Route 02: Pallerols – Ribalera

Description of the Route:

Section 2: From Pallerols to Casa del Corb

We leave Pallerols and follow the blue and yellow markings, towards the north, taking the same route as Circuit 2 which goes to La Cabana and the ridge cattle path (40 minutes). We can follow either the old Arçosa trail or the Ca l’Empordanès and Bassa trail. When you reach the top of the ridge, follow the sign indicating Montlleví, towards the north.

A few meters away is a fence of a hunting reserve. We are making arrangements to pass this fence. When you can enter, you must continue the path to the house of Montlleví (50 minutes) and following the path, exit through the other fence near the Caseta de la Mora (30 minutes).

Before reaching the Caseta de la Mora you will find the blue and yellow signs that lead to the Font dels Avellaners (20 minutes) and shortly after at Torrent‘s house (20 minutes).

We will pass behind the house and following the signs we will arrive at the Casa del Corb (30 minutes), which is a living room taking advantage of a natural cave in the limestone rock of the Corb. The natives of the area remember that this cave was inhabited until 1934. The 1937 expedition rested there from 12 at night until 3 in the morning on the 28th, time in which they continued towards the Espluga de les Vaques, in the Ribalera.
– Very important note –

Until the fence of the Arçosa-Montlleví hunting reserve is open, to go to Torrent and El Corb you must go through Canes, following the following route.

You leave Pallerols towards the north following the blue and yellow marks of the normal route. After a few meters (about 200) there is a sign indicating Cabana (on the right into the forest) or Canes (continue straight along the track). You must follow the direction of Canes, which is signposted with yellow circles until the Caseta de la Mora (2 hours 30 minutes).

Shortly after Caseta de la Mora, the blue and yellow marks of the historic path are found again. Continue towards the Font dels Avellaners (15 minutes), Torrent (15 minutes ) and Casa del Corb (30 minutes), just like the normal itinerary.

You leave Pallerols towards the north following the blue and yellow markings of the normal route. In a few meters (about 200) there is a sign indicating Cabana (on the right into the forest) or Canes (continue straight along the track). You must follow the direction of Canes, which is signposted with yellow circles to the Caseta de la Mora. (2 hours 30 minutes).

Shortly after Caseta de la Mora, the blue and yellow marks of the historic path are found again. Continue towards the Font of the Avellaners (15 minutes), Torrent (15 minutes ) and Casa del Corb (30 minutes), just like the normal itinerary.

Summary of Section 2

a) Historical route (blue and yellow marks)
From Pallerols to the House of Montlleví	90 min.
From the House to the Fountain of Hazelnuts	50 min.
From the Fountain to Casa del Corb	50 min.
Total	3 h. 10 min.
b) Variant for Canes (yellow circles)
From Pallerols to Caseta de la Mora	3 h. 20 min.
From Caseta Mora to Font dels Avellaners	20 min.
From Font to Casa del Corb	50 min.
Total	4 hours. 30 min.

Camping Areas and Springs

Casa del Corb .- With capacity for 30 people with sleeping bags (A1).
There is no water.

Fonts.- If you go through Montlleví there is drinking water in the house (F3) Font dels Avellaners (F2) In Torrent’s house there is drinking water (F3)

Section 3: From Casa del Corb to l’Espluga de les Vaques, in Ribalera

We leave the Casa del Corb and go around the mountain of the Corb until we reach Coll de Mu (25 minutes) . Turn right and go down below the rocks of Sant Honorat until you reach the Torrent de les Caubes (20 minutes). We cross the stream and follow the track that goes to Juncàs for a while, until we reach a deviation to the left that goes up through the forest (it’s a logging lane). We will follow it until we reach the track that goes from Juncàs to Santpou and from there in a few minutes to Santpou (50 minutes). From Santpou to the Espluga de les Vaques (35 minutes).

The total journey is 2 hours 10 minutes.

If you don’t continue to Aubenç and want to go back, you can do it in the same place or return via Juncàs. In this case we will follow the following itinerary.

From L’Espluga de les Vaques, we will go back through the same place we came from and after a few meters (about 50) we will find a deviation to the left signposted with yellow circles, which starts going down with a steep slope . In 30 minutes we will reach the track that goes from Juncàs to Santpou. When we arrive at the track we will turn left and continuing along it in 1 hour we will be near the house of Juncàs (a chain that blocks the way for vehicles) where a car can wait for us to take us us at Km. 147.7 of the C-14 road, at the height of La Penella. If we have to continue on foot to the C-14 we will be 1 hour more.

If you ask Josep Boix, who lives in Casa del Pont de Peramola, for the key to the chain, you can get to Santpou with an all-terrain car. The following itinerary must be followed:

After the Peramola bridge, continue in the direction of La Seu d’Urgell along the C-14 road. At Km 147.7, exit in the direction of the Penella Rest Area. Go past Penella’s house and continue along the dirt track leaving Jou on the left until you reach a chain that blocks the way to Juncàs. After the chain continue along the track until Santpou.

Summary of Section 3

From the House of the Corb to Coll de Mu	25 min.
From Coll de Mu to Torrent Caubes	20 min.
From Torrent Caubes to Santpou	50 min.
From Santpou to the Ribalera	35 min.
Total round trip	2 hours. 10 min.
From Ribalera to Pista de Juncàs	30 min.
From Pista de Juncàs to Cadena Juncàs	1 h.
From Juncàs chain to Carretera C-14	1 hour. 30 min.
Total returned	3 h.

Camping Areas and Springs

– Tents can be pitched in Santpou (A2)
– At the Espluga de les Vaques you can sleep with a sleeping bag (A1)