
TRAIL RUNNING IN EL SOLSONÈS
El Solsonès (Spain) has a total surface area of 998 km2 and a population of over 11,000 inhabitants. It contains 15 different municipalities and its capital is Solsona. Many of its municipalities have their populations spread amongst scattered farm houses which provide beautiful examples of traditional architecture from the 16th to 18th centuries.
In the northern part of the comarca (local district), at the source of the River Cardener, it is possible to find the Relleus (highlands) dels Bastets, the Serra (mountain range) de Busa and the Port (mountain pass) del Comte and a small territory of unique beauty; the Vall (valley) de Lord. Other interesting places in the comarca are the Vall d’Ora, Sant Esteve d’Olius, the Salines (salt mines) de Cambrils, the Santuari (shrine) del Miracle and the Santuari de Pinós, which lies at the geographic centre of Catalonia. Forestry and livestock herding are two of the most important economic activities, especially in the Pre-Pyrenean part of the comarca, while dry farming is more common on the high plateaus of the southern part of the region
Solsona, the region’s capital, has been called the calm city, on account of the feeling of peace and tranquillity that emanates from its paved streets, portals, squares and houses, some of which were once palaces, without forgetting the area around the cathedral and, of course, the Palau Episcopal (bishop’s palace).

INTEGRAL DEL VERD
Total distance: 31 km
Elevation gain: 1800 m.
Start point: Sant Llorenç de Morunys
Finish point: Sant Llorenç de Morunys
Min. height: 820 m.
Max. height: 2283 m.
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Description of the route (important detail of the scree)
INTEGRAL DEL VERD
Sant Llorenç de Morunys is the epicenter of sports activity in the natural environment of the Lord Valley. This valley is very prepared to make it easy for you to do as much activity as you want, alone, with friends and with family. On its website and in the information office you will find as much information as you need.
This track that we propose joins three of the existing hiking routes, so it will be easy to follow if we follow the directions and of course the GPS with the track that we provide.
It is a varied route, hard and with short technical sections where you must be very careful, but in general it is done very well as long as you are in good shape.
We can divide it into two parts: the lower part until reaching La Coma, which is less demanding, and the higher part, which is occupied by the Serra del Verd with steep slopes that exceed 40% in many sections.
We leave in front of the Vall de Lord Tourist Office along Calle de las Comes, continue along Calle Prat Tomás and in about 100 meters we will find the track on the right hand side with GR marks corresponding to the GR-1. Immediately we will come to a wooden bridge that crosses the Cardener river. We will go by track, gaining height to the hermitage of Sant Lleïr de Casavella. From here we will change between trails and tracks that will let us run at will, we will pass through the Santa Cruz pass and we will be able, on the left hand side, to visit the hermitage of Santa Creu del Rosari (first escape in case something was not too good, direction La Pedra, where following the track we will find the descent track again to return to the start point).
We continue along the Camí de Valls de la Pedra and we will go down to cross the Mosoll river, we will arrive at the ruins of El Minguell, which we will pass on the right and we will glide up to a signpost where we will have the second escape route if we continue towards La Coma (about two km until we’ll find the track back to the start point).
From here is when the second part that we indicated before, the higher part, we will follow the indications to Cap del Verd. This will be a good time to recharge batteries because from here and in 5 km we will gain 1000 meters of positive slope. On the way to the top we will pass through La Borda del Pujol, enjoy the views of Roca Mira, and then from Prat de les Saleres, where in season we will find grazing cows, we will approach the cool Urdet Fountain (optionally) to go back a few 300 meters to the meadow, where we will continue to maintain altitude to cross an alpine forest that will leave us at the Coll de Belitres. We will turn left up in a meadow and we will reach the top of Cap de Verd (2,284 m), also the top of the route and from where we will enjoy spectacular views of the Serra d’Ensija, Pedraforca and the entire Vall de Lord.
