National park · Spain
Parc del Montnegre i el Corredor
Entry is free and there is no gate: drive to a signposted car park (Coll de Can Bordoi, Hortsavinyà, Can Bosc) and walk from there; go October–May, start before 9:00 on weekends, and skip it entirely in August heat or after heavy rain.Entry is free and there is no gate: drive to a signposted car park (Coll de Can Bordoi, Hortsavinyà, Can Bosc) and walk from there; go October–May, start before 9:00 AM on weekends, and skip it entirely in August heat or after heavy rain.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
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Area
150 km² (58 sq mi)58 sq mi (150 km²)
approximate
Established
1989
Best months
Mar–May, Oct–Nov
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 9Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Iberia ↗Plan meals on the Iberian clock: Spanish kitchens serve lunch from about 13:30–14:00 and dinner from 20:30–21:00; Portugal eats an hour or so earlier. Early evenings are for tapas or petiscos, not full meals.
- Iberia ↗Inland Spain and Portugal (Seville, Córdoba, Madrid, the Alentejo) pass 40 °C in heatwaves from late June to August: sightsee before 11:00 and after 18:00, and keep July–August for the coasts and the green north.
- Iberia ↗Andorra and Gibraltar have their own border and customs rules and are reached only through Spain (or France for Andorra); read their pages before adding them, especially if you hold a limited Schengen visa.
- Spain ↗Spain is in the Schengen area. Check the entry rules for your passport on official sources; the EU's Entry/Exit System registers non-EU visitors at the first Schengen border, and further pre-travel authorisation rules are being introduced.
- Spain ↗High-speed trains have airport-style baggage screening at the station and boarding gates that close a few minutes before departure: arrive early.
- Spain ↗Carry your passport or ID: police may ask for it, and hotels must register every guest's document.
- Spain ↗The Alhambra in Granada and the Sagrada Família in Barcelona sell timed tickets that sell out weeks ahead in season; book on the official sites before you fix your dates.
At a glance
- Country
- Spain
- Area
- 150 km² (58 sq mi)58 sq mi (150 km²)
- About 15,000 ha across the Maresme and Vallès Oriental counties; the two massifs, Montnegre and Corredor, are split by the Vallgorguina and Arenys streams (check).
- Established
- 1989
- Best months
- Mar–May, Oct–Nov
- Permits
- For some areas
Parc del Montnegre i el Corredor is a 15,000-hectare forest park split between the Maresme coast and the Vallès Oriental inland, about an hour north-east of Barcelona. It has no gate, no ticket and no single entrance: you drive to a free signposted car park and walk in. More than 95% of the surface is wooded — stone pine on the coastal slopes, holm oak, cork oak and chestnut inland — with dolmens, a snow well and medieval churches on the same trails. The two massifs differ: Montnegre is bigger, steeper and wilder, while the Corredor is rounded and gentler, with the late Gothic Santuari del Corredor just below its 633.5 m summit. It is the quiet alternative to Montseny and Montserrat, and it works as a half-day green break between Barcelona and the Costa Brava.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1989.
Size and age
150 km² (58 sq mi)58 sq mi (150 km²) · national park since 1989
About 15,000 ha across the Maresme and Vallès Oriental counties; the two massifs, Montnegre and Corredor, are split by the Vallgorguina and Arenys streams (check).
Why go
- Free access, no ticket and no gate: you park at a signposted trailhead and walk straight into the forest.
- More than 95% of the park is wooded, so it works as a half-day green break between Barcelona and the Costa Brava beaches.
- The Santuari del Corredor sits near the 633.5 m summit of the Corredor range, with a restaurant open at weekends and a view over the whole massif.
- Dolmens, a snow well and medieval churches sit on the same trails as the pines and cork oaks.
When to go
- JanGo
- FebGo
- MarBest
- AprBest
- MayBest
- JunCaution
- JulCaution
- AugAvoid
- SepCaution
- OctBest
- NovBest
- DecGo
- JanCold, clear; quiet trails
- FebCool; some mud on north slopes
- MarMild, green, few people
- AprBest walking; wildflowers
- MayWarm, dry; go early at weekends
- JunHot by midday; fire-risk rules may apply
- JulHeat and fire risk; start at dawn
- AugHottest, driest; access tracks may close on high fire risk
- SepStill hot; storms possible
- OctDry, clear, comfortable
- NovMild; good visibility
- DecCool, often clear; short days
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bird migration over the coastal slopesMar–May, Sep–Oct · The park sits on a Western Mediterranean migration route. | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | yes | yes | no | no |
| Raptors and forest birdsAll year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Wild boar and roe deerAll year · Most often seen at dawn and dusk; keep food out of reach. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Cork oak and chestnut floweringMay–Jun | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Barcelona
Rodalies R1 along the Maresme coast to Mataró, Arenys de Mar or Calella, then a local bus or taxi to a trailhead; or drive on the C-32/C-60.
