Chronicle of a Canyoning Trip to La Glorieta Canyon in the Prades Mountains

The Glorieta Canyon is one of the most outstanding canyoning routes in Tarragona. The Glorieta Valley combines a forest environment with an almost jungle-like atmosphere. Along the way, we find pine and oak forests. Flowing silently through the centre of the valley is an effluent canyon, meaning that its water flow is supplied by an aquifer. Its most visible manifestation is the Fonts del Glorieta. This is a canyon of crystal-clear waters, with a riverbed covered in decomposing vegetation from the abundant surrounding forest.

The Glorieta Canyon is the perfect example of an intermediate-level introduction to canyoning, ideal for people looking for a more adventurous canyon where they can face jumps, water slides and rappels of up to 20 metres. Progressing through this introductory canyoning route in Tarragona becomes a dance between you and the morphology of the canyon. It is not simply aquatic hiking with jumps and slides along the edges of the canyon.

CANYONING IS A HIGH-RISK ACTIVITY AND SHOULD BE CARRIED OUT UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF A SPORTS PROFESSIONAL (CANYONING GUIDE/TECHNICIAN) OR BY PEOPLE WITH EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING IN CANYONING.

REMEMBER THAT PROPER TRAINING MEANS GREATER SAFETY

CANYON LOCATION – CANYONING IN TARRAGONA

This canyoning route in Tarragona is located between Mont-Ral and Alcover. The route finishes at Niu de l’Àliga, a beautiful final pool featuring a 7-metre rappel combined with a 6-metre jump.

Mont-Ral is a small mountain village in the Prades Mountains, famous for its geology and beautiful valley. If you are looking for recommendations on climbing sectors, places to eat, places to camp, spots for setting up hammocks or accommodation, visit this article to find out more.

The approach to the canyon starts from the Mont-Ral football field (Tarragona). This is where you leave your car and begin the walk towards the canyon descent. From there, there is a 30 to 35-minute downhill walk along a trail with limestone steps.

The canyoning descent in Tarragona follows approximately 1.3 km of stream, overcoming jumps of up to 7 metres, rappels of 20 metres, water slides and small drops that are negotiated by downclimbing using rope-free progression techniques.

Once you have passed Niu de l’Àliga, follow a trail on the right-hand side of the river. After approximately 60 metres, take the path to the right until you reach an information sign for the area. You will see some descending steps made from small limestone blocks. At this point, you can choose one of the following options depending on whether you have arranged a vehicle shuttle:

• A 1.8 km ascent along a reinforced trail with limestone steps until reaching the car park at the Mont-Ral football field (Tarragona). It takes approximately 1 hour at a relaxed pace while enjoying a good conversation.
• A 2.4 km descent along a wide track. It takes approximately 45 to 50 minutes at a relaxed pace. The disadvantage is that the path ends at the Mas del Forès car park, where a €5 parking fee must be paid in the morning.

We always recommend choosing the second option. Once you have finished the canyon, your body is usually low on energy after maintaining body temperature, producing adrenaline and dealing with the physical demands of the activity. Therefore, you normally want to walk as little as possible before reaching the car and heading to a restaurant or somewhere to rest. Nevertheless, both options are perfectly viable and allow you to enjoy this fantastic canyon.

ACCESS

Our team at the beginning of the approach

To reach the first anchor point of the Glorieta Canyon (canyoning in Tarragona), we must leave from the car park at the Mont-Ral football field (Tarragona). There, we will find a track from which several paths branch off. We take the wide track on the right, crossing a chain. Continue along this track for approximately 300 metres until you reach a turn-off on the left, where a descending slope covered with loose limestone begins. This slope leads to a small trail marked with two coloured lines (yellow and blue), characteristic of trails in the Priorat area. Follow this trail until you reach an open area with a viewpoint overlooking the Fonts del Glorieta, where the canyon begins. From there, take the path to the left until you reach a sign. Just beside it, you will see a very narrow trail. Follow this trail until reaching the beginning of the canyon.

PROGRESSION THROUGH THE GLORIETA CANYON

START

The Glorieta Canyon (canyoning in Tarragona) can be started at the Fonts del Glorieta or by completing the first rappel, which is usually dry and ends at the Fonts del Glorieta.

Following the canyon bed, we find a small trail running along the left-hand side of the canyon. We always try to use this trail and avoid progressing directly through the canyon because this section involves approximately 200 metres of aquatic hiking, which can disturb animals, plants and algae. This is something we do not want to encourage. Following the trail, we reach the first jump of the canyon, located at the upper left side. Here, there is an easy jump of approximately 4 metres (BE CAREFUL OF THE TREE TRUNK DIRECTLY BELOW THE JUMP). Directly opposite, on the other side of the canyon, there is another jump of approximately 7 metres.

After completing the jump, around 10 metres further on the left-hand side, we find a cave that must be descended carefully. This brings us back to the canyon bed. Further ahead, there is a beautiful 3 or 4-metre slide. Shortly afterwards, there is another small jump/slide that takes us to the first rappel of the canyon, unless the dry rappel at Fonts del Glorieta has already been completed.

