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Pals – Cruïlles Roads and Gravel

44 km road cycling loop259 m climbing2–3 hoursGPX

Pals, Catalonia, Spain · Road

A rolling 44 km road cycling loop from Pals, Catalonia through Sant Feliu de Boada, Sant Julià de Boada and Cruïlles, with 259 m of climbing.

Route contributed by Marcus · Created from a ride on Monday 29th July 2024

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At a glance

Best for
Rolling day rides
Distance
43.6 km
Loop
Elevation gain
259 m
6 m per km
Riding time
2–3 hours
moving time, estimated
Difficulty
Moderate
Bike
Road bike
from the mapped surface
Surface
Mostly paved
93% paved · 6% unpaved · 1% no data
Traffic
Some main roads
10.7 km on main roads without a cycle lane · 7.6 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more
Food & water
Regular
63 cafés and restaurants · 5 shops · 22 water points · 2 petrol stations · 5 public toilets · 1 bike shop
Best months
Apr to Oct
Pals climate, 10 years
Navigation
GPX download
free, no sign-in
Start and finish
Pals

Map and elevation profile

Elevation profile

Total ascent
259 m
Distance
44 km
0255075100125m0 km10203044 km111 m · highest, at 18.2 kmStartFinish · back at the start

Route description

  1. Pals
  2. Sant Feliu de Boadakm 3
  3. Sant Julià de Boadakm 3
  4. Canapostkm 8
  5. Cruïlleskm 15
  6. Banyereskm 18
  7. Veïnat de Sant Joankm 23
  8. Rabioseskm 26
  9. la Barcelonetakm 39
  10. Palskm 44

Starting in Pals, the route heads through Sant Feliu de Boada and Fontclara before passing Palau-sator and Peratallada. The loop continues past Canapost, Vulpellac, and Fonteta to reach Cruïlles at 15 km.

From km 14.4 a 3.4 km climb gains 61 m up to 109 m height near km 18.1, the highest point at 111 m is nearby. The route mainly rides minor roads (58%) with 25% on main roads including 7.6 km with speed limits of 80 km/h or more. Gravel or unpaved surfaces account for 6% over roughly 2.6 km of track.

Food and drink options include cafés and bakeries at the start and in towns like Peratallada and la Bisbal d'Empordà. The longest stretch without amenities is 9.9 km from 20.9 to 30.8 km. Water points are found at several spots including near the start and at 31.4 km. The loop finishes back in Pals where there are cafés, pubs, restaurants, and a pharmacy.

Highlights

  • Climb of 3.4 km gaining 61 m
  • Puig d'en Torró near km 6.6
  • Castell de La Bisbal d'Empordà at 31 km
  • Longest 9.9 km stretch without café or shop

Along the route

Measured from the route line, the Copernicus elevation model and OpenStreetMap.

Places passed

  1. Sant Feliu de Boada 2.6 km
  2. Fontclara 3.1 km
  3. Sant Julià de Boada 3.1 km
  4. Palau-sator 3.8 km
  5. Peratallada 5.8 km
  6. Canapost 7.7 km
  7. Vulpellac 9.8 km
  8. Fonteta 10.6 km
  9. Cruïlles 15.1 km
  10. Mas Savalls 17.5 km
  11. Sant Sadurní de l'Heura 17.9 km
  12. Banyeres 18 km
  13. el Rissec 18.2 km
  14. Sant Miquel de Cruïlles 20.1 km
  15. Veïnat de Sant Joan 22.6 km
  16. el Pou de Glaç 25.8 km
  17. Can Salva 25.8 km
  18. Rabioses 25.8 km
  19. Sant Joan de Salelles 27.6 km
  20. la Bisbal d'Empordà 31.4 km
  21. la Barceloneta 38.9 km
  22. Torrent 39.7 km
  23. Torrentí 40.1 km

Climbs

Climbs in ride order: where each starts, what this ride climbs, and the full named ascent
ClimbStarts atOn this rideTop on this ride
Unnamed climb14.4 km3.4 km · 61 m · 1.8 % · max 2.8 %109 m

High point 111 m at 18.1 km; low point 4 m. Passes beneath Puig d'en Torró.

Traffic, surface and gradient

Measured from OpenStreetMap along the track and the elevation profile.

Expect stretches on main roads without a cycle lane (10.7 km in all) between quieter sections.

Roads
58% minor road · 25% main road · 8% quiet street · 6% track · 3% other roads and tracks
Main roads
10.7 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
Fast roads
7.6 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
Main roads used
C-66 (8 km), GI-664 (7 km), GI-651 (4 km), GI-652 (3 km)
Surface
Predominantly paved: 93% is mapped as paved, 6% as unpaved or gravel.
Gradient
15% climbing · 17% descending · 67% flat
Longest descent
2.7 km from 38.2 km, dropping 83 m

Food, water and services

Within a few hundred metres of the track, from OpenStreetMap. Opening hours change — treat this as where to look, not a promise.

No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 63 cafés and restaurants, 5 shops, 22 water points, 2 petrol stations, 5 public toilets and 1 bike shop.

Food, water and shops in ride order

  1. 0 kmGreengrocer · 140 m off route
  2. 0 kmDrinking water · 80 m off route
  3. 0 kmToilets · 90 m off route
  4. 0.1 kmCafeteria · café · 180 m off route
  5. 5.7 kmCal Tuset (magdaleneria) · bakery · 90 m off route
  6. 5.9 kmToilets · 170 m off route
  7. 12 kmForn Empordà · bakery · on the route
  8. 12 kmFarmàcia Ester Coll · pharmacy · 40 m off route
  9. 12.2 kmDrinking water · on the route
  10. 17.8 kmLa concòrdia · pub · 40 m off route
  11. 20.9 kmDrinking water · on the route
  12. 31.2 kmPastisseria Sans · bakery · on the route
  13. 31.2 kmFarmàcia Piera de Ciurana · pharmacy · on the route
  14. 31.4 kmFont del carrer Santa Maria del Puig · drinking water · 70 m off route
  15. 34.2 kmMoeve · petrol station · on the route
  16. 35.6 kmla Masia · restaurant · 30 m off route
  17. 39.9 kmDrinking water · 250 m off route
  18. 42.8 kmXarrup · café · 120 m off route

Worth a stop

  • 0.3 km — Mirador d'en Josep Pla (viewpoint)
  • 5.8 km — Torre de les Hores (viewpoint)
  • 15.2 km — Torre de Cruïlles (monument)
  • 31.3 km — Castell de La Bisbal d'Empordà (castle)
  • 36 km — Castell de Peralta (ruins)

Start and access

Starts and finishes at Pals. Mapped within a short walk of the start, from OpenStreetMap.

At the start and finish

Food and coffee
Abrasa'm Pals (40 m), Xarrup (260 m), Cafeteria (230 m)

Know before you go

  • 10.7 km on main roads without cycle lane
  • 7.6 km on roads with 80 km/h+ speed limit
  • 6% gravel or unpaved surface (2.6 km)
  • No café or shop for 9.9 km between 20.9 and 30.8 km

Routes are for inspiration. Roads, surfaces and conditions change — check locally and ride within your limits.

7 photographs from the road

About this route

Ridden by
Marcus
Date ridden
Route line
Built from a GPS recording of the ride.
Elevation
Recalculated from the Copernicus GLO-90 terrain model every 50 m, not the device’s barometer.
Roads, surface, services
Measured along the line from OpenStreetMap extracts.
Best months
Ten years of ERA5 weather for Pals (Open-Meteo).
GPX
Generated from the route line: track points only, no timestamps or personal data.
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Page last updated

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