Between rivers

ENTRE RIUS is a route of 230 km and 3,500 m of elevation gain, aimed especially at lovers of cycling tourism. It is ideal for doing with all-terrain bikes or gravel bikes and is especially attractive to new electric bike users. Divided into four days, it allows you to carry it out comfortably and enjoy, without haste, the landscapes and heritage of these territories, often still very unknown. Needless to say, each user can end up adjusting it to their preferences and reducing or increasing the number of steps.

The route is aimed at practitioners who have minimal experience in tracking georeferenced routes (tracks). ENTRE RIUS does not have its own signage, but it always follows well-signposted paths from other proposals (GR 99 Camí de l’Ebre, the Camino Natural del Algars-Matarranya and the Via Verda del Baix Ebre and Terra Alta). This makes it easier to track, although the signaling is not always in good condition and it is practically essential to have a GPS device.

In general, the route does not present significant difficulties. Most of the route is done on paths and dirt tracks in good condition and pleasant to pedal. Road sections are very sparse and in most cases these are low-traffic routes. The only two points where the route presents remarkable obstacles and you have to get off your bike, coincide with the passage through the traditional paths that cross the two straits of the Ebro. One of these points is the Pas de l’Ase path, which has recently been consolidated and is relatively comfortable to follow on foot, with the bike next to it. The other is the path of Pas de Barrufemes, which has suffered heavy landslides and there are some short sections where the passage has complications and must be done with caution. However, the exceptional beauty of this place more than makes up for the difficulties.

On the other hand, there are two moments of the route where the GR 99 route passes through old horseshoe paths that save a steep descent. These are two very demanding sections technically, which will delight the most experienced cyclists, but which are not recommended for the uninitiated. The first is between the towns of Faió and Mequinensa. At the height of the Bourbon farmhouse, the GR heads east, following the Fabara gorge, to find the ravines of Peranso and quickly descend to find the waters of the Mequinenza reservoir. The most advisable alternative is to continue along the A-1411 road from approximately point K.6. It is a quiet road, with low traffic intensity and leads to Mequinenza.

The next section to consider is between Almatret and Riba-roja d’Ebre. At the tip of the Escambrons begins a beautiful descent, but with very technical sections, not recommended except for people with a lot of experience. A little before reaching the tip of the Escambrons, a forest track starts from the Coll del Panisol, signposted as the route from the Valls to the Fumeral, which goes down the Almatret ravine and leads in front of the Riba-roja bridge.