél.+34 972 44 86 00- Hotel Can Garay Tél.+34 972 448 253
Sant Martí Sacalm	7	123	570	Toilettes publiques (eau, électricité) à côté de la mairie.
Osor	17	140	700	Camping Tél.+34633479851 – épicerie, bar, boulangerie.  Après Osor, Font de la Riba d’Amunt : bon débit.
Sant Hilari Sacalm	12	152	840	Hotel Ripoll Tél.+34 972 868 025 – Fonda Rita Tél.972 86 80 09 – Hostal Torras Tél.621 27 74 42 – Tous services – Entre Sant Hilari Sacalm et Arbúcies  : fontaine à Joanet.
Arbúcies	10	162	140	Camping Tél.+34972162242 – Hotel Montsoliu Tél.+34972861248 – commerces. From Arbúcies, it is possible to hike to Barcelona more directly without going to Montserrat by following the GR83 Camí del Nord and joining my way from Argelès/Mer to Barcelona.
Olot to Arbúcies	Still on GR83 and sometimes PR-C222 (shorter). The trail marks are good. Way through Garrotxa with its volcanoes and beautiful beech woods. Then beautiful paths in the forest and the Lake Susqueda.
Camping La Vall del Vidal	4	166	250	Camping Tél.+34972162242
Sant Marçal	8	174	710	Fontaine
El Brull	13	187	640	Restaurant – fontaine
Aiguafreda	9	196	130	Hostal L’Esquella Tél.938 44 00 80 – Camping L’Avencó Tél.622 76 38 09 – Commerces
Arbúcies to Aiguafreda	Hiking through Serra de Montseny. Ascent by a well marked path SL C84 then the GR 5.2 to the summit of Matagalls. Descent to El Brull, path marked in blue then good path with cairns then a path more direct and parallel to GR2.
Sant Miquel del Fai	15	211	780
Sant Feliu de Codines	6	217	240	Commerces
Sant Llorenç Savall	13	230	430	Hostal Cal Pla Tél.+34 655 77 89 13 – commerces
Rellinars	21	251	890	Commerces
Monistrol de Montserrat	11	262	330	Hôtel Guillemes Tél.+34 938 28 40 65 – commerces
Aiguafreda to Monistrol de Montserrat	Through the Natural Park of Sant Llorenç del Munt i l’Obac with canyons, polymorphic rocks and good paths. Nice views of the Serra de Montserrat at the end. Attention, few water points.
Montserrat	4	266	630	Abbaye de Montserrat et camping Tél.+34 938 77 77 77 – Hôtels – Bars et restaurants
Collbató	7	273	490	Hostal Can Missè Tél.+34 937 779 061 – cafés
Esparreguera	5	278	70	Commerces
Olesa de Montserrat	2	280	40	Tous commerces mais pas d’hébergement
Ullastrell	8	288	300	Accueil pèlerins (clés à la mairie. Tél. 937-887-262)
Les Fonts	10	298	340	Hostal del Carmen Tél.937 311 049
Sant Cugat del Vallès	10	308	240	Holiday Inn Express Tél.+34 935 61 25 00 –
Barcelone	15	323	430	Tous services
Monistrol de Montserrat to Barcelona	Very beautiful crossing of the Serra de Montserrat with the passage by the abbey and paths offering spectacular views. Then until Barcelona, the route often stays in the natural environment and off-road.
	323	323	15 420

To hike further south on GR7, see the page GR7 – Caravaca to Montserrat