Catalonia Hiking Calendar - Routes sorted by month

Catalona Hiking Calendar

Catalonia is a great place For hiking with the autonomous region containing more than 5,000 kilometres of long distance trails and 4,000 kilometres of short distance routes via mountains, plains and coastal littoral areas. On this page I have grouped all my recommended routes into the best time of the year to do each route.

January

The Pyrenees are partially covered new snow so I recommend Sanctuary de Belamunt pre-Pyrenees route for the great views of the snow tops. Llaberia Natural park (south of Tarragona) is also a great place because there is never any snow in this area because of its location next to the coast.

February

February is ski month but as this page is about hiking I have two great snow shoe routes, one in La Molina ski resort and the other in Centelles. If snow shoe hiking is not your thing then head to Montserrat or Llaberia natural park.

March

February and March are all about the Calçots. A sugary vegetable that is a cross between a leek and an Onion. they are served roasted over a fire and dipped in a red pepper, garlic, almonds and tomato sauce. Calçotada lunches can be found in most rural masia (farmhouse) restaurants in Collserola park. Cabrera sanctuary starts at Can Punti rural restaurant and you can find Calçotadas in any restaurant in Monistrol de Montserrat.

April

The start of spring and I recommend Parc Collserola to enjoy all the budding trees or Montserrat lower foothills to enjoy the trees.

May

The snow has melted in the Pyrenees in most places so I recommend Taga summit and Ribes de Freser to Nuria resort. Nearer to Barcelona Tagamanent summit is also a good option from Figaroacute;

June

The start of summer and I recommend Colserolla park behind Barcelona or Montserrat. This is also the best time of the year to hike the Camiacute; de Ronda between Palámos and Begur before the tourists arrive for their Costa Brava summer holiday. For an emblematic and challenging mountain route head to Pedraforca.

July

The temperature in Barcelona is now hot so head to the high summits of the Pyrenees such as Puigmal. Cool off in the amazing river and lakes of Congost de Mont-rebei or head to Aigüestortes.

August

Coastal hikes or glacial mountain lakes to cool off from the Summer heat. I recommend Aigüestortes, Aragon, and the train accessible Costa Dorada.

September

Grape and rice harvesting time. Montsant Escaladei is in the heart of Catalonias Grape country with the nearby Poboleda Grape Harvest Festival at the beginning of September. September is also the end of the summer hiking season and the last opportunity to hike the high Pyrenees peeks of Andorra before the snow arrives.

October

October is the month to head to the woods and see the changing colours of the leaves and Castanyada's (chestnut festivals). Montseny Natural park and la Garrotxa natural park have the best forest hiking routes. Montseny Valldrau to Sant Segimon via waterfalls starts in the town of Valldrau which has a Castanyada (chesnut roasting festival) at the end of October.

November

Continuing the autumn colours of the Forests of Catalonia, I recommend la Garrotxa and Montseny. For a train accessible route the Serra de montgrony between Toses and Planoles is also a good option.

December

For pre-Pyrenees hikes I recommend the Berguedá region in Peguera and Malanyeu. Rupit, with the tallest waterfall in Catalonia also has a great Christmas vibe in the medieval village. For train accessible routes I recommend Sant Quirze de Besora and Cingles de bertiacute; for the spectacular valley views in the morning fog.

Click on a photo to find out the details about how to repeat my trails to find these hidden wonders.

To see this list of routes organised by national parks and geographic areas, visit my Barcelona Catalonia Hiking page.

Happy Exploring!