1–1.5 h
From Mataró
BV-5031 towards Arenys de Munt, then park at Can Bosc or Coll de Can Bordoi.
30–40 min
From Sant Celoni
Rodalies R2 Nord from Barcelona, then the BV-5112 up the Olzinelles valley to Can Draper.
1.5 h from Barcelona
From Girona and the Costa Brava
AP-7 or N-II to Tordera or Hostalric, then the BV-5122 towards the eastern trailheads.
45–70 min
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Massís del Montnegre | The larger, steeper and wilder half: cork oak, large-leaved oak and chestnut, with Sant Martí de Montnegre church and hostel on the ridge. | Open; reached on foot or by the unpaved Sant Celoni–Sant Martí–Hortsavinyà track. |
| Serra del Corredor | Rounded, gentler hills with the Santuari del Corredor near the 633.5 m summit and the Dolmen de Ca l'Arenes below. | Open; car parks at Corredor, Santuari del Corredor and Can Bosc. |
| Maresme coastal slopes | Stone pine woods above the coast, on land that was vineyards and crops until about 150 years ago. | Open; trailheads above Arenys de Munt, Sant Pol de Mar and Calella. |
| Olzinelles valley | The northern approach from Sant Celoni, with the SL-C 79 self-guided route starting at Can Draper. | Open; free parking at Can Draper. |
Sketch map
- 1Park office, Vallgorguina · Headquarters≈41.648, 2.510Església 13; Mon–Thu 09:00–14:00.Església 13; Mon–Thu 9:00 AM–2:00 PM.Map ↗
- 2Arenys de Munt information point · Headquarters≈41.599, 2.542Parc de Can Jalpí (La Central).Map ↗
- 3Sant Celoni tourist office · Town≈41.690, 2.492Can Ramis, Plaça de la Vila 24.Map ↗
- 4Tordera information point · Town≈41.702, 2.720Carrer Sant Antoni 7.Map ↗
- 5Parking Coll de Can Bordoi · Gate≈41.624, 2.404Free; B-510 km (317 mi) 8, Llinars del Vallès.Free; B-317 mi (510 km) 8, Llinars del Vallès.Map ↗
- 6Parking Can Bosc · Gate≈41.620, 2.44616 places, adapted access, on the access track to the Santuari.Map ↗
- 7Parking Corredor · Gate≈41.622, 2.470Recreational area; start of the SL-C 80 and on the GR 92.Map ↗
- 8Parking Santuari del Corredor · Gate≈41.626, 2.481Free; toilets and food point; start of the SL-C 72.Map ↗
- 9Parking Can Draper · Gate≈41.684, 2.497Free, 3 spaces; start of the SL-C 79.Map ↗
- 10Parking Sant Martí de Montnegre · Gate≈41.673, 2.567Free, 6 spaces, one adapted.Map ↗
- 11Parking Hortsavinyà · Gate≈41.668, 2.629Free.Map ↗
- 12Santuari del Corredor · Viewpoint≈41.626, 2.481Late Gothic sanctuary near the 633.5 m summit; restaurant at weekends.Map ↗
- 13Sant Martí de Montnegre · Village≈41.673, 2.567Church and hostel on the ridge.Map ↗
- 14Dolmen de Pedra Gentil · Cave≈41.660, 2.520Approximate; on the track up towards the Santuari del Corredor.Map ↗
- 15Dolmen de Ca l'Arenes · Cave≈41.622, 2.470Approximate; on the SL-C 80 from the Corredor car park.Map ↗
- 16Pou de Glaç de Canyamars · Cave≈41.610, 2.450Approximate; ice well above Canyamars.Map ↗
Take the points offline
16 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Approximate positions for orientation only; the park has no single entrance and the trailheads are spread across the Maresme and Vallès Oriental sides.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry | Free | person | No entrance fee and no gate; the park is open land crossed by public tracks. |
| Parking at signposted car parks | Free | vehicle | Free at Coll de Can Bordoi, Hortsavinyà, Can Draper, Sant Martí de Montnegre, Corredor and Santuari del Corredor. |
| Santuari del Corredor restaurant | EUR 10–25 (≈ US$12–30) | person | 2026 estimate; open at weekends only (check). |
| Guided walk with a park educator | EUR 0–15 (≈ US$0–18) | person | 2026 estimate; the park runs some free and some paid activities — check the current programme. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
General visiting no permit
Motor vehicles on forest tracks no permit
Group or guided activity permit or guide
Park rules
- Fires and barbecues
- Banned outside authorised picnic areas; in summer the fire-risk level can close forest tracks entirely.