MIDDLE SECTION

The first rappel, which is approximately 18 metres high, has an anchor station consisting of two expansion bolts (parabolts), each with its own ring. These anchors are not connected by cord or any other material, so ideally the two points should be linked before installing the rappel. The rappel is slippery, especially at the beginning. Even so, it is not particularly demanding. The landing area is very good and stable.

First 18-metre rappel in the Tarragona canyon

Continuing along the canyon bed, we reach a cavity that trends slightly towards the right. The exit is on the left-hand side, through a semi-siphon. In any case, it is not necessary to fully submerge yourself to overcome this obstacle. Continue along the canyon bed until reaching another drop in the form of a vertical cave or tufa hole, assisted by a rope. Follow this cave until you emerge once again into the canyon bed.

After passing a V-shaped slide with a very poor landing area, the descent must be made in a controlled manner. Continue until reaching a gently sloping ramp that can be rappelled, followed by what appears to be a slide formed in the tufa. This obstacle should be negotiated on its left-hand side because the more obvious slide on the right has a rock in the landing area. Therefore, it should be passed on the left, taking great care at the beginning because the reception is extremely slippery. A body belay can be set up if necessary.

Continuing along the canyon bed, we encounter several smaller obstacles: slides without deep landing pools, downclimbs on very slippery algae-covered tufa and straightforward progression through the canyon. Eventually, we reach another ramp that can either be downclimbed or rappelled. However, at the beginning of the ramp, there is a diversion of the watercourse on the left where you can position yourself and descend in an easier and more attractive way than using the ramp itself.

Next, we encounter another obstacle that looks like a beautiful and easy jump. However, it should not be attempted because the landing pool is only around one and a half metres deep. Instead, descend an easy dry section on the left side of the canyon. Once this obstacle has been passed, continue until reaching the anchor point of the second mandatory rappel.

SECOND RAPPEL

As mentioned above, once we reach the anchor point of the second mandatory rappel, the technique used will depend on the water flow in the canyon:

• If the canyon has a very high water flow and strong pressure, as shown in the video below, a retrievable handline should be installed using two chemical anchors on the right-hand side of the canyon. This leads to the rappel anchor on the left-hand side, which consists of two unconnected chemical anchors, one of them fitted with two rings. In this installation, the best option is to use the higher chemical anchor on the left to connect and tension the handline. The upper ring and the right-hand chemical anchor can be used to connect the points and install a releasable system. The lower ring can be used for clipping in and for installing a safety rope if required.
  

  Waterfall at the second rappel

• If the canyon has its normal water flow and the current is not particularly strong, it is possible to downclimb towards the left-hand anchor point, taking great care around the wet sections because they are extremely slippery. Alternatively, you can use a fixed handline on the right-hand side until reaching a dry rappel. We recommend using the rappel on the right because this helps preserve the algae and moss growing in the canyon. These are endangered species within this canyon, and excessive use of the other rappel progressively damages the vegetation. Protecting this vegetation is extremely important for both sporting practice and environmental conservation.

If you choose to rappel down the left-hand side, take care at the bottom because it is very easy to trap or injure your hands on the final overhanging section.

PLEASE TREAT THE CANYON’S FLORA WITH RESPECT

FINAL SECTION

After completing the second mandatory rappel, continue through the canyon until reaching a large tufa formation that looks like a huge slide, although it is not suitable for sliding. Take a clear trail to the right, which leads to two options: a higher jump of approximately 4 metres with a rock directly in front of you, or a smaller 2-metre jump.

After overcoming this obstacle, the canyon continues with relatively straightforward progression and easy drops, although they are EXTREMELY SLIPPERY! Eventually, you reach the end of the canyon: an 8-metre rappel into a small pool, followed by a jump into the large final pool known as NIU DE L’ÀLIGA.

Final rappel of the aquatic canyoning route

This rappel is very easy to complete. There are two chemical anchors, just like at the previous rappel station. Therefore, we recommend using the

same technique described above. After the rappel, it is possible to slide down over the moss, although this is not recommended because the moss is protected and we must respect the environment, or alternatively jump directly into the final pool.

REMEMBER TO RESPECT THE CANYON ECOSYSTEM

RETURN

To return to the car, you can follow the path connecting Niu de l’Àliga with Mont-Ral. Take this path after leaving Niu de l’Àliga, just before reaching a set of descending steps. From there, simply follow the uphill route until reaching the original car park, which takes approximately 45 minutes.

Alternatively, you can arrange a vehicle shuttle and leave a car at Mas del Forès. To reach Mas del Forès from Niu de l’Àliga, simply follow the path that descends by some steps. When you reach a fork beside a small wooden bridge, take the path on the right. Please do not litter or damage the trail.

Once back at the starting point, we recommend going for lunch at the HOTEL COR DE PRADES, a charming rural hotel with an excellent restaurant. The perfect way to finish the day!

Enjoying the end of the Glorieta Canyon

ROUTE DIAGRAM

Route diagram of the Glorieta Canyon area