The heart of the Garraf park in gravel

This Route takes you into the heart of the Garraf Park, a space of natural interest located in the massif of the same name. Due to its proximity to the sea and geological nature dominated by limestone, this space stands out for its landscape and karst modeling, full of caves and balmas and a typically Mediterranean climate. The human presence inside the park and the massif comes from the cultivation of vineyards and corn. The route runs mainly through sparsely populated areas, but along the Route you find vestiges of human activity in the form of dry stone cabins and lime kilns.

The tour begins in the town of Sant Pere de Ribes. After crossing the town you head towards Can Coll after crossing the bridge of the same name that spans the Ribes stream. Can Coll is a monumental farmhouse that stands out for its two-story gallery with twenty-three semicircular arch porticos. From there you pedal between the fields that separate this town from Sitges, towards the Garraf massif. The climb to the massif is done along the so-called Sitges track. To get to it, and avoid roads or access through urbanizations in the area, I have chosen a path that has an uphill section of about 300 meters in which there are several points with a lot of stones. You may have to push the bike.

The climb along the Sitges track is not very long. It is about two and a half kilometers with some hard sections, over 10%, but the road is in very good condition, and is even partially paved. When the slope stabilizes, you have a seven-kilometer stretch ahead of you, much gentler, with only the occasional short, hard slope. After crossing the road that goes up to Rat Penat, you enter the Villagrassa trail, a delight to do on a gravel bike. Then you enter the paved road that leads to Olivella. Here you will find the hardest ramps to reach the Garraf astronomical observatory, from where you continue along the asphalt to the charming and picturesque town of Olivella. In Olivella there is a “food truck” open from Wednesday to Sunday, much appreciated by cyclists and hikers for its sandwiches, cookies and cakes.

The return towards Sant Pere de Ribes follows a path parallel to the road, until in the Mas Milà urbanization, you enter the track that follows the bottom of the Querol. After almost two kilometers, you enter a narrow path with a gentle climb surrounded by pine trees and ferns. You find some stones, but they are the exception, it is a very beautiful and pleasant part of the Route! When leaving the path comes the descent, through the streets of the Can Pere de la Plana urbanization. Before returning to the starting point you cross a small forest where you ride along a path where roots and stones abound, but it is very cyclable and has enough flow, even for a gravel bike.