If you are looking for a Montserrat hike but do not want a long or difficult mountain route, this guide focuses on the easiest hiking options that start close to Montserrat Monastery.
These are not summit hikes or demanding trekking routes. They are short, realistic Montserrat hike options for visitors who want to walk in the mountain, enjoy the landscape and stay close to the monastery area.
For most first-time visitors, the best Montserrat hike from the monastery is one of these four options:
- Camí dels Degotalls — the easiest Montserrat hike from the monastery 🚶♂️
- Via Crucis — a short religious hike near the sanctuary 🚶♂️🚶♂️
- Creu dels Escolans — the best short hike for more mountain feeling 🚶♂️🚶♂️🚶♂️
- Guided Montserrat hiking tour — the best option if you want a real mountain hike beyond the monastery with a qualified professional.🚶♂️🚶♂️🚶♂️🚶♂️
The first three routes are close to the monastery area. The fourth option is for travellers who want a more complete Montserrat hiking experience, usually exploring other parts of the mountain with a guide. If you prefer to explore Montserrat with a professional guide and enjoy the mountain without worrying about route planning, timing or logistics, these two guided hiking options are the best choices.
These are the best short Montserrat hike options from the monastery, ordered from the easiest route to the most complete hiking experience.
The table below helps you compare Montserrat hike difficulty, start area, time and visitor profile before choosing your route.
| Montserrat hike option | Difficulty | Start area | Best for | Main hiking character |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Camí dels Degotalls | ★☆☆☆ Very easy | Beside the monastery parking area | Families, gentle walkers, visitors with limited time | The easiest Montserrat hike from the monastery, ideal if you want a calm route without a demanding climb |
| Via Crucis | ★★☆☆ Easy / uphill | Near the monastery and Sant Miquel path | Visitors who want a short hike with religious meaning | A short Montserrat hike near the sanctuary, combining religious symbolism, stone paths and mountain views |
| Creu dels Escolans | ★★★☆ Moderate | Monastery-side mountain paths | Active visitors who want more mountain feeling | A short hiking route in Montserrat from the monastery if you are looking for a slightly more challenging route with a beautiful and peaceful mountain environment. |
| Guided hiking tour | ★★★★ Variable | Different areas of the Montserrat mountain | Travellers who want a real Montserrat hike with a guide | The best option if you want to go beyond the monastery area and follow a proper guided mountain route |
1. Camí dels Degotalls: the easiest Montserrat hike from the monastery
Best for: the easiest Montserrat hike near the monastery
Difficulty: very easy
Good for: families, relaxed visitors, older travellers, short visits, people who do not want a demanding hike
The Camí dels Degotalls is the best option if you want an easy Montserrat hike from the monastery without climbing, rushing or following a demanding mountain trail.
Camí dels Degotalls
Location: Near the monastery parking area · Style: Gentle hiking path · Difficulty: Very easy
Best for: Easy hiking Effort: Low Ideal visit: 30–60 min
This is the route I recommend for those looking for a day trip to Montserrat but who prefer something short, safe, and accessible. It starts very close to the main visitor area, making it easy to combine with the basilica, the Black Madonna, the museum, lunch, or the monastery’s viewpoints. This walk has a peaceful and contemplative character. Instead of steep climbs, you’ll discover Montserrat’s more tranquil side, with trees, religious details, beautiful paths, and views that unfold amidst the landscape. It’s especially recommended if you’re traveling with people who prefer to avoid steep trails, or if you’ve already visited the monastery and are simply looking for a break from the more crowded areas.
If someone in your group is unsure about hiking in Montserrat, start with Camí dels Degotalls.
It gives you the feeling of a Montserrat hike without the commitment of a longer mountain route. For many visitors, this is the safest and easiest hike from the monastery.
This is not the most spectacular Montserrat hike, and that is exactly the point. It works because it is simple, close and easy to fit into almost any visit.
2. Via Crucis: a short Montserrat hike with religious meaning
Best for: religious atmosphere and a short uphill hike
Difficulty: easy, but with some uphill sections
Good for: visitors interested in religious heritage, quiet corners, photography and short hikes near the sanctuary
The Via Crucis is one of the most meaningful short hiking routes near Montserrat Monastery. It is not only a scenic route; it is also connected with the religious identity of the mountain.
Via Crucis
Location: Close to the monastery area · Style: Spiritual hiking route · Difficulty: Easy with uphill sections
Best for: Religious meaning Effort: Light / moderate Ideal visit: 25–45 min
This walk is a good choice if you want something more atmospheric than Camí dels Degotalls, but still do not want a long Montserrat hike. The route has a stronger sense of place because you are walking through a space that combines devotion, stone, silence and mountain scenery.
Compared with Camí dels Degotalls, the Via Crucis feels more vertical and more connected to the sanctuary. It can be a better option if you want your Montserrat hike from the monastery to feel like part of the religious visit, not just a nature break.
That said, it is not the best choice for visitors who need a completely flat route. Some sections may feel more tiring, especially in summer or after visiting the monastery area for several hours.
Choose the Via Crucis if you want your Montserrat hike to feel connected with the spiritual side of the mountain.
It is not just a route for views. It works better as a short reflective hike, especially if you are also visiting the basilica or the Black Madonna.
For many first-time visitors, the Via Crucis is a good middle option: more meaningful than the easiest walk, but still much more realistic than a full mountain route.
