Els Ports - circular walk from Coll de la Refoia
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 6.09 mi
- Elevation gain
- 1,099 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Moderate
- Elevation loss
- 1,099 ft
- Max elevation
- 3,530 ft
- TrailRank
- 32
- Min elevation
- 2,689 ft
- Trail type
- Loop
- Moving time
- 3 hours 15 minutes
- Time
- 4 hours 55 minutes
- Coordinates
- 1524
- Uploaded
- March 30, 2021
- Recorded
- March 2021
near Paüls, Catalunya (España)
Viewed 241 times, downloaded 6 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
An easy to follow circular walk, that takes you in the heart of the Parc Natural dels Ports, with its impressive limestone ridges, wonderful black and red pine forests and rupicolous vegetation.
It is advisable to download the route beforehand as the mountainous area is without connection.
The best way to get to the starting point at Coll de la Refoia (set your navigator at 40°56'54.4"N 0°23'46.8"E or 40.948446, 0.396321) is by heading towards Paüls on the T3541 and then take a sharp turn at 40.9257989711111, 0.40571785998764126 on an unmarked country road that takes you in to the interior. There is another entry via Prat del Compte but the lane is in even worse condition and only apt for 4x4. A 4x4 vehicle is, in any case, a must as the last 4 km of the lane leading from Paüls are quite deteriorated.
Follow narrow road for about 10 km as it winds up the spectacular massif until you get to the parking area (if full head to the large parking area seat in the clearing below).
Just before you start there is a viewing platform (easy to miss) from where you can see the complex topography of the valley of Paüls.
Follow the lane, upwards, until you reach a pond. From there turn left and follow a narrow path moving downwards with a ridge on your right, until you reach a flat, grassy area leading to the Font del Montsagre de Paüls with some hollow tree trunks channeling the water from the spring.
Head straight on, following the path moving upwards, until you reach a beautiful dense forest of black pine trees. Keep following the path through the woodland which eventually leads downwards towards the Font del Montsagre d'Horta, another natural spring. There is a little sitting area made of tree trunks which is also a lovely spot to take a break before you head for the second leg of the journey.
Turn right and follow the path ,which crosses the small valley of the pla del Ravanal diagonally, and then heads upwards towards a shallow stone ridge. Climb the ridge and keep following the path leading upwards towards an orange painted marker. Eventually you will reach the unpaved lane that take you up to the summit of the Tossal d'Engrilló with spectacular views stretching from Horta de Sant Joan to Aragon.
From there on it's all the way down. You can either follow the lane direct back the pond or cut through a small segment which then rejoins the lane further down which eventually reaches the staring point at the parking area.
It is advisable to download the route beforehand as the mountainous area is without connection.
The best way to get to the starting point at Coll de la Refoia (set your navigator at 40°56'54.4"N 0°23'46.8"E or 40.948446, 0.396321) is by heading towards Paüls on the T3541 and then take a sharp turn at 40.9257989711111, 0.40571785998764126 on an unmarked country road that takes you in to the interior. There is another entry via Prat del Compte but the lane is in even worse condition and only apt for 4x4. A 4x4 vehicle is, in any case, a must as the last 4 km of the lane leading from Paüls are quite deteriorated.
Follow narrow road for about 10 km as it winds up the spectacular massif until you get to the parking area (if full head to the large parking area seat in the clearing below).
Just before you start there is a viewing platform (easy to miss) from where you can see the complex topography of the valley of Paüls.
Follow the lane, upwards, until you reach a pond. From there turn left and follow a narrow path moving downwards with a ridge on your right, until you reach a flat, grassy area leading to the Font del Montsagre de Paüls with some hollow tree trunks channeling the water from the spring.
Head straight on, following the path moving upwards, until you reach a beautiful dense forest of black pine trees. Keep following the path through the woodland which eventually leads downwards towards the Font del Montsagre d'Horta, another natural spring. There is a little sitting area made of tree trunks which is also a lovely spot to take a break before you head for the second leg of the journey.
Turn right and follow the path ,which crosses the small valley of the pla del Ravanal diagonally, and then heads upwards towards a shallow stone ridge. Climb the ridge and keep following the path leading upwards towards an orange painted marker. Eventually you will reach the unpaved lane that take you up to the summit of the Tossal d'Engrilló with spectacular views stretching from Horta de Sant Joan to Aragon.
From there on it's all the way down. You can either follow the lane direct back the pond or cut through a small segment which then rejoins the lane further down which eventually reaches the staring point at the parking area.
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