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There is nothing better than discovering Catalonia in autumn with a good hike. The beech forests turn golden, the oaks light up the paths with ochre and red, and the riverside forests are full of leaves. From Garrotxa to the Pyrenees, passing through Montseny, Gavarres or the Mountains of Prades, Catalonia has a good collection of routes and landscapes to enjoy in autumn.
Some hikes are ideal for a family walk; others require more leg strength, but reward the effort with spectacular views. Here is a selection of 8 autumn hikes in Catalonia, with different levels of difficulty, duration, and types of landscape, to plan a spectacular getaway.
Autumn excursions to the Fageda d'en Jordà
The Fageda d'en Jordà, within the Natural Park of the Volcanic Area of la Garrotxa, is probably the forest we most associate with the Catalan autumn. When the leaves of the beech trees change from green to gold and russet tones, walking on the old lava flow of the Croscat, among volcanic hummocks, is a powerful experience.
Difficulty: easy · Distance: 2.6 km · Duration: 1 h · Altitude difference: 40 m
This is an ideal autumn excursion for families or friends looking for a peaceful walk. If you want a more complete excursion, the route that joins the Fageda, the volcano of Santa Margarida and the Croscat is 10.9 km and is of moderate difficulty.
If you want to delve deeper into this space, you can also check our guide to discover the Fageda d'en Jordà, with more information about the routes, accesses, parking and other places of interest in the area.
Autumn routes in Montseny
Montseny is one of the classic places to enjoy autumn in Catalonia. This massif, declared a Natural Park and a Biosphere Reserve, concentrates a wide variety of landscapes and plant species within a short distance. In autumn, the color change is progressive and turns the paths into a succession of yellow, ochre, and reddish tones.
If you want an easy walk, we recommend the Font del Frare itinerary.
Difficulty: easy · Distance: 1.1 km
It's a perfect choice for families or for those who simply want to enjoy the landscape without turning the outing into a sporting challenge.
If you want a longer route, you can choose the circular itinerary to the Santa Fe reservoir, about 2.6 km. It is a simple and very pleasant route, ideal to combine with a visit to the Can Casades Information Center and spend a good part of the day there.
For hikers looking for a more demanding excursion, Montseny also offers ascents to the Turó de l'Home (1,708 m) or to the Agudes (1,705 m).
If you decide to visit it, our article where we recommend 10 activities to discover the treasures of Montseny will be especially useful.
An autumn outing through Berguedà
In Berguedà, autumn is much more mountainous. The landscape changes as we gain altitude: oak, holm oak and red pine forests give way to beech forests and, in the higher zones, to black pine forests.
The result is a combination of ochre and golden colors with the silhouettes of Cadí, Pedraforca and the pre-Pyrenean ranges as a backdrop.
Our recommendation is to go up to Queralt through the Obaga, a route of about 5.5 km that climbs from Berga to the sanctuary of Queralt crossing wooded areas.
Difficulty: easy · Distance: 5.5 km · Duration: 2 h
It's an ideal route for a fall morning. Once at the sanctuary, you will have a spectacular panorama of central Catalonia.
If you want to discover more mountain routes in the region, you can complete this excursion with our article about Pedraforca, its routes and other activities of the Berguedà.
Autumn Routes in the Pyrenees of Lleida
If you want to see how autumn gradually colors the forests from top to bottom, head to the Alt Pirineu Natural Park. Here, the change in colors is closely related to altitude: while the higher areas begin to take on autumn hues at the end of September, the change progresses towards the valleys during October and November.
One of the great highlights of autumn hikes in the Pyrenees of Lleida is the Forest of Virós, in Vall Ferrera, one of the most interesting woodland areas in Pallars Sobirà.
Difficulty: moderate · Distance: 11.7 km · Elevation change: 380 m
If you have strong legs, you can follow the Forest of Virós itinerary.
If you prefer a more relaxing walk, the Pla de Boavi, in the Vall de Cardós, is a sure bet.
Duration: approximately 1 h · Elevation change: 20 m
The route allows you to follow the river bank among birch trees, fir trees, pines, and deciduous forest patches.
If your getaway extends for a few days, you can also combine nature and heritage with our route through the Romanesque churches of the Vall de Boí.
