Hiking in Girona
Nature trails, activities and countryside around Can Micos
La Selva is one of the most underrated corners of Catalonia for hiking. Forests, volcanic landscapes, wetlands and coastal cliffs — all within an hour of Can Micos (holiday home in Girona). Whether your group wants a gentle morning walk or a full-day mountain trail, the area offers routes for every level and every pace.
Hiking routes and nature near Can Micos
Can Micos is surrounded by nature: forests, farm tracks and riverside areas you can explore the moment you step out the door. Located in Riudarenes, in the heart of La Selva, it is the ideal base for hiking in Girona — from relaxed family walks to more demanding ascents in the Montseny or the Guilleries.
Daniel has known the area for years and is happy to give free advice on routes suited to your group’s fitness level and available time: which trails see the least traffic, where you can stop for a bite, how to avoid the busy Montseny car parks. After the hike, the private pool and professional kitchen are waiting. For more route information for the area, visit www.giroguies.com.
Hiking routes near Can Micos — distances & difficulty
From Can Micos in Riudarenes, you can reach some of the most spectacular natural spaces in Girona without long drives. Here are the routes we recommend most to our guests, with distances from the house:
Montseny Natural Park (30 km): One of the most biodiverse natural parks in the Iberian Peninsula. Ideal for full-day hikes with views of the Catalan pre-coastal range.
La Crosa Volcano & Salitja wetlands (20 km): A unique geological landscape — a volcanic crater and wetland area in the heart of La Selva. Easy trail, spectacular scenery.
Sils Ponds (3 km): The closest nature reserve to Can Micos. A flat, easy walk around a protected wetland — perfect for a relaxed morning with the group.
El Far Cliffs (75 km): A dramatic coastal cliff path near the Costa Brava. Best combined with a beach stop on the way back.
El Gorg Negre (25 km): A natural pool and waterfall in a forest setting — a favourite for groups in summer.
Lake Banyoles (47 km): The largest natural lake in Catalonia. The flat lakeside path is suitable for all ages and fitness levels.
Marimurtra Botanical Garden (32 km): Perched above the Costa Brava, this clifftop garden combines botany, sea views and easy walking paths.
Nature discovery activities in La Selva, Girona
Walking routes from Can Micos
A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and one of the most biodiverse natural spaces in Catalonia, 30 minutes from Can Micos. Beech forests, mountain villages and viewpoints with panoramic views. Routes for all levels: short circular walks (2–3 h) to full-day ascents up to Turó de l’Home (1,706 m).
Argimon Hermitage – 9 km
A short, easy route — ideal for the first morning or for groups with children. You set off directly from Can Micos along farm tracks and woodland paths to a medieval hermitage on a gentle hill — good views, little elevation gain, no crowds.
La Crosa Volcano and the Salitja Retting Pools – 20 km
An extinct volcano surrounded by wetlands and historic flax retting pools — a quiet, barely visited natural area in La Selva. The combination of volcanic landscape and wetland habitat is unique in Europe. Easy to reach, very few visitors.
Spectacular sandstone formations in the north of La Selva. The Cingleres del Far is a protected natural area with cliffs, gorges and a stream running through them — a great day-trip option for more active groups willing to travel a little further.
A dark natural pool deep in the forest, mysterious and remote — one of the most hidden spots in the comarca. Perfect for a half-day walk well off the usual tourist trails.
A mountain area between La Selva and Osona, with dense forests, deep gorges and the Sau reservoir. One of the greenest and most peaceful corners of Catalonia — ideal for multi-hour hikes or as a complement to a cycling day.
Nature activities in La Selva
Can Masó Farm School – 500 m
A five-minute walk from Can Micos. Ideal for groups with children: farm animals, orchards, vegetable gardens and traditional Catalan rural life at first hand.
One of the most important wetlands in Catalonia, practically on the doorstep of Can Micos. A natural path around the ponds, perfect for birdwatching (over 200 species) and easy flat walks.
The largest natural lake in Catalonia, famous since the 1992 Olympics (rowing events). The 6.5 km circuit around the lake is great on foot or by bike. The historic town centre of Banyoles is well worth a stop.
Marimurtra Botanical Garden – 32 km
One of the finest botanical gardens in Europe, perched above the Mediterranean in Blanes. Over 3,000 plant species from around the world on terraces with sea views. A cultural outing that pairs well with an afternoon at the beach.
Santa Clotilde Botanical Garden – 35 km
A stunning Italian Renaissance-style garden high above the cliffs of Lloret de Mar, with direct views over the Mediterranean. Less well-known than other Costa Brava spots — and all the better for it: quieter, more impressive.
Terraced gardens above the sea on the wilder stretch of the Costa Brava. In summer, home to the Cap Roig Festival — one of the best-known open-air music festivals in Spain. Nature, architecture and sea views in one trip.
Can Micos — your base for hiking holidays:
After a day on the trails, Can Micos is the ideal place to recover. The professional kitchen is ready for group cooking, the living room has sofas and a fireplace for cooler evenings, and the private pool is perfect for a post-hike dip. We can also arrange catering so your group arrives to a hot meal without any effort.
Ask us before arrival and we will prepare a personalised route plan based on your group’s fitness level, interests and the time of year.