In this article we speak to Joaquin Vizcaíno, a keen cyclist who is passionate about making it easier for visitors to discover the cycling in and around Barcelona region. Joaquin has proposed this route in Maresme as part of his guide to cycling in the Barcelona region. He says:
This is a challenging route that takes cyclists to the summit of Montseny Natural Park. The variety of landscapes you’ll encounter and the stunning views make it worth the effort.
All metrics in this article are approximate.
Route notes
The route departs from Santa Susanna, which is a great base due to its bike friendly hotels and lovely beaches.
The first section of this ride is easy-going, through fields, forests and villages. You pass coastal towns and villages until reaching Malgrat de Mar. From there, the route leaves the county of el Maresme and goes inland following the Tordera river on the N-II road, where occasionally there might be heavy traffic.
If you want to avoid the NII, there are two alternatives.
- The first alternative takes you to the villages of Palafolls and Blanes (roads B/GI-682, and GI-600 to Tordera).
- The second consists in taking the section of the Tourdera route connecting Palafolls to Tordera. (Please be aware that this route include some unpaved but in great conditions paths by the river banks.)
From Tordera the route heads up to the medieval village of Hostalric, to continue to Sant Celoni, right at the bottom of el Montseny Natural Parc.
After Sant Celoni, the climbing challenge begins. The road narrows and the climb starts to reveal its technical difficulties and demands a good deal of endurance, strength and resistance; in less than 30 km, it rises to 1650 m of altitude, going through beautiful Mediterranean forests of holm oaks that turn into chestnuts and beeches, as elevation increases. Along the way, there are many amazing scenic viewpoints and sights from which to admire the Mediterranean Sea or fill up your water bottles.
At the very top of the climb, you get magnificent views over the Maresme coast and the whole region. On very clear days you may even get a glimpse of the island of Mallorca on the horizon.
From the summit, the route descends quickly on the same road, until it turns right towards the small village of Montseny and keeps going down into a valley that leads to the villages of Sant Esteve and Santa Maria de Palautordera, back at the mountain base.
From there, it heads back towards the coast, running through Montnegre i el Corredor Natural Park, as well as lovely villages, such as Vallgorguina or Arenys de Munt, Sant Iscle and Sant Cebrià de Vallalta. Finally, it reaches the coastline at Sant Pol de Mar, from where the return towards Santa Susanna is just a lovely journey along the coast.
Café stops and accommodation
At Santa Susanna, as well as along the route, there are services available, such as bike rentals and shops and restaurants.
Tips
For further information, please visit: https://www.costadebarcelonamaresme.cat/es/que-hacer/cicloturismo/itinerarios-por-carretera-en-el-maresme
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