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Pardines al Puig Estela

HardCatalonia · Spain

GPX
Distance
18.5 km (11.5 mi)
Elevation gain
901 m (2,956 ft)
Estimated time
5 hr 19 min
Difficulty
Hard
Route type
Loop
Highest point
Not recorded

About Pardines al Puig Estela

Pardines al Puig Estela is a 18.5 km hiking route in Catalonia, Spain. It climbs roughly 901 m (2,956 ft) along the way. Most people take around 5 hr 19 min at a comfortable pace, plus stops. Treat it as a full day out: the ascent is relentless in places and there are few easy escape points.

The higher sections open out completely, with ridgelines stacking into the distance on clear days.

The circuit closes on itself, which makes logistics simple: one car park, one round of 11.5 mi. It is not consistently waymarked, so carry a map or a downloaded track rather than relying on signs.

Plan this one outside the summer months: cooler air makes the exposed sections far more pleasant. The nearest town of any size is Olot, about 24.6 km away, which is where most people base themselves.

In short, Pardines al Puig Estela suits fit hikers with a habit of long days and an eye on the forecast. Dog access is not formally recorded here, so check locally before bringing one.

Plan around this route’s details

Start, finish and return
This route is recorded as a 18.5 km loop. Confirm a permitted access point and include the approach from parking or public transport in your plan.
Climbing in context
The recorded ascent averages approximately 49 m of climbing per kilometre across the whole route. This is climbing density, not trail gradient: climbs and flatter sections may be unevenly distributed.
What needs a separate check
This record does not establish surface, dog access, wheelchair access. Check any of these that affect your group. Current closures, access arrangements and transport are not verified by the route line.
Understand the source data →Suggest a sourced correction →

Route map

Hard18.5 km901 m

Numbered marks every 5 km

Route line from OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL. View the source relation

Make it fit your day

Your walking-time scenario

Adjust the example pace and allowances to explore your own plan. This calculator uses your inputs, so it may differ from the directory’s headline estimate.

Calculated walking time including your allowances

6 hr 38 min

278 min for distance + 90 min for ascent + 30 min allowance.

Formula: distance ÷ pace × 60 + ascent ÷ 100 × climbing allowance + stops. Travel to and from the route is additional. Terrain, descent, weather and navigation are not modelled. These results do not establish route suitability. Read the time-planning guide.

Recorded route measurements

The loop is usually walked clockwise from the main trailhead. The first third does most of the climbing, so settle into a slow rhythm early rather than trying to hold a flat-ground pace. The upper section is where the route earns its reputation, and it is also where weather changes fastest. The return leg is the reverse of the outward journey, which makes it easy to judge remaining time.

Highlights

  • Mountain
  • Circular route, no backtracking

Know before you go

Season field
October to May
Waymarked
Not recorded as waymarked
Surface
Not recorded
Dogs
Not recorded, check locally
Wheelchair access
Not recorded
Entrance fee
Not recorded
Camping
Not recorded
Drinking water
Not recorded as available
Toilets
Not recorded as available
Mobile coverage
Not verified
Parking
Park at the trailhead, arrive early in high season
Emergency
112 in Europe, 911 in North America

How this trail scores

Computed from distance, ascent, terrain features, surface and access data.

Scenery
50/100

Terrain features, relief and photographic interest

Adventure
54/100

Distance, ascent and how wild the ground is

Difficulty
66/100

Effort index from distance and climbing

Accessibility
19/100

Surface, gradient and ease of reaching it

Family
10/100

Suitability for children who already walk

Dogs
62/100

Access rules, terrain and water along the way

Tips from the trail

  • Start at first light. A long day is far more pleasant when you are not racing the sunset on the descent.
  • Aim for october to may for the most reliable conditions.
  • Download the track to your phone before you leave. Signal is not guaranteed.
  • Leave nothing behind, including fruit peel, and stay on the marked line to protect the ground either side.

Warnings

  • This route is long and sustained. Turn back early rather than late if the weather closes in.

Safety

Emergency services in Spain are reached on 112. Tell someone your route and expected finish time before you set off, particularly if you are walking alone. Mobile coverage is generally usable along this route, but do not rely on it as your only plan. If the weather deteriorates, descending the way you came is almost always the safer option.

What to bring

  • Comfortable, broken-in hiking shoes or boots
  • Weatherproof jacket
  • At least 1.5 litres of water
  • Trekking poles for the descent
  • Offline map and compass
  • Head torch and spare battery
  • Extra warm layer
  • Small first aid kit including blister plasters

Photography

Shoot the first hour after sunrise from the higher ground: the low angle picks out every ridge and the valleys still hold mist. Because it is a loop, the light changes direction as you go, so save some memory for the back half. A wide lens captures the scale, but a short telephoto is what turns a good view into a photograph.

Frequently asked questions

Reviews

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Prepare for this walk

All planning articles →

Understanding the map

Download a GPX route and check it before leaving

Take a route into your navigation app, check the imported line and understand what a GPX download does and does not contain.

Read article →

Planning your day

Loops, out-and-backs and point-to-point return plans

Work out what a route's shape means for distance, endpoints and getting back after the walk.

Read article →

Sources and confidence

What open route data can tell you—and what to verify locally

Distinguish source records, calculated estimates and missing details before relying on a route page.

Read article →

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