Routes for mountain biking in the province of Girona

Rutas para salir en bicicleta de montaña en la provincia de Girona

Apart from being a regular destination for training camps and practice for professional cyclists, the province of Girona stands out for its extensive network of trails, routes, and greenways, ideal for cycle tourism on a mountain bike. Its varied terrain, mild climate for most of the year, and well-developed transportation make Girona a place with enormous potential both for active tourism and for those who want to get the most out of their MTB or mountain bike.

In addition, many of these routes connect with well-maintained paved sections, which allows you to combine terrains and also explore the area with road bikes, especially appealing for those seeking long distances and good elevation changes on asphalt.

Below, we suggest some routes that we consider especially attractive to ride by mountain bike through the province of Girona: La Cerdanya, the Empordà, or the rugged region of La Garrotxa, one of the most visited areas by mountain bikers of all levels. Whether you prefer technical trails or more demanding road cycling, Girona has everything you need to enjoy yourself on two wheels.

Medieval Empordà stage route

Through this route you can get to know the entire Empordà region in depth, visiting many of the most representative villages in the area, both inland and on the Costa Brava. This route is divided into two stages, moderate in physical difficulty and easy in technical terms. The roughest and most demanding area will be the coast, both at the end of the first stage and the beginning of the second. You will pass through very well-preserved medieval villages such as Monells or Peratallada and picturesque coastal villages like Llafranc or Calella de Palafrugell. This two-stage route can be done at any time of the year.

  • Difficulty: Moderate
  • Modality: XC
  • Distance: 131 kilometers
  • Elevation gain: 1,614 meters
  • Route type: Circular
  • Start/finish: Girona
  • Track of the route

Cerdanya Route

This simple yet beautiful route connects two of the most important towns in the Cerdanya region, at the gateway to the Pyrenees. The route runs on both sides of the French-Spanish border, starting from Puigcerdà, on Spanish territory, crossing into France via Bourg-Madame, and re-entering Spain at the enclave of Llivia. From Llivia, you return again to France and then cross the Spanish border once more to return to Puigcerdà. During the route, you ride surrounded by the plains of the Segre valley and the snow-capped peaks of the Pyrenees, which in spring stand out for their green and flowery landscape. The route is manageable both physically and technically.

Garrotxa Route

The Natural Park of the Volcanic Zone of La Garrotxa
is the most important volcanic area in the Iberian Peninsula, with up to 10 craters and 23 very well-preserved cones. The park also has a special climate, more oceanic than Mediterranean, with abundant rainfall and some of the lushest and best-preserved forests in all of Catalonia. On this route we propose through the region of La Garrotxa, you will pass through the beech forest of Jordà, which we recommend visiting in autumn to coincide with the falling leaves, the medieval village of Santa Pau, or the waterfalls of Can Catlle. The most challenging part of the route is at the beginning, between Olot and Santa Pau, with a terrain dotted with short climbs. But after passing this town, the path becomes more favorable until reaching Banyoles, where we will end the route skirting its famous lake.