Coll de Pal is an Amazing Hidden Gem in the Catalan Pyrenees
Spain, europe
26.7 km
2,109 m
hard
Year-round
# Coll de Pal
Ever fancy tackling one of Catalonia's most brutal mountain passes? Coll de Pal sits pretty at 2,109m (6,919ft) in the Berguedà region of northern Spain, and it's absolutely not messing around.
This 26.7km (16.59 miles) road, known as BV-4024, runs from the village of Bagà in the south all the way up to La Masella in the north. Fair warning though – it's a beast of a climb that's earned its stripes in the legendary Setmana Catalana bicycle race.
Coming up from Bagà, you've got 19.4km of fully paved road ahead of you, gaining 1,235 meters in elevation. The average gradient sits at 6.5%, but don't let that fool you – there are sections absolutely ripping at 11%, 12%, and even 13%. The real punishment comes early, with the steepest pitches (12-13% grades) hitting hardest in that first half of the climb. Brace yourself for at least two kilometers where the gradient never dips below 9%.
On the flip side, the northern approach from La Masella is a completely different beast – all 7.6km of it is unpaved dirt road.
Nestled in the stunning Serra de Moixeró mountains, the pass is generally accessible year-round, though winter snowfall can force temporary closures. Keep your eyes on the weather forecast – conditions up here are notoriously unpredictable, with storms rolling in faster than you'd expect.
Where is it?
Coll de Pal is an Amazing Hidden Gem in the Catalan Pyrenees is located in Spain (europe). Coordinates: 40.3739, -3.8420
Road Details
- Country
- Spain
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 26.7 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,109 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 40.3739, -3.8420
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