Montferrer - Puig de Vilafort - La Soca - El Castell

From Perpignan, head towards Le Boulou. Then take the D115 towards Céret. Pass Amélie-les-Bains and Arles-sur-Tech. 3 km further on, turn right towards Montferrer on the D54. Park in the car park at the swimming pool and stadium in Montferrer.
During the summer: you must park 300 m further on. Parking sign indicated.

Sparse yellow markings may help.

(S/E) From the car park, continue along the D44 road south towards the summer car park. Or start from this car park.
At elevation 822, turn right off the D44. Immediately after the sharp right-hand bend on the small road, turn left, then left again at the next fork, onto a tarmac forest road, continuing uphill.

Alternative route: see practical information ¹.

(1) At the fork in the road in a hairpin bend, turn right onto the Pla de la Bene VC2 municipal road. Continue climbing along this municipal road, which is unfortunately tarmac. Pass an abandoned sheepfold on your left and continue along this municipal road to its highest point. The route is open and offers beautiful views of the landscape. After another left-hand bend, the tarmac road ends.

(2) At the junction of the municipal road and a track, turn right, heading north, continuing to climb along the rough track. Further on, the track becomes passable again. Climb towards a wooded area.

(3) At the fork with the path at Puig de Vilafort (circular junction), turn left and continue along the track, heading north-west (end of the yellow markings). Leave a track that descends on your right and continue climbing. Pass under a high-voltage power line, then leave the wooded area. You will come to the first bend to the left of the track. Observation on 16 November 2025, recent development: bench, picnic table, water source, viewpoint.

(4) Continue along the track, which curves to the right and arrives at a flat, open area at a crossroads of tracks and paths at Pla de la Bena.

(5) Leave the grassy track on the left, then the other two tracks on the right. The^{second track} on the right, towards La Souque, is the way back.
Head straight ahead, due west, along a wide dirt track suitable for vehicles.
Head towards Pla de Rodes, following the signposts and yellow markings, through the forest.

(6) At the junction of the two tracks, continue on flat ground, turning left towards the Brigader fountain and the Col de la Rua (Roue).

(7) The fountain has not flowed for a long time and the refuge is often cleaned and tidy.
Return to the junction of the two tracks.
(6) Turn left onto a steep track through the forest, which quickly becomes grassy. Continue climbing the PR® with very sparse yellow markings. The track leads to a large area of pasture that is still in use