Following the track in a clear direction towards the valley, we will find the signs for Tartera del Verd. The first section, about 100 meters, is somewhat dangerous and we must be extremely careful, then we will let go of the lunch box and we will have to be very attentive because after about 350 meters we will have to deviate to the right to find the entrance to the path shortly after that enters the forest and that we should take (watch this picture). If we have passed by, we can continue to the bottom of the pan where we will find the path that will take us to the right hand again to find after the track.
The path will take us past the Coll de Veís, Coll de Virolet and we will find the track to Coll dels Ordinaris that will take us to Coll de Coma Pregona. Continuing downhill, we will cross the road several times and we will have to be attentive to shortcuts so as not to go overboard. We will arrive at La Coma along the side of the road and we will cross the well-kept urban area that we will leave behind when we find some stairs. From here, everything will be wide tracks that will run parallel to the Cardener River, which will be on the right hand side first, and on the left after passing a short section of road. We will follow the indications at the Fuente de la Puda (sulphurous), and just before arriving we will cross the river by the bridge. Further down we will pass by the Camping Morunys and continue along the track that will lead us to the bottom of the Camí de les 40 Hores, where we will cross a stream, and shortly afterwards, going uphill, we will arrive again at Sant Llorenç de Morunys.
WATER: we will find water to refresh ourselves at many points along the way and we will be able to recharge very fresh water at the source of Urdet at an altitude of 2,100 m, also in La Coma where there is a bar behind the road.

PEDRÓ DELS 4 BATLLES
Total distance: 32 km
Elevation gain: 1850 m.
Start point: Sant Llorenç de Morunys
Finish point: Sant Llorenç de Morunys
Min. height: 880 m.
Max. height: 2386 m.
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Description of the route
PEDRÓ DELS QUATRE BATLLES
This is a route designed for those looking to do a long workout with a good elevation gain that allows a good rhythm almost all the time. We will find a long climb of 13 km that will practically give us no truce with an average slope of 11% but with many sections where we will exceed 20%, reaching 40%. In the entire route there is no section that is complicated enough to mention. You will have to bring water for the entire route and bear in mind that for a long time we will be above 2000 meters and that the weather can be very different from that of Sant LLorenç de Morunys (900 m).
The objective of the route is the ascent to Pedró dels Quatre Batlles, from where, if the weather is clear, we will enjoy a great panoramic view of the Sierra del Cadí, Pedraforca, a large part of the Pyrenees, and a good part of central Catalonia . The top does not have the shape of a peak that stands out in a notorious way, we will identify it by the large rock and the information panels that surround it. A “pedró” is the name used to designate the stone or the pile of stones that were placed to indicate the limits of a term or of an estate. In this case, four municipal districts converge: those of Odèn (SW) and La Coma i la Pedra (SE and E), both of Solsonès region, and those of Fígols (W) and la Vansa and Fórnols (N and NE) of Alt Urgell region.
