- Location: Ports Natural Park
- Municipalities: Arnes
- Distance: 27.91 Km
- Type: Circular
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Duration: 7-8 hours
- How to arrive: Arnes is located at the foot of the T-330 road, 27.5 km from Gandesa via Bot and Horta de Sant Joan, and 28 km from the C-12, or Eix de l’Ebre, via Prat de Comte. The itinerary begins in Arnes Town Hall Square.
- Description: 0.00 km (509 m). Turn around the town hall to the south and, passing the schools, which you leave on the right (W), take the paved track that goes straight to the SE towards Els Ports, where the spectacular Rocks of Benet. At 400 m, you reach the Cross of Calvary. There is a fork and a fountain under the hermitage of Sant Salvador. Turn left and continue to the SE, always following the main track. At km 1.66 (520 m) there is a turnoff to the right. A little further on, the track turns to the NE and a new fork is reached. 2.40 km (495 m), 0 h 35 min. Bifurcation: follow the road on the right (SE) for 80 m and turn left (E / SE) on a dirt track that goes down until you find another, which you have to take on the right in an S direction. cross the Straits River (2.90 km, 468 m). You enter the interior of a marked meander and continue towards noon. At km 2.96 (473 m) there is another fork: leave the track on the left (E) and take a less milled detour -indicated with a landmark- that climbs to the right (SW). The path runs near the river, which remains to the right of the route. In front, to the east, the Moles dels Viarnets stand out. 2.81 km (478 m), 0 h 40 min. This path ends in a clearing at the entrance of which, between the trees, there is a path (SE) that you have to take: you have to pay attention to it and find a landmark and a yellow sign. A few meters further on, you will find the Estrets river and, a little further on, the marks of the Estels del Sud crossing. 3.65 km (482 m), 0 h 52 min. The Cantavella stream is crossed by a bridge, almost at its confluence with the Estrets river. The path heads south along the river and enters the magnificent setting of the Arnes Straits. To the right (W) rise the Moles del Duc and del Don, in front (S / SE) the walls of Les Gronses and the Lliberós Strait, an area protected by the Territory and Landscape Area of the Work Social de Catalunya Caixa. At km 5.30 (510 m), there is a bridge over the river that should not be crossed: continue in a SE direction along the river. After 420 m, the road widens. You leave a turnoff to the right and you will find a sign indicating a car park (E): you have to cross it to look for a dirt track and go to an information panel. 5.97 km (525 m), 1 h 27 min. Information panel of the Ports Natural Park which explains the Straits Route and the climbing routes in the area. At this point, leave the Estels del Sud route and follow the track in an S direction for 170 m until you reach the paved track that comes from Horta de Sant Joan, where the signs for the PR C path are. -185. Continue to the right, straight on to the S / SE, always following the track, which borders rest and camping areas and the location of the monument to the Foresters. 8.75 km (554 m), 2 h 12 min. Recreational area of the Mas de la Franqueta. It has a camping area, fountains and picnic tables. You leave the PR, turn right, cross the Estrets river and go up the wide dirt track that goes to the Miralles pass, describing wide zigzags. 13.78 km (874 m), 3 h 40 min. Coll de Miralles. Pond of water. After about 10 and 15 minutes on foot, following a path to the left (S) towards Terranyes and the Mas del Torrero refuge, you will find Pimpoll and Pi Ramut, two monumental pine specimens of the Pinassa species. The route continues to the SW along the track, climbing the cliffs of L’Escala. You cross the Tosques torrent and reach the Montfort pass. 15.27 km (937 m), 4 h 05 min. Coll de Montfort. Turn S for the track only 10 m and break through a path on the right (W) that descends decisively to the bottom of the valley of the river Algars. There is a fairly eroded section in which you will find yellow signs. Near the bottom, you pass by the Llosero farmhouse (km 16.81 km, 645 m). A little further on, you cross the Algars river and, going up the bank, you reach the Pau farmhouse. 17.00 km (620 m), 4 h 40 min. Mas de Pau, located in a beautiful corner. Good place to rest. Continue along the path that comes out next to the farmhouse in the direction NOT keeping the river on the right. Further down, the path widens and becomes a track. You cross the river several times and, at km 17.65 (602 m), you pass by the Mas de Damià refuge. We continue downstream and, to the west, look out at the huge spur of the Penyagalera. 20.75 km (560 m), 5 h 32 min. You pass over the Toll del Vidre, a magnificent place for swimming that is to the left of the route, under the track. At km 22.54 (520 m), you cross a bridge and join the path of the river Valls which, on the right, leads to the imposing Roca Dreta, worthy of contemplation (about 20 min). The route continues along the path to the N, passes the Coll de la Creu (23.81 km, 591 m) and, always in a northerly direction, joins the tarmac track that leads to Arnes. 27.91 km (509 m), 7 h 25 min. Arnes Town Hall Square. End of the itinerary.
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