Mont-rebei Gorge on foot from La Masieta

The Noguera Ribagorçana splits the Montsec range in two here and leaves a gorge of vertical walls, with a path carved into the rock above the reservoir water. It is the best-known excursion in the area. The nature reserve is run by the Fundació Catalunya La Pedrera, and you enter from the Lleida side from the La Masieta car park, in Sant Esteve de la Sarga, a good hour by car from Àger.

The path on the wall, in 3.5 km

The route the Foundation calls the new gorge route is 3.5 km, with 122 m of ascent, low difficulty and an hour and three quarters. It goes along the left bank of the river until it enters the gorge, and is linear: you go as far as you like and come back the same way. The path has no railing and there are sections with a drop to the water. The Foundation warns that it is not for people with vertigo and that some passages are technical, so with small children stay on the first part and don't let go of them.

To the Montfalcó walkways

The long version continues through the gorge to the Montfalcó wooden walkways, hung on the wall on the Aragonese side: 9 km, 681 m of ascent, high difficulty and about four hours. It calls for fitness, good footwear and lots of water, sun protection and a cap, as the Foundation asks. The Foundation also publishes three shaded routes in the Montsec d'Ares, those of Alsamora, Altimiris and the Obaga Gran, which its website gives as about 5 km and a little over three hours each.

Parking at La Masieta

Parking is booked online until 23:59 the day before: €8 per car or motorbike, €10 at the ticket office, non-refundable and valid for one vehicle and one day. There are places for reduced mobility with their own link, vehicles over 2.30 m cannot enter and you can't stay overnight. It opens only on the days of its calendar: from February to the first half of December, on Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays and long weekends, and daily from 11 July to 14 September. On foot, the gorge can be walked every day. More detail in the listing for the La Masieta car park.

The La Masieta information point and shop has dry toilets, tables and benches. It opens from 7:30 to 19:45 from April to the end of October, and from 8:30 to 16:45 in February, March and from 31 October to 8 December. Coverage is poor: download your reservation before you set out.

Getting there now

The Foundation warns that the town council has closed the road from Pont de Montanyana to La Masieta: whoever uses it does so at their own risk. The route it suggests is the C-13 towards Tremp, the turn-off at Guàrdia de Noguera and the LV-9124 through Sant Esteve de la Sarga and Alsamora. From Àger or Corçà you can only get there on foot by the GR-1; if you prefer to see it from the water without going round, there are the boat and the kayak from Corçà.

Reserve rules

Dogs enter on a lead. There are no bins: what you carry in, you carry out. Camping, lighting fires, throwing stones into the river and taking plants, minerals or fossils are prohibited. Mountain biking is not recommended, and from December to June climbing is not allowed because vultures and other birds nest on the walls.