3. Creu dels Escolans: the best short Montserrat hike for mountain views
Best for: a short Montserrat hike with a stronger mountain character
Difficulty: moderate
Good for: walkers, active visitors, photographers and travellers who want to go beyond the easiest paths
The Creu dels Escolans is the option I would choose if you want something that still feels close to the monastery, but has more of a real Montserrat mountain atmosphere.
Creu dels Escolans
Location: Monastery-side mountain paths · Style: Short scenic hike · Difficulty: Moderate
Best for: Mountain feeling Effort: Moderate Ideal visit: 45–75 min
This route is better understood as a short hike rather than a simple walk. It is still a realistic option for many visitors, but I would not place it in the same category as Camí dels Degotalls.
The reason to choose it is simple: it gives you a stronger sense of being in the mountain. If you search for Montserrat hike difficulty because you are not sure how hard the trails are, this is the kind of route where footwear, heat and confidence on uneven paths start to matter more.
It is a good option if you want a short but more rewarding Montserrat hike from the monastery, especially if you already know you enjoy mountain paths.
For active visitors, Creu dels Escolans is the best balance between a short route and a real Montserrat hike.
Choose it if you want more than a gentle walk, but you do not want to commit to a longer route such as Sant Jeroni.
I would avoid this option if you are visiting in unsuitable shoes, if the weather is very hot, or if someone in your group is not comfortable with uneven mountain paths.
4. Guided Montserrat hiking tour: best for a real mountain route
Best for: a more complete Montserrat hike with a guide
Difficulty: depends on the tour level
Good for: solo travellers, first-time visitors, hikers, people who want transport from Barcelona and visitors who prefer not to navigate the trails alone
If you want to go beyond the immediate monastery area, a guided Montserrat hiking tour can be a better option than trying to plan everything on your own.
This is especially true if your goal is not just to “walk a little”, but to enjoy a proper Montserrat hike, understand the mountain, reach better viewpoints, follow a more scenic route and avoid wasting time deciding which trail to take.
A hiking tour is not necessary if you only want Camí dels Degotalls or a very short monastery-side walk. But it becomes much more interesting if you want a proper Montserrat trail, a guide, transport logistics and a route adapted to the group level.
Which Montserrat hike from the monastery should you choose?
If you want the easiest and safest Montserrat hike, choose Camí dels Degotalls.
If you want the hike with the strongest religious meaning, choose the Via Crucis.
If you are looking for a short route with a more authentic mountain experience, choose Creu dels Escolans.
If you want a real Montserrat hike from Barcelona or you prefer not to plan the route yourself, choose a guided hiking tour.
For most first-time visitors, I would choose Camí dels Degotalls if you want something very easy, or Creu dels Escolans if you want a short Montserrat hike with more mountain character.
The Via Crucis is the best middle option if religious meaning matters to you. A guided hiking tour only makes sense if the mountain route is one of the main reasons for your trip.
Montserrat hike difficulty: quick comparison
| Montserrat hike | Difficulty | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Camí dels Degotalls | Very easy | The easiest Montserrat hike near the monastery |
| Via Crucis | Easy / uphill | Religious atmosphere and a short meaningful hike |
| Creu dels Escolans | Moderate | Short mountain feeling without a long hike |
| Guided hiking tour | Variable | A real Montserrat hike beyond the monastery area |
Are these real Montserrat hikes?
Yes, but with an important distinction.
Camí dels Degotalls is the easiest option and feels more like a gentle walk. The Via Crucis is a short religious hike with some uphill sections. Creu dels Escolans feels more like a true short hike because the terrain and effort are more noticeable.
If you are searching for a full Montserrat hike map, summit route or longer mountain itinerary, this article is only the starting point. For longer routes, look at the Sant Jeroni hike, the Santa Cova route or a guided hiking tour depending on your time and fitness level.
Do you need a Montserrat hike map for these routes?
For the easiest routes near the monastery, a detailed Montserrat hike map is useful but not always essential. Camí dels Degotalls and the Via Crucis are both close to the main visitor area and are easier to understand than longer mountain routes.
For the Creu dels Escolans, a route map is more useful, as the hike is further from the monastery area. If you don’t feel confident, we recommend a guided tour with a qualified professional.
How hard is a Montserrat hike from the monastery?
The easiest Montserrat hike from the monastery is Camí dels Degotalls. It is the most suitable route if you want a gentle walk close to the monastery.
The Via Crucis is still short, but it feels more tiring because of the uphill sections. It is manageable for many visitors, but it is not as relaxed as Camí dels Degotalls.
Creu dels Escolans is the most demanding of the three monastery-side options in this guide. I would recommend proper footwear and a little more time.
Can you do a Montserrat hike on a day trip from Barcelona?
Yes. These hikes are realistic on a Montserrat day trip from Barcelona, especially if you plan your time well.
If your visit is short, choose only one hike. If you have more time, combine Camí dels Degotalls with another nearby viewpoint or a visit to the basilica. If hiking is the main goal of your day, consider a guided tour or a longer route instead of trying to add too many short stops.
Related Montserrat guides
If you are planning your Montserrat visit, these related guides can help you choose the right route, transport and activities.
If this guide helped you plan your visit, then it has done its job.
Sergio López Prieto · Local Montserrat Expert
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