If you’ve ever dreamed of venturing into a landscape where rugged beauty meets serene solitude, the Pyrenees Mountains should be at the top of your list. Nestled between France and Spain, this range offers a treasure trove of adventure, with trails that cater to every level of hiker. I recently embarked on an unforgettable journey through this majestic range. Accompany me on my solo hiking adventures in the Pyrenees.

The Mountain Magic

I decided to visit one new destination while in Spain.  I had always wanted to visited the Pyrenees mountains. This time  I didn’t want to deal with the expense of renting a car again, so I checked various different hiking towns that could be reached by bus from Barcelona. I also checked that the trails could be reached by walking within the town. That’s how I stumbled upon the town of Bagá. Fortunately, I found a nice apartment that was a bit of a splurge, but large, with fast internet, mountain views, near a grocery store, and spacious, with a nice terrace. 

I ate a lot of pasta, drank a lot of sangria, and also went for some delicious tapas on the weekend. It wouldn’t be a visit to Spain without sangria or tinto de verano, or tapas.

The Hike Adventure

I went hiking every single day. Some hikes were longer, others were shorter. It was a blast to explore a bunch of local trails of all types. I enjoyed beautiful views, a lot of solitude, some monasteries, some ruins, and lots of flowers. It was a beautiful time to be there. There were also a lot of loose cows, which was a bit unnerving, but manageable.

I bit off a bit more than I could chew on a Saturday, when I decided to hike to Tossa d’Alp. Luckily I always pack extra supplies. Instead of a 6-8 hour hike, it ended up being a 12 hour hike. I only saw a few people the entire day. It was an absolutely beautiful hike with amazing views. However, the trail was a bit hard to follow at times, or not really safe to ascend/descend due to trail conditions.

When I finally reached the summit, I was surprised to see people walking around in jeans that didn’t look at all tired! What the heck, I hiked for 6+ hours to reach the summit! I later saw that the ski lift was being used in the off season as a cable car. It was bringing people from the town below up to the viewpoint at the top of the hike. I later checked the map and I had hiked almost all the way to the border with France. I had hiked all the way to a nearby ski resort!

The good news was that the ski resort had a little cafe at the top. So, I was able to buy some cold drinks and plenty more water. It was 10pm by the time I made it back down. I did a little road walking and a little sneaking through goat pastures. I also did a little finding my own trail on the way back down. Luckily I had brought a power bank and a headlamp, so I was good to go. It had a very long day.

Recovery

When I got home that night, I heated up a pizza in the oven while I took a quick shower. Then chowed down on pizza and promptly passed out. Needless to say the next day I took a rest day. I just went for tapas in town and relaxed at the apartment.

I had a wonderful stay in the mountains, and I’d definitely go back for another solo hiking adventure in the Pyrenees.

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Take a look at my trip on the Camino de Santiago to Finesterre