- Dogs
- Allowed on most trails but must be kept under control; not allowed inside the Santuari del Corredor buildings (check).
- Camping
- No wild camping; use the hostel at Sant Martí de Montnegre or accommodation in the surrounding villages.
- Motor vehicles
- Only on tracks that allow them; do not drive past a closed barrier or onto footpath-only routes.
- Heritage and litter
- Do not move stones at dolmens or ruins; carry out all rubbish.
Where to stay
In the park
Sant Martí de Montnegre hostel
Simple hostel beside the church on the Montnegre ridge.
Near the park
Sant Celoni
Town with hotels and the best train link on the northern side.
Near the park
Arenys de Mar and Calella
Coastal hotels and hostels on the R1 line, 20–40 min from the southern trailheads.
Near the park
Vallgorguina and Arenys de Munt
Village guesthouses closest to the park office and information point.
Safety
Heat and exposure on the ridges medium
Fire risk in high summer high
Unpaved, steep forest tracks medium
Getting lost on unsigned spurs medium
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- The Santuari del Corredor car park has toilets and a food point and is reached by paved road.
- Can Bosc car park has adapted access; Sant Martí de Montnegre has one adapted parking bay.
- The SL-C 72 and SL-C 80 routes from the Corredor and Santuari car parks are the flattest options; the summit and ridge trails are steep and rough.
Visiting lightly
- Stay on marked trails: the cork oak and chestnut stands regenerate badly under foot traffic.
- Take rubbish back to the car park; bins in the forest are rare.
- Buy lunch in Sant Celoni, Arenys de Munt or Vallgorguina so the villages keep a stake in the park.
- In summer, respect any track closure for fire risk — it protects the same forest you came to walk.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Parc del Montnegre i el Corredor?
Nothing. There is no entrance fee and no gate. The signposted car parks at Coll de Can Bordoi, Hortsavinyà, Can Draper, Sant Martí de Montnegre, Corredor, Santuari del Corredor and Can Bosc are free. You pay only for what you buy — a meal at the Santuari del Corredor restaurant at weekends, or a paid guided activity.
What are the best hikes in Parc del Montnegre i el Corredor?
For a short, easy day: the SL-C 72 La plana del Corredor from the Santuari car park, or the SL-C 80 to the Dolmen de Ca l'Arenes from the Corredor recreational area. For a half day with a view: the climb to the Santuari del Corredor and the 633.5 m summit. For something longer and quieter: the SL-C 79 up the Olzinelles valley from Can Draper, or the ridge route to Sant Martí de Montnegre with its views towards Montseny.
When is the best time to visit Parc del Montnegre i el Corredor?
March to May and October to November. Spring is green and mild, autumn is dry and clear. June to September is hot and carries a fire-risk closure risk, with August the worst month. Winter is quiet and often clear but the days are short.
Do I need a car to visit the park?
It helps a lot. Rodalies trains reach Mataró, Arenys de Mar, Calella, Sant Celoni and Tordera on the edges of the park, but the trailheads are several kilometres inland and local buses are limited. Without a car, plan a taxi from the station or join a guided walk.
Can I drive into the park?
Yes on some unpaved tracks, but many are gated, restricted or footpath-only. The main through routes include Sant Celoni–Sant Martí de Montnegre–Hortsavinyà–Calella and the Coll de Can Bordoi–Santuari del Corredor–Vallgorguina track. Check the sign at the start of each track and drive slowly on the climbs.
Is the park good for families?
Yes for the flatter signposted routes from the Corredor and Santuari car parks, which have toilets and a food point nearby. The summit and ridge trails are steep and rough, and summer heat makes them unsuitable for small children.
How does it compare with Montseny or Montserrat?
Montnegre i el Corredor is lower, greener and far less visited than either. Montseny is higher and a UNESCO biosphere reserve; Montserrat is a rock massif with a monastery and heavy crowds. Choose Montnegre i el Corredor for a quiet forest walk with no ticket and no queue.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go
Show the detailsHide
Sources
- officialDiputació de Barcelona — Parc del Montnegre i el Corredor (official park site)
- officialParc del Montnegre i el Corredor — park office, Vallgorguina
- officialRodalies de Catalunya — lines and timetables
- secondaryWikipedia — Parc del Montnegre i el Corredor
- secondaryWikivoyage: Parc del Montnegre i el Corredor, revision 5296561 (CC BY-SA 4.0)