We will leave in front of the Sant LLorenç de Morunys Tourist Office, where there are ample parking lots and where we can leave our vehicle. We will go up the Carretera de Berga crossing the town and once we have passed the Piteus hotel we will follow the road to the right. Immediately we will arrive at the Plaza de la Canal where we will leave the road on the right hand side and continue down the Raval de Santa Creu. Immediately, we will leave the town and go down the dirt road to the Torrent del Pou, which is part of the Route of Les Pomeres (apple trees) (a small local route) and the Camí de Las Quaranta Hores (old royal road that connects Sant LLorenç de Morunys with La Seu d’Urgell). We will come out onto the road that we will travel to the right for about 40 meters and we will have to be very attentive to the small and not very clear entrance that is on the other side just after passing the road protection fence. The entrance may be covered with vegetation, but it is evident because the Torrent dels Plans descends, so we will ascend gently until we join the forest track. We are at a little more than 900m of altitude and we will have started the long ascent that will not give us any respite until we reach the top of the route at 2386m. We will ascend steadily along a wide track following indications to the Port del Compte (ski resort), at km 4.4 we will coincide with the Camí de Prat Llong that we will leave on the left after a km of paved section that we will also leave going up the direct and following the power line. We arrive at the Port del Comte ski slopes, at an altitude of 1,980 m. From here we will cross the tracks attentive to the GPS, crossing the shady area of La Bòfia and crossing the La Rata ski lift, the Els Galls ski lift, the El Sucre chairlift, and finally turning to the right after the La Bòfia chairlift. We will follow the indications of Pedró dels Quatre Batlles and we will pass by the left of the pool of water ascending by Rasa Pauet from the 1,970 m to the 2,215 m where we will turn left and we will go up decidedly towards Pedró dels 4 Batlles. Once at the top, and if the sky is clear, we will have spectacular views over the Sierra del Cadí, Pedraforca, a large part of the Pyrenees, and a good part of central Catalonia. We will descend gently until we cross the Urdoll stream at the Explanada del Refugi (2030 m) and we will ascend again. After about 300 m from Portell de l’Os (2091 m) we can cut the route by 4 km going down to the right along the Camí dels Izards, from where you can see the scree. Otherwise, we will arrive at Puig de les Morreres (2190 m). We can stop at the Querol and Prat de Becies viewpoint to enjoy impressive views and the verticality of the point where we are. We will continue along the edge of the vertical and we will pass through Cap d’Urdiets (2145 m). We are at km 20 and from here it only remains to go down, it will be 12 km of constant descent with some sections where we will not be able to run easy, it is time to think about the effort made and perhaps eat something. The first section of descent, about 400 m, will be of loose stone and a steep slope that will make us be careful, then we will continue along a friendly forest track that will become a beautiful path and that will lead us 5 km after the Coll de Jou. We will cross the road with caution and continue along the GR-1 down the direct road, parallel to the Torrent de les Salines. We will pass by the Hermitage of San Serni and continue along the path until we find the track that, turning left, will take us to the streets of Sant Llorenç de Morunys, which in a clear straight line will take us to the starting point.

VUELTA AL SANTUARIO
Total distance: 24 km
Elevation gain: 1500 m.
Start point: Sant Llorenç de Morunys
Finish point: Sant Llorenç de Morunys
Min. height: 832 m.
Max. height: 1528 m.
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Description of the route
VOLTA AL SANTUARI
This is a route that will allow us to enjoy magnificent views of the jagged shapes of the ridges of the area and the spectacular blue color of the Llosa de Cavall reservoir, making an ingenious turn that will lead us to the Santuario de la Vall de Lord, where we can optionally make a visit.
It is a route on rocky terrain, with technical descents on closed trails where we will have to take extreme caution, and with two short steps that people who suffer from strong vertigo may not like.
