Cap de la Gallina Pelada
2,321 m
Spain
Also known as Gallina PeladaAlso known as
Gallina Pelada
- Elevation
- 2,321 m
- Prominence
- 1,002 m
- Difficulty
- 2/10
- Hike
- Best Season
- May–Jun
- Routes
- 1
Routes
1The traditional ascent from Saldes: from the Font Freda spring (about 1,680 m) the waymarked PR-C 79 climbs steeply through forest to the open Planelles and the staffed Refugi Serra d'Ensija (2,156 m), then up a couple of grassy ramps to the summit. About 640–670 m of ascent and 1¾–2 hours up.
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- 3.5 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +642 m
- start → summit
- High Point
- 2,321 m
- Time Up
- 2h 35m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 1h 45m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
From Saldes take the road towards Gósol to the Coll de la Trapa, then turn left on the paved road towards Vallcebre and the Serra d'Ensija. About 1.5 km after the Pleta de la Vila picnic area, on a bend, small parking areas sit below wooden steps that climb about 50 m to the Font Freda spring (about 1,680 m). Pass the spring and follow the yellow-and-white PR-C 79 waymarks for the Gallina Pelada. The path climbs steeply through the forest, with a stretch of loose stones, and comes out onto the open meadows of Les Planelles with Pedraforca behind you. A shadeless climb leads to the Clot d'Ensija and the Refugi Serra d'Ensija (2,156 m), about 1¼–1½ hours from Font Freda. The Font d'Ensija spring is about 100 m from the refuge. Pass the refuge on its left and follow the path west up a couple of grassy ramps to the summit (2,321 m), about 20–30 minutes more, with views of Pedraforca, the Cadí and the Rasos de Peguera. Return the same way, or make a loop east along the ridge to the Creu de Ferro (2,296 m) and the Coll del Pla d'Ensija and down the steep, shady Barranc de les Llobateres, finishing with about 15 minutes along the road. Waymarks are sparse on the open ground; in fog take care on the plateau.
Start
Font Freda1,687 m
- None to Font Freda; the start is reached by car.
- Parking at the trailhead
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Font Freda → Cap de la Gallina Pelada | 3.5 | 642 | 10 | 2h 35m |
Waypoints
- Parking: Font Freda1,687 m
- Feature: les Planelles2,002 m
- Hut: Refugi Serra d'Ensija2,164 m
- Summit: Cap de la Gallina Pelada2,321 m
Key Passages
- Steep loose section in the forest above Font Freda
- Open slopes of Les Planelles to the refuge
Equipment
0/5 packedDownloads
Route confidence 75%Overview
The 2,321 m high point of the Serra d'Ensija in the Berguedà, facing Pedraforca across the Saldes valley. A short, waymarked walk from Font Freda past a staffed refuge reaches the grassy summit in under two hours.
The Cap de la Gallina Pelada is the highest summit of the Serra d'Ensija, a limestone ridge of the Catalan Pre-Pyrenees in the Berguedà, south of the Cadí range and directly opposite the twin-peaked Pedraforca. The north side drops in cliffs and wooded slopes towards Saldes; the top of the range is a broad, grassy plateau dotted with the Rasos d'Ensija pastures.
It is one of the FEEC's '100 cims' list of Catalan summits, and the route from Font Freda is short and popular: a steep forest path, open meadows, the Refugi Serra d'Ensija and a final grassy slope. The views of Pedraforca's north face, the Cadí and, in clear weather, the high Pyrenees are the main reward.
Longer approaches come from the Rasos de Peguera to the east via the Roques de Ferrús, partly on the GR-107 (Camí dels Bons Homes), and from Saldes by the steeper Barranc de les Llobateres, which has a few easy scrambling moves and is often used as the descent of a loop.
Climbing Notes
A half-day walk for anyone reasonably fit: about 650 m of ascent and 3½–4 hours return including the Llobateres loop. The forest section is steep with loose stones, and there is no shade above the trees, so carry water and sun protection in summer. Waymarking thins out on the open plateau; in fog follow the PR-C 79 carefully or use a GPS track.
The Refugi Serra d'Ensija (FEEC, 31 places) serves food and drink and makes a good base for a sunset or sunrise on the ridge; book through refugiscatalunya.com. In winter the road to Font Freda may be snowbound and the slopes become a snowshoe outing; the Barranc de les Llobateres can be icy.
Season
Best May–Jun- January: Possible
- February: Possible
- March: Possible
- April: Good
- May: Best (best window)
- June: Best (best window)
- July: Good
- August: Good
- September: Best
- October: Best
- November: Good
- December: Possible
- Jan
- Snowshoe outing; road to Font Freda may be snowbound
- Feb
- Winter conditions; icy in the Llobateres
- Mar
- Late snow on the plateau
- Apr
- Mostly clear; snow patches
- May
- Good conditions, green meadows
- Jun
- Good; start early on hot days
- Jul
- Hot, no shade above the forest; afternoon storms
- Aug
- Hot and busy; storms possible
- Sep
- Often the best conditions
- Oct
- Clear autumn days
- Nov
- Cold; first snow possible
- Dec
- Winter conditions
Access & Permits
- Hut Booking
- Refugi Serra d'Ensija (FEEC): book via refugiscatalunya.com or the wardens (+34 610 990 481, serraensija.refugi@feec.cat). Opening days not published on the FEEC page; check before going.
- Getting There
Saldes; Berga for wider services
Barcelona–El Prat (BCN); Girona–Costa Brava (GRO)
- Car: C-16 north from Berga, turn off for Saldes and Gósol, continue about 2 km past Saldes to the Coll de la Trapa, then left on the paved road towards Vallcebre/Serra d'Ensija to the small parking areas below Font Freda
- No public transport to Font Freda
Hazards
- Weather
Huts & Shelters
1- 2,156 m
Refugi Serra d'EnsijaHutStaffed
31 beds · Staffed; opening calendar not published (4 places on concrete bunks when unstaffed)