Thinking of a trip to Girona

[G-Sport]

Looking at taking a riding trip to Girona (Spain) in November. Driving from the UK so we can take EMTB's. Done Finale a few times and loved that but fancy trying somewhere new.
Any ideas/suggestions/experience to share?

Group of 4 probably. Mixed medium abilities (all experienced riding Finale and the Alps etc), probably looking at mostly red's and blacks with tech descents and session-able sections. Be nice to hit a few moderate jumps but some people will refuse to try the jumps unless they are super beginner friendly so ideally with options or rollable chicken lines. Best to avoid long super exposed sections (the odd bit is OK).

I understand you can get an uplift "taxi" to start and work your way back?

 

[nickf]

Looking at taking a riding trip to Girona (Spain) in November. Driving from the UK so we can take EMTB's. Done Finale a few times and loved that but fancy trying somewhere new.
Any ideas/suggestions/experience to share?

Group of 4 probably. Mixed medium abilities (all experienced riding Finale and the Alps etc), probably looking at mostly red's and blacks with tech descents and session-able sections. Be nice to hit a few moderate jumps but some people will refuse to try the jumps unless they are super beginner friendly so ideally with options or rollable chicken lines. Best to avoid long super exposed sections (the odd bit is OK).

I understand you can get an uplift "taxi" to start and work your way back?

Santa Coloma de Farners just outside Girona has loads of great trails in a pretty concentrated area with two or three principle gravel road climbs from the car park to get the top. I would describe them as "manicured natural", so they're quite varied and some have series of man-made jumps in them (which can generally be passed by). Yet more trails a bit further afield from the main area. Sand over granite, and very pretty!

Another hour further to the west is Tremp. Yes the trails have been worked on and maintained, but I would describe them as more natural. Not really any man-made jumps if I recall. Several different areas just a short ride or drive from the town, each with their own different character of trails. There are several local companies that can provide shuttle services if you don't fancy pedalling up. Big views from most of the trails, quite spectacular scenery. A few hotels in Tremp that cater really well for riders, with garage or secure storage. A fantastic place to ride for all levels.

 

[G-Sport]

Santa Coloma de Farners just outside Girona has loads of great trails in a pretty concentrated area with two or three principle gravel road climbs from the car park to get the top. I would describe them as "manicured natural", so they're quite varied and some have series of man-made jumps in them (which can generally be passed by). Yet more trails a bit further afield from the main area. Sand over granite, and very pretty!

Another hour further to the west is Tremp. Yes the trails have been worked on and maintained, but I would describe them as more natural. Not really any man-made jumps if I recall. Several different areas just a short ride or drive from the town, each with their own different character of trails. There are several local companies that can provide shuttle services if you don't fancy pedalling up. Big views from most of the trails, quite spectacular scenery. A few hotels in Tremp that cater really well for riders, with garage or secure storage. A fantastic place to ride for all levels.

Thanks, that's a great start, much appreciated.
In Finale, we had some great days getting one uplift in the morning to save the batteries a bit and then slowly working our way back to town via various trails (pedaling several subsequent climbs) so would probably aim to do something similar so be good to have a base that worked well for doing this (riding back to the house).

Tremp looks too far to do in the same trip. Should we be looking at that instead maybe? If the scenery is more spectacular that could sway it. We will be breaking the bikes down to fit in cars for the journey so be best if we can just get lifts or ride out the door. Is Tremp going to be reasonable weather in November being more inland?

 

[nickf]

Personally I prefer the more natural and adventure style of Tremp riding, and if scenery matters to you that would be my preference of the two. From the hotels in Tremp you can easily ride out to all of the local sectors, but if you have time it's also worth a short car journey to take the bikes to the north end of the lake for some more great trails that are quite different again. You're spoilt for choice really!

I could suggest some of my favourite trails if you decide to go to Tremp, but why not also check out some YouTube vids to get a feel for the place. Try looking for Roques Pelades/Feixancs for an idea of the rocky trails or Serengueti/Afganistrail for the loamy flow trails. But they only give you an appetizer of the variety there!

Checkout Trailforks to see how many trails are within a stone's throw of the town centre.

 

[nickf]

Forgot to mention. I was there in November last year and weather was perfect!

