An inspiring point-to-point route running from Barcelona all the way to Sant Cugat del Valles.

Statistics

1 - 2

hrs

318

m

342

m

11

max°

Difficulty

FATMAP difficulty grade

Easy

Description

This point-to-point route running from the outskirts of Barcelona all the way to the train station in Sant Cugat des Valles is an inspiring trek through the mountains of Collserola.

While you'll catch the train back from Sant Cugat, you'll shirk the free elevation gain from the funicular and, instead, climb the mountains and cross the entire range on foot! While the initial climb up the mountain might look intimidating, the entire 6-mile run only gains a little over 1,000 feet of elevation, making this route quite attainable to most runners.

If you put your head down and focus on climbing, before you know it, you'll have gained the top of the ridge near Turo del Trac and will be enjoying expansive views of the city below you. As you descend off the top of the ridge, you'll drop into the depths of Collserola.

While the vegetation on the south-facing slopes is open and dry, on the north-facing slopes, the vegetation is dense, and the woods feel deep and dark.

Here, you'll wind your way beneath a dark forest canopy along ancient singletrack trails that connect old villages and historic sites. During this run, you'll pass "the Ermita De Sant Medir dating from the 11th century and the Forn Ibèric, a relic from the second century BC," according to [BarcelonaNavigator.com](https://barcelonanavigator.com/hikes-in-collserola/).

"Ermita" stands for "Hermitage" in English, and this ancient religious site has stood the test of time.

However, over the years, the building itself has undergone many transformations, so "almost no original vestige remains" of the original building, according to [Wikipedia](https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ermita_de_Sant_Medir).

Currently, the hermitage has a belfry, an entrance door with an arch, and some religious engravings.

The Forn Ibèric is a well-preserved ancient Iberian oven located "next to the hermitage of Sant Adjutori, where the Roman road from Bàrcino to Sant Cugat passed," according to [Wikipedia](https://ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forn_ib%C3%A8ric_de_Sant_Cugat_del_Vall%C3%A8s). Enjoy the beauty of the forest and enjoy the incredible history—this run is a gem!