The water trail – Ruta del Ter (GR 210)
Hiking Collection by Sofía_Ibáñez
10
days
3-9 h
/ day
156 mi
11,400 ft
18,700 ft
With a length of more than 208 kilometres (130 mi), the Ter is the longest river in the internal basins of Catalonia, as well as the most abundant. Following its waters immerses you in the nature and history of the heart of Catalonia, and reveals the close link between the river and the villages that thrive along its banks.
The Ruta del Ter is a long-distance footpath that follows the course of the river through the counties of Ripollès, Osona, La Selva, Gironès and Baix Empordà. Over 251 kilometres (156 mi), the GR 210 crosses a wide variety of landscapes, from the Pyrenean mountains where it rises to the Mediterranean coastal plain where it flows into the sea.
Downstream, the Pyrenean landscapes soon give way to peaceful plains, lush riverside forests and farmland. Following the meanders of the Ter, you'll also come across historic towns whose link with the river is still palpable. After all, the River Ter, together with the Llobregat, played a fundamental role in the industrialisation of Catalonia thanks to the textile factories that were built on its banks.
In this Collection, I’ve divided the route into 10 stages. As it runs mainly downhill, the route doesn’t have any major gradients; the only difficulty is the length of some stages. For this reason, I recommend that you have some experience in multi-day and long-distance hikes.
In the description of each stage, I outline the accommodation and tourist services that await you at the end of the day. In the larger towns such as Girona, you'll find a wide selection of accommodation. In more rural areas, the options can be limited. In any case, at the end of each stage you’ll have somewhere to rest, enjoy the Catalan gastronomy or stock up on food and drink.
It’s advisable to take enough water and food for each day, as well as good hiking boots and warm clothing for the higher altitudes of the first stages, where the weather is more variable. You can do this route in any season, although in spring and autumn the mild temperatures will make the walk more pleasant.
The route starts at the Ulldeter refuge, in the municipality of Setcases, which can be reached either by car or bus from Camprodon. To get to Camprodon, first take the bus to Ripoll, which has connections to Barcelona. From Gola del Ter, where this itinerary ends, you'll need to walk or take a taxi to Estartit, where there's a bus station with connections to other Catalan towns.
I hope you enjoy this adventure on the banks of the most important river in Catalonia!
On The Map
Do it yourself
Ready to get going? Create and customize your own version of this adventure using the full Tour below as a template.
Last updated: September 25, 2023
Plan your own version of this adventure in the multi-day planner based on the stages suggested in this Collection.
Tours & Highlights
- 08:4915.7 mi1.8 mph2,025 ft6,225 ftExpertExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
The Ter Route has its starting point at the Ulldeter refuge, at the foot of the Gra de Fajol mountain. However, since this is an itinerary that has the River Ter as its protagonist, I recommend that you start this adventure by approaching the source of the river, which is after a 20-minute climb from…
by Sofía_Ibáñez
- 07:3517.5 mi2.3 mph875 ft1,725 ftExpertExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
If in the previous stage the waters of the River Ter flowed wildly through a spectacular high mountain landscape, in this section they become more docile and restful. The river widens in this section, where the human presence on the banks of the river begins to be more noticeable.
Through forests and…
by Sofía_Ibáñez
Sign Up To Discover Places Like This
Get recommendations on the best single tracks, peaks, & plenty of other exciting outdoor places.
- 05:4212.7 mi2.2 mph1,125 ft1,525 ftExpertExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
The Ruta del Ter continues its course downriver, following the meanders that the Ter forms in this section, used in the past for the textile industry. From Ripoll, the flow of the Ter also increases, since its waters join those of the Freser river.
Part of the track follows, again, the greenway of the…
by Sofía_Ibáñez
- 08:5620.6 mi2.3 mph1,225 ft1,625 ftExpertExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
The pronounced meanders that the River Ter creates in its path make you progress slowly in this long stage. Adapting your pace to the rhythm and curves of the river, this is a section to savor calmly and enjoy the different views that the Ter offers you.
Forests, cultivated fields, factories, farmhouses…
by Sofía_Ibáñez
- 06:3614.2 mi2.2 mph1,825 ft1,500 ftExpertExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
The terrain becomes more rugged as this stage approaches the Guilleries-Savassona natural area, where a large massif rises up surrounding the Sau reservoir. On this Route I propose several detours from the GR so that you can make the most of the walk and discover interesting corners full of history.
The…
by Sofía_Ibáñez
- 09:1920.2 mi2.2 mph2,175 ft3,150 ftExpertExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
This spectacular stage borders the enormous Sau and Susqueda swamps. Much of the route runs through the beautiful natural space of Guilleries-Savassona, characterized by its abrupt cliffs in which the bare stone contrasts with the dense Mediterranean vegetation. The only difficulty of this stage is its…
by Sofía_Ibáñez
- 07:4718.4 mi2.4 mph600 ft1,150 ftExpertExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
The Ruta del Ter continues without giving rest to the legs with another long day. However, most of the stage runs downhill and rewards you at the end with the arrival in the monumental Girona.
Sharing a route for many kilometers with the Carrilet bike lane, the path crosses various towns, crop fields…
by Sofía_Ibáñez
- 06:0914.7 mi2.4 mph425 ft525 ftExpertExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
This stage of the GR 210 gives you a little breather with a shorter section than the previous ones and a very gentle slope. The Ruta del Ter leaves the city of Girona behind and heads northeast along the wooded banks of the river.
Cultivated fields dominate the landscape of this route that invites you…
by Sofía_Ibáñez
- 03:579.50 mi2.4 mph250 ft350 ftIntermediateIntermediate Hiking Tour. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
The penultimate stage of the Ruta del Ter is short and simple. The terrain is flat and as you advance the river widens, announcing its imminent mouth.
The path takes you through leafy riverside forests and infinite cultivated fields, which become the main backdrop once you pass the Colomers dam.
The stage…
by Sofía_Ibáñez
- 05:3312.1 mi2.2 mph875 ft950 ftExpertExpert Hiking Tour. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
After having followed the steps of the River Ter from its source in the Ripolles Pyrenees, the Ruta del Ter ends, as it could not be otherwise, at its spectacular mouth in the Mediterranean Sea.
The Route runs completely flat through cultivated fields from Verges to the sea. The only mountain that stands…
by Sofía_Ibáñez
Like this Collection?
Collection Stats
- Tours10
- Distance156 mi
- Duration70:24 h
- Elevation11,400 ft18,700 ft
You Might Also Like
Hiking Collection by Sofía_Ibáñez
Hiking Collection by Sofía_Ibáñez
Hiking Collection by Nuria
Hiking Collection by Dan Hobson