 

[G-Sport]

Personally I prefer the more natural and adventure style of Tremp riding, and if scenery matters to you that would be my preference of the two. From the hotels in Tremp you can easily ride out to all of the local sectors, but if you have time it's also worth a short car journey to take the bikes to the north end of the lake for some more great trails that are quite different again. You're spoilt for choice really!

I could suggest some of my favourite trails if you decide to go to Tremp, but why not also check out some YouTube vids to get a feel for the place. Try looking for Roques Pelades/Feixancs for an idea of the rocky trails or Serengueti/Afganistrail for the loamy flow trails. But they only give you an appetizer of the variety there!

Checkout Trailforks to see how many trails are within a stone's throw of the town centre.





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Thanks. This looks brilliant, I'm sold, just been looking on Trailforks and saw the Trenkabikers trails and remembered seeing a video about them before. All looks ideal.

 

[nickf]

Great, glad you like it! I always stay in the hotel La Canonja. Nice rooms, really friendly, great breakfasts, and they have a decent varied 3 course evening menu for only about 12-14 euros. Also secure garage.

 

[Cygg]

That looks insane, nice pictures.

 

[G-Sport]

I've been looking on Trailforks for trails but I know that they only show a small fraction of what we have here. Is it the same around there? Are there any other resources for route planning?

 

[stuff]

As mentioned before near Girona the best thing you have is Santa Coloma de Farners, it's just amazing although beware that if it's too dry it'll get tricky, also november is great to go (impossible in summer).

Tremp and La Pobla de segur are quite near and both amazing places to go, and if you prefer a lil more loam, i'd recommend going towards Ainsa / Zona Zero / Bielsa , greener.

Santa coloma: https://www.trailforks.com/trails/m...,waypoint,trails_top,articles,routes_featured

Tremp / La pobla: https://www.trailforks.com/trails/m...,waypoint,trails_top,articles,routes_featured

Ainsa: https://www.trailforks.com/trails/m...,waypoint,trails_top,articles,routes_featured (It's all the Puro Pirineo zone)

 

[G-Sport]

As mentioned before near Girona the best thing you have is Santa Coloma de Farners, it's just amazing although beware that if it's too dry it'll get tricky, also november is great to go (impossible in summer).

Tremp and La Pobla de segur are quite near and both amazing places to go, and if you prefer a lil more loam, i'd recommend going towards Ainsa / Zona Zero / Bielsa , greener.

Santa coloma: https://www.trailforks.com/trails/m...,waypoint,trails_top,articles,routes_featured

Tremp / La pobla: https://www.trailforks.com/trails/m...,waypoint,trails_top,articles,routes_featured

Ainsa: https://www.trailforks.com/trails/m...,waypoint,trails_top,articles,routes_featured (It's all the Puro Pirineo zone)

Thanks. Looked an Ainsa before but was told it wasn't good in the winter?

 

[stuff]

Thanks. Looked an Ainsa before but was told it wasn't good in the winter?

For sure you'll have way more probabilities of trails in better condition in Tremp and Santa Coloma de Farners.

Also, as a possibility since you mentioned you're driving towards it, you could consider doing also Guils de Cerdanya.
Depending on how many days you stay it's worth doing more than one place, they're not far away tbh

 

[cantaloupe]

I can second (third?) Tremp. Fantastic trails and a decent little town. Slick Rock Pelares is a better version of Roques Pelades. Super Mario area is worth a trip too. Avoid the Afghanistrail area after rain.

Ainsa for big mountain days (see Dale Stone on YouTube)

Rocallaura for shorter, fun, lappable trails ending at a bar.

 

[nickf]

I've been looking on Trailforks for trails but I know that they only show a small fraction of what we have here. Is it the same around there? Are there any other resources for route planning?

You can get a paper map from the tourist office opposite La Hostel Canonja, but I don't think it shows any trails that aren't already on Trailforks. As Cantaloupe says, Slick Rock is a brilliant trail and it's in a sector close to the town that's full of great trails like Tazer, Maf, Tamaro... Super Mario is up at the north end of the lake but well worth the short drive, together with Mascarell and La Madeleine two absolutely amazing steep twisty narrow loamy descents in the forest.