a0263 - Montseny River Gualba Waterfalls to Santa Fe

The route starts in Campins, a small village at the foot of the Montseny mountains. From Campins we take a series of forestall footpaths and gravel roads to the village of Gualba.

From Gualba the uphill ascent starts by passing via a forested trail parallel to the Riera Gualba (river) and arrives at a small hydro electric power station with a small waterfall. From here there is the option of making a short diversion to the viewpoint of the Salt de Gualba, a waterfall with a 130 metre drop over various levels.

From the Power station the trail continues up via a forested trail Taking a right turn into dense forest with a hidden ruined farmhouse. This trail crosses with a river with a beautiful waterfall surrounded by trees with bright yellow leaves in the autumn. To the left of the waterfall the footpath continues up next to the river and follows the river bed via a rocky path as it curves round a headland with a metal cross on the top (La Crau Gran).

When we get within sight of a smaller metal cross (La Creu petita) we will see another large waterfall called Salt de Gorg Negre and we turn left a short way after this into a forested path that climbs up to another hydro electric power station called Central de Dalt. From here we get some views down into the valley.

Continue climbing the path to the right of the power station up through the forest until it joins a rural road / wide path that snakes up the mountain through the forest.

As the rural road gets closer to Santa Fe, it runs next to the Santa Fe river with amazing colours on the trees and small mountain cascades on the river.

After some effort, the path levels out and arrives at the Santa Fe reservoir. We can take small diversion here to walk along the top of the reservoir to the centre and admire the view of the lake and mountains.

To finish the trail, continue a gradual uphill path to the Santa Fe hostel (It looks like a Gothic stone monastery) and then to the Centre d'Informacio Can Casades.

This is the end of the route. to return to Sant Celoni train station there is a sagales bus, with the last bus departing at 18:00h on a weekend. Also there is the Avet Blau Hostal Restaurant behind Centre d'Informacio Can Casades. I recommend doing this as part of a two day adventure, hiking down via Riells on the second day.

Overnight accommodation can be in Aven Blau or Santa Fe hostal.

Allow 6-8 hours to complete this route depending on personal fitness, it is uphill most of the way.