10 routes through Catalonia to discover the colors of autumn

BarcelonaPhotographer, mountaineer, and educator Jordi Longàs says that in Catalonia we are "very fortunate in our landscape," as after many trips he has been able to verify that "few places have what we have here: a great variety of ecosystems and natural landscapes concentrated in just a few kilometers." Longàs has just published the book The colors of autumn (Cosetania), which proposes 30 routes through Catalonia to enjoy this season with the family. The book suggests excursions throughout the territory, capturing the country's panoramic diversity. While there are some very popular routes, there are also many that readers are sure to discover, as they cover lesser-known areas and offer an opportunity to discover new places.

Longàs explains that she wanted to present the book with excursions that are very accessible to everyone and says that "practically 80% can be done as a family," although she always recommends being well prepared and keeping in mind that "in autumn the weather can change quickly." When we asked him what he thinks are some of the best places to enjoy the autumn colours at home, he explains that if you want to go relatively close to Barcelona, ​​we have "Osona and Montseny with some splendid areas such as Bisaura or the well-known Santa Fe beech forest, which is well worth a visit" but, nevertheless, he recommends going to Pi "a year. In the book, he also makes some suggestions further afield and includes wetland areas and vineyards that, he says, "although they are not the most classic images of autumn that we may have in our heads, offer fascinating landscapes." With him, we have made a selection of 10 relatively easy excursions that you can do right now to enjoy the colour explosion of autumn at home.

This route through Ripollès climbs to Rocabruna Castle and allows us to enjoy the forests, which in autumn offer a feast of colors combined with the green of the meadows and framed by a rugged terrain. Once we reach the small village of Rocabruna, the route to the castle is easy and flat, ideal for families. The final reward is seeing the remains of this construction, whose origins date back to the 10th century. We can try to imagine how imposing it once was and enjoy the panoramic views from the summit. On the way back, you can take the car to Beget, a few kilometers away, and enjoy its charm.

This route will allow you to enjoy autumn in the Pallars Sobirà and Aran Valley regions, where the spectacle of reddish colors dyeing the forests begins earlier than in other parts of the country. The route passes through the Alt Pirineu Natural Park and some of its most iconic sites. To begin, you can leave your car at the Fornet refuge, or, if you have a vehicle capable of traveling on a dirt track, you can reach the Perosa mountain hut and begin the route from there, which will take you across the river, to the village of Montgarri, and finally to the shrine of the Virgin of Montgarri.

The summit of Taga can be reached by several routes. Longàs suggests approaching it from the Pardines slope, which in autumn offers an incomparable spectacle and a magnificent view of the eastern Pyrenees, Puigmal, and Montseny. To climb to the peak of Taga—which reaches an altitude of 2,040 meters—you must wear appropriate equipment to enjoy what is a classic hiking peak in Spain. We can begin the route at the hermitage of Santa Magdalena de Puigsac, from where the walk is relatively easy except for the final stretch, which is the most challenging.

Jordi Longàs warns that this route is for lovers of "remote and somewhat wild places," because the route through the Els Voltors Valley is located in La Terreta, a relatively unknown area east of the Noguera Ribagorçana mountain range, offering a privileged view of the Sant Gervàs mountain range. The long route—31 km—can be completed by bicycle, as the terrain is fairly easy, but if you prefer to hike, you can take the 15 km route that starts at the Torre de Tamurcia and goes to the village of Aulàs. The expert warns that, although it's not an overly difficult hike, it does have some significant elevation gain.

The climb to this peak in the Bas Valley can be made via several different routes. The best-known is probably the Bracons route, which is short and very popular, but here's our suggestion for the ascent from Vidrà, a longer but equally easy and accessible route. Follow the GR 151 trail, which departs from Vidrà and takes you up to the 1,514-meter peak through meadows and forests, enjoying the extraordinary views of this part of Catalonia.

This route allows us to enjoy the autumn colors in the forests that accompany the river landscapes of the Flix area and also observe the large number of birds that live there, such as kingfishers and storks, which will delight ornithology enthusiasts. The route we propose is through the Sebes Nature Reserve, one of the most important natural areas in Terres de l'Ebre. It begins at the Mas del Director Information Center, from where the path leads to the start of the excursion that will allow us to visit the different landscapes of the wetlands.

As Jordi Longàs says, "the vineyards also offer a magnificent autumn landscape, although it's not what usually comes to mind when we think of this season." That's why he suggests discovering the Priorat landscape with this excursion around Porrera, which will allow us to wander through fields of vines tinged with reddish hues. The route begins by crossing the Cortiella stream and follows the old road from Falset to Porrera, climbs to the Collo Mayor, the Collo dels Masos, and returns to Porrera.

The remains of Besora Castle are located at an altitude of over 1,000 meters, and the excursion from the village of Santa María de Besora is a great way to enjoy the whole family, offering fantastic views of the Peguera plains, Pedraforca, the Sierra del Cadí, and other peaks in the area. The climb to the castle can be combined with a hike to Salto del Mir, a waterfall that, if visited after a rainy season, will offer a beautiful spectacle of spewing water.

This hike is very popular, accessible, and easy to do with children. It's a simple circular route whose first section allows us to visit the famous Santa Fe del Montseny beech forest and skirt its reservoir. The forest is the star of this hike, occupying every corner of the mountain and barely allowing a glimpse of the summit of Morou from below due to the trees filling the landscape and dyeing it in the colors of autumn. Despite being a fairly crowded route, it's well worth the effort.

The Aigüestortes and Estany de Sant Maurici National Park is "a must-see in autumn," says Longàs, who suggests a relatively easy route, but one that requires preparation and anticipation of temperatures that can be quite cold. The hike starts at the parking lot at the beginning of the park and follows the GR11 to Sant Maurici Lake, then continues past the Ratera waterfall and climbs to the Amitges refuge, at 2,366 meters, where you can even sleep (reservation required) and enjoy one of the most beautiful landscapes in the Pyrenees.