Getting there
- Flights to Barcelona (BCN) 40 km from the start
Treks / Spain
Montserrat: Sant Jeroni
Spain · Nearest city: Barcelona
TypeDay hike
Days1
Distance≈ 12 km
Climbing≈ 600 m
Highest point1,236 m
A day hike from the Montserrat monastery through saw-toothed rock towers to the highest point of the massif.
Fitness
Moderate
Best seasonAll year (avoid summer midday)
High pointSant Jeroni
Watch out: Very little shade. Start early in summer and carry water.
Why people choose it
It's a mountain of strange rock towers with a monastery, an hour from Barcelona, and the views from Sant Jeroni reach the Pyrenees on clear days.
What makes it different
- Saw-tooth rock towers
- A famous monastery at the start
- Rack railway or cable car to begin
Before you go
Some of these are affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. We only list services that fit this trek.
Phone and data
Phone plans from the EU and EEA roam here at home prices. Coming from the US, UK or elsewhere? A Europe data eSIM is usually far cheaper than roaming.
Expect long stretches with no signal on the trail. Download offline maps and our GPX before you start.
Insurance that covers this trek
Most travel insurance includes hiking at this height. Check that hiking is listed and that medical evacuation is covered.
Rescue is not the same as evacuation. Travel insurance usually pays to fly you to hospital, but not always for the search and rescue itself. Read the policy's "search and rescue" section.
True Traveller sells only to UK and EEA residents. Always check the altitude limit and your country of residence in the policy wording. Our trekking insurance guide explains what to look for.
Camping and where to sleep
Wild camping is regulated by each region and generally banned in natural parks. Mountain refuges and campsites are the norm.
Rules change and differ between parks. Check with the local park or tourist office before you pitch a tent.
Route map
Map layers load on the live site. Use the overview below meanwhile.
Straight lines between stops Start / finish Stop on the way Nearest city
Switch between Topo, Satellite and Street layers with the layer button, and turn on the marked hiking trails overlay. We don't have the exact trail for this route yet, so stops are joined with straight lines. Always carry a proper hiking map on the trail.
Stops: Montserrat Abbey → Montserrat
Simple overview map
Step by step
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Months before
Plan and book
- No bookings are needed for most people. Choose a day with a good forecast.
- Best time to go: All year (avoid summer midday).
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6–12 weeks before
Train and test your gear
- Take the readiness quiz to see how many weeks of training you need.
- Break in your boots and train with the pack you'll carry.
- Tick off the packing list to see what you still need.
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Getting there
Travel to the start
- Most people start from Barcelona.
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On the trail
Walk it
- Start early and set a turnaround time. Be back down before the weather turns or daylight fades.
- Carry water, food, a warm layer and a rain jacket even on a sunny day.
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The finish
Get home
- It's a one-way route, so plan your transport back from the finish in advance.
How the season changes things
Best time: All year (avoid summer midday)
March to May
Spring
The best time for most people: green hills, wildflowers and comfortable temperatures.
Bring
- Light layers
- Sun hat
- A light rain jacket for showers
June to August
Summer
Hot, often above 30°C, with little shade. Start at dawn and rest in the afternoon. Fire risk can close paths.
Bring
- 2–3 litres of water
- Sun hat and long sleeves
- Electrolytes
September to November
Autumn
Warm sea and settled weather in early autumn, with the first storms arriving later.
Bring
- Rain jacket from October
- Light layers
- Headlamp as days shorten
Be ready for
Heat
Start at dawn, rest in the shade at midday, and carry more water than you think. Electrolytes help.
What you'll see
3 photos taken on and around the route by Wikimedia Commons photographers. Tap one to see it bigger.
Gear for the Montserrat: Sant Jeroni
Photo credits: Montserrat des de Manresa by Josep Renalias, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Abbey of Montserrat by Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Туман наступает - panoramio by karel291, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Photos resized for the web. Figures are approximate and vary with the variant you choose.