Autumn excursions in Ripollès
In the Ripollès, autumn is experienced among beech groves, oak groves, riparian forests and the first mountains of the Pyrenees. It is a particularly interesting region because the landscape changes greatly depending on the altitude: you can find more Mediterranean environments in the valleys and, a few bends higher up, humid forests and beech groves.
One of the most representative routes is the route of the Set Fonts and the Tres Fagedes, in Sant Pau de Segúries.
Difficulty: Moderate · Distance: 11.4 km · Duration: 4 h
It is circular and combines moist and cold environments with zones of more Mediterranean vegetation. A good option for hikers who want to spend a good part of the day to it.
If you prefer a shorter walk, our recommendation is the path of the beech grove and the huts, in Setcases.
Difficulty: Low · Distance: 6.4 km
Autumn routes through the Gavarres
Not all autumn forests are an explosion of reds, yellows, and oranges. In the Gavarres, between Girona and the Baix Empordà, autumn takes on a much more Mediterranean appearance.
To truly discover the Gavarres, we recommend taking one of the self-guided routes offered by the Gavarres Consortium. There are easy ones, such as the forests of Sant Cristòfol del Bosc in Llambilles, and others of medium difficulty, such as the one in the Vall de Bell-lloc in Palamós.
Difficulty: easy - medium · Type: self-guided routes
This is an ideal suggestion if you're looking to experience a more Mediterranean and peaceful autumn, with relatively easy hikes that could be paired with a visit to one of the surrounding villages or a getaway to the Baix Empordà.
Autumn Excursion through the Prades Mountains
The Prades Mountains are particularly interesting because, despite being in the heart of the Mediterranean region, they hide corners of Eurosiberian vegetation: oak forests, yew forests and Scots pine forests that coexist with holm oaks and red rock landscapes.
The main protagonist is the Pyrenean oak, a very unique species that has here the only oak grove of this type in all of Catalonia.
To discover it, you can take the yew and pyrenean oak grove trail, which starts from the Font de la Teula in Vimbodí i Poblet.
Difficulty: moderate · Distance: 10.2 km · Duration: 4 h · Elevation gain: 522 m
The path climbs up the Tillar ravine to the Tossal de la Baltasana, 1,201 meters high, the highest point of the Prades Mountains.
If you don't want to cover so many kilometers, you can opt for other trails around Poblet and Prades. And if you want to take advantage of the getaway to also discover the heritage of the area, you can complement it with the Cistercian Route, which connects the monasteries of Santes Creus, Poblet and Vallbona de les Monges.
Autumn routes in Montsec and the Pre-Pyrenees
In Montsec, autumn has a different face. Here the forest does not occupy everything: forest masses, cliffs, ravines, crops and large open spaces alternate and create a much more contrasted landscape.
It is precisely this combination that makes the Pre-Pyrenees during autumn special.
One of the most spectacular hikes is the Mont-rebei Gorge, which allows you to walk literally hanging over the Noguera Ribagorçana river.
If you prefer a hike that combines forest and heritage, you can take the route from Guardia de Noguera to the castles of Guardia and Mur.
Difficulty: medium · Distance: 10.4 km · Duration: 3 h
The route has sections of thicker vegetation and paths that lead to the castle of Mur.
And if you want a shorter option, the itinerary that borders the Terradets reservoir is only 3.3 km and part of the route is accessible for people with reduced mobility.
It's a good alternative for those who have already seen many beech forests and are looking for a different autumn excursion, with a landscape where the forest shares prominence with the mountains and cliffs.
Tips for enjoying the woods in autumn
Before leaving the house, we recommend that you check the weather forecast and the state of the trails: rain can turn a simple path into a slippery terrain.
Wear shoes with good soles, some warm clothing and more clothes than you think you will need. In the autumn, temperatures can vary greatly between the early morning and the middle of the day, especially in mountain areas.
If you choose to go mushroom picking, make sure you are well informed about the rules in each area and respect the areas where collection is regulated.
It's also important to adapt your route to your level and take into account the duration, the incline and the hours of daylight available. If you're going with children, prioritize short itineraries with low difficulty.
And above all, don't be in a hurry. Often the best plan is simply to lose yourself for a while in the woods, enjoy the colors of the leaves and discover autumn at your own pace.
