Congost de Mont-rebei, Catalonia, Spain

5kasejason 5:00 PM Aug 15, 2014

One of Spain's Best Hikes Through Mont-Rebei Gorge
Hiking in the Mont-Rebei Gorge offers a perfect combination of risk, adventure, and aerobic activity, all packed into a concise day trip. There are opportunities for further exploration if you're looking for more action, and it is easy to tailor your experience to your own interests. To start, we had some trouble finding directions to this place. We had read all about it on the internet, but it was difficult to pinpoint a specific location that we could map out. To reach the start of the gorge hike, seek out directions to these coordinates: 42.099082,0.699497. That location represents the dirt road leading to the main parking area. You will have to pay 4 euro per car to park here, and you will find some composting toilets as well as a hut for information. We had to check in at the hut prior to our hike, and it was here that a nice gentleman gave us some advice on the trail. After checking in, we headed off towards the gorge. The views throughout the trail were most excellent and only got better as we neared the exciting part in which the trail is carved out of the rock. Before reaching this area, we came to a suspension bridge over a narrow stretch of water. There were people jumping off the rocks into the water here. It looked like a lot of fun, but I did not have my swimsuit with me at the time. If you like to do this sort of thing, I recommend that you bring swimwear. The water is very clear and deep, so it is relatively safe to jump here. Nevertheless, you should make sure to swim below the rocks and check the water before making any jump. Best of all, the rocks slope towards the water here, so you can start off jumping from lower heights if you aren't comfortable with the higher spots. After crossing the bridge, we soon came to the main gorge part of the hike. While the trail could be intimidating at times due to the height above the water, it was sufficiently wide. There was a wire affixed to the rock so that we could hold on whenever we needed additional support. During our trip, we saw several children on the trail and even some dogs, none of which seemed to be having any difficulty. Unless you have an acute fear of heights, you should be able to hike through the gorge with no problems. When we reached the end of the gorge, most other people turned around and headed back towards the parking area. We had read that there is a way to hike to a cave near the end of the hike, so we continued on looking for the trail. We did not find the cave and couldn't find anyone else who knew where it was located. Just as we decided to give up and head back to the car, we spied a metal foothold sticking out of the rock. This turned out to be the start of the trail up to the Cova Colomera - we had finally found it! Our problem was that we had been looking for the trail in the area after the gorge, but the trail actually starts from within the gorge itself. If you intend to visit this cave yourself, you can locate the start of the trail just after a bend in the gorge. This bend is located after the small tunnel through the rock (when you're hiking with the water on your right). As you hike, if you find that you've left the gorge itself, you have gone too far. Just look for what appears to be a dry waterfall on the left side of the path. If you hike up this route, you will find metal chains and footholds to assist you in the climb. This part of the hike is not recommended for children and should only be attempted if you are in good shape. The path leads upwards to the opening of a large cave in the rock. There are excellent views from within and this spot would make for an excellent picnic location. Just be sure to pack out your trash! If you are looking for an excellent hike, you should not hesitate to check out this place. The hike through the gorge and back takes about 3 hours and covers about 7 kilometers (more if you stop to swim/ visit the cave). As you near the parking area, keep your eyes peeled for small signs indicating the direction of "Mont Rebei." Be careful on the roads, as some cars drive very fast and the roads are somewhat narrow. If you have a lot of time in this area, you can continue your hike after the gorge. The trail soon splits with one trail going up towards Corca/ Ager and the other leading back down to the water. This second trail looks very interesting, as it zigzags on a boardwalk up the rock face just after a second suspension bridge. We didn't have time to explore it on this trip, but we fully intend to return some time and check out this other trail leading towards Montfalco.

5srf525 5:00 PM Jan 10, 2016

Not for the faint of heart
A fantastic place, beautiful scenic vistas, great walks at great height, looks dangerous but as has been said , you felt safe. I saw men on cycles , a bit of a tight squeeze to pass them as pathways only very narrow, and couples with children strapped to their backs. As it is an aerobic walk climbing steep parts in place and sheer drops, not too sure I'd want to take children on this walk! We saw eagles and all kinds of birds too....so take your binoculars.