Mountain Bike from Tartareu to Panta Santa Anna, Lerida

As we were near Tremp in Catalonia, we were looking for some tracks for mountain bike. We hadn’t found much information on the Internet and hoped that we could get informed on the spot. Unfortunately, it was not so easy, as in Tremp there is no tourist information and you have to go to Balaguer to find one, which is one hour by car. As we went past Ager on our way back from the Congost de Mont-Rebei, we saw a sign indicating a mountain bike center near the campsite. We asked information at the reception of the campsite, but they told us that they had had maps in the past, but now they could not help us. At the entry of the campsite there was a sign with a map of mountain bike tracks in the region. So we took pictures that I share with you now.

Like for ski slopes, there are identified by four colours, the green being the easiest one and black the hardest one. We decided to try with red one, as we are not really accustomed to real “mountain” bike! Even if around Barcelona you can find some big hills, it is still not pre-Pyrenees! So we chose the track called “Panta Santa Anan” originating at a small village called Tartareu. We parked the car at the entrance of the village and we had quickly a new 6-year old friend who seemed really happy to see strangers invading this quiet place!

Click here to see tracks and pictures

The tracks are all really well signed and there is no way you can get lost, apart from some fields where the signs had disappeared (coincidence?!!), but it was really easy to find the way. The path first followed a road and then went to some dirt tracks. As we were going uphill, we started to suffer from the heat of the sun. It may seem really unbelievable as we are in March, but temperature went up to 28°C this day. As we arrived at the top of the hill, we were really granted by a panoramic view at the swamp. The best part is the way down to the swamp, as you enjoy a really long descent while you can admire contrasts between mountain and water. As we arrived near the swamp, we decided to leave a little bit the track in order to get closer to the swamp. We had lunch there and lied down on the sun for some time as it was really too hot to go on. Also it was so tempting to have a rest in the nature with no human being in the surroundings. Once we had rested, we took the way back to the track and arrived to a crossroad that we didn’t notice on our way down. You have to go left as the other way is from where you come.

As we came back our little friend soon reappeared and was surprised not having seen us arriving! He asked us if we took the rocky track with much slope. And yes we did, and really you have to have good brakes to take it! We learnt that we had parked just in front of the school, which was used by the 5 children of the village, from which three of them were from the same family. It seems really incredible to see small villages so withdrawn from society and at the same time at only 20km from a town. Although it seems really short for many bikers, we quite suffered from our tour of only 31km, but with a cumulative ascent of  750m!

I almost forgot: on our way back, we found a hotel/bar with a terrace with 360° views to drink a beer. It is called Port d’Ager and I find it a good place to spend a sporty week end with friends. It started to be cold as the sun was going down, but what a wonderful feeling to finish the day!