We will leave the tourist office, cross the square and take Passeig de Cap de Balç, continue along Carrer de la Creueta and arrive at a crossroads where we turn right. We will continue, first by track and then by road ascending gently, always straight and without taking any detour until we reach the Hermitage of Sant Serni del Grau. We will cross the crossroads straight ahead following the GR-1 that will take us parallel to the Torrent de les Salines and the power line to Coll de Jou. The terrain here will be stony and some sections will have a good incline, breaking the monotony of the climb and speeding up our pulse as much as we want. Arrived at Coll de Jou (km 5.5), we will continue on the left side of the road and follow the directions for the Mirador de la Creu del Codó. We will pass through the recreational area and take a track that goes through a beautiful black pine forest. We will reach the cross and the viewpoint where you will be forced to stop and enjoy the panoramic views at this point, the highest of the entire route, km 7.1. We will undo our steps 100 meters with the Tossal de la Creu del Codó in front and we will continue to the left descending along the GR-7. We will go down a path with a steep slope, we will have to be careful, and about 300 meters further on we will follow on the left the indication of “Sant Llorenç de Morunys (per Cap de la Roca)”. We will continue along the crest of the Serra Llarga for one km to continue down more abruptly and now through the forest until we reach a crossroads (km 9.1) that if we turn left offers us an escape if something goes wrong, returning us to the hermitage of Sant Serni. We will continue the route turning to the right to continue the GR-7 towards Solsona along the Camí Ral de Solsona. At km 10.5 we will turn left at the crossroads and continue along a wide path over the Serra Llarga ridge. We will go down gently and cross the Planella de Sòbol (km 12.1) where we will find the old remains of the farmhouse. We will start a 4 km descent here in which we will have to be attentive to the stone milestones that will show us the way. We will pass a slightly exposed section, reinforced with ropes to be able to hold on, and where we will pass carefully. It is a section of 20 meters that is not dangerous at all, but where someone with strong vertigo could pass a bad time. Then we will go into the forest and it will be at an area where the vegetation can mislead us and make us leave the track. We will have to be very careful and use common sense. When we stop going down we will be next to the reservoir and we will make a flat section with the wall of the Grau de Torroella dominating the landscape. We will cross the fields of Solord and find the track that we will leave shortly after to take a beautiful path that will take us inside the forest, first to the Grau de Solord, and then, skirting the Sanctuary (which we can optionally visit), it will leave us at the cross which dominates the Mola de Lord (1189 m), where we can enjoy magnificent views. During the climb we have also been able to enjoy impressive views over the Llosa de Cavall reservoir, which on bright days has a very spectacular intense turquoise blue color. Now it will be time to go down the Via Crucis and we will be very careful on days when it is crowded so as not to collide with anyone. We will stop descending at the foot of the aerial that is used to transport goods to the Sanctuary, km 19. We will continue along the road for about 200 meters and we will take the path that on the right and with a steep incline will take us up to the Tossal de Vall-llonga (1,251 m ), also a place where you can enjoy the views of both the Mola de Lord and the reservoir. We will descend by easy and stony path, we will follow indications of the Colader, where we will have to climb a little with a little difficulty (also be careful with those who have a lot of vertigo), and from there, once we have passed the hill we will go down a path, where we will have to be careful with the roots, especially if the soil is wet, and it will lead us quickly to the town by the same route of the first km that we have done at the beginning.

SERRA DE BUSA
Total distance: 16 km
Elevation gain: 1000 m.
Start point: Les Cases de Posada
Finish point: Les Cases de Posada
Min. height: 832 m.
Max. height: 1519 m.
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Description of the route
SERRA DE BUSA
This route is designed for medium-distance workouts looking for a good unevenness and variety of terrain. It will offer us magnificent panoramic views and a good part of the route will be along the crest of the Sierra de la Busa.
Optionally, we can visit the Busa prison following the directions that we will find at the Capolatell. El Capolatell is a perimeter hill limited by vertical walls 100 m high and only accessible by a bridge, which when removed makes it impossible to get out. Due to this characteristic, it was used during the French War (1808-1814) as a prison for soldiers from Napoleon’s army.
The starting point is on an embankment on the edge of the C-462 road at the height of Las Cases de Posada where we can comfortably leave the car. We will find the signpost with the Busa sign from where we will leave. As soon as we leave, we will start uphill on an easy and well-marked path, we will continue following the power line, and we will come out onto a cement path from which we will travel only 100 meters to exit on the right hand side along a path marked with milestones that passes without loss inside the forest, now the slope will be notorious. We will arrive at a landing with a sign indicating the Ruta de Busa road (alt. 1032 m) and which we will continue to then turn left showing us the Capolatell. Now we will go by flat and easy road until km 3 where, optionally we can turn right to find the track back in just over a km uphill and letting the route in only 9 km in total. We will therefore continue to the left and ascend to the Coll de Trasserra (km 3.7, 1104 m), where we will turn right and at the next detour we will also continue to the right. On the right hand side we will see the hills La Llebre (1478 m) and El Cogul (1526 m) top of the route. At km 5.3 we will have a new option to shorten the route by 4.6 km, but facing a steep climb up the Canal de Casa Vila. We will continue all the time with the same direction, and just to the top inside the forest. The deep views close to the north are now spectacular and very characteristic of this area with its rugged ridges and hills: Serra dels Bastets, Roques del Capità, Serra i Tossal de la Viuda, Tossal Gran. We will continue along a comfortable and wide track inside a fabulous beech forest and at km 7.1 we will take the path to the right that will take us up gently to the return point of the route, km 7.5, a pass opened with human help between two walls. Once we have crossed the pass, the landscape will change dramatically, with the Pla de Busa and its pastures at our feet, and farmhouses such as La Bartolina, Ca L’Artiller, and El Rial de Busa. From this point we will go back up the north cliff of Busa, very wide and uncomplicated, but we will be careful not to recklessly expose ourselves to the precipice, where a fall would be fatal. Then we will find the Cavall Bernat (1403 m), we will continue on the Serrat de la Llebre, we will pass through the Coll de Casa Vila (this is where the Canal de Casa Vila that we had mentioned before to cut the route will stop), and finally we will finish climb when you reach the top of Cogul (1526 m), the highest point of the route crowned by a flagpole. We will continue passing through La Llebre (1,478 m), to the Capolat viewpoint. We will be at km 11.6 and from here we can go to see Busa Prison, to return here again, lengthening the route by 2 km and an additional 80 m of elevation gain. We will continue along a path heading south and losing elevation through a rocky terrain, arriving at a plain where we will find a wide path that we will follow to the right and that 70 meters later we will leave to enter again a path marked with yellow marks. We will approach the walls of the Capolat, which we will surround by flat terrain for about 200 meters, and where we will pass through a tunnel made by inclined walls. We will move away from the walls turning to the left and in a gentle descent of 600 meters that will leave us in the Capdevila de Llobeta plan where we will find the ruins of some old farmhouses and their hermitage. We will continue along a path, with views over the Llosa de Cavall reservoir and in approximately one km we will be back to the starting point.

TUIXENT 9K
Total distance: 9 km
Elevation gain: 300 m.
Start point: Refugi de l’Arp
Finish point: Refugi de l’Arp
Min. height: 1940 m.
Max. height: 2176 m.
Description of the route
TUIXENT 9K
El Refugi de l’Arp (1937 m altitude) is a mountain refuge located within the Nordic ski resort of Tuixent-La Vansa, in the Alt Urgell region. Located on the northern slope of the Serra de Port del Comte, its location provides spectacular views of the Pyrenees. Since 2020 the refuge has been closely linked to the sport of sled dogs, as from this year it is guarded by the Cau de Llops mushers. In this way, the refuge has become a point of reference in Catalonia to come into contact with sled dogs. The refuge is open all year round (check closure for holidays) and offers accommodation, bar and restaurant service to everyone.
This is a route to do when the snow is gone and the station is closed. It is a route without any complications in terms of terrain since it runs entirely on a wide track and meadow, taking advantage of the routes of the Nordic ski slopes of the Tuixent-La Vansa station. We will only have to be attentive to the turns indicated by the GPS to follow the route easily. It is a route that will help us stretch our legs or do a short and explosive workout at an altitude of 2000 meters. If we carry a map we can easily lengthen it thanks to the existing layouts. Optionally, we can climb Pedró dels Quatre Batlles if we want to add 200 more meters of positive slope and enjoy the views that it offers, we will only have to continue up once we are in Prat Llong.
We will leave in front of the Arp refuge in the direction of Clots de Rebost, and when we reach the Fred river we will turn clearly to the left to cross the Prat Llong. This meadow will end at a point where we can enjoy magnificent views over the Serra del Verd and the iconic Pedra Forca mountain. From there, the descent will begin through the forest of Alt de Prats del Rebost to the Nordic ski resort of Tuixen-La Vansa. And finally we will continue left along the track to the refuge. Arrived at the refuge we will be able to enjoy the panoramic views over the Sierra del Cadí and the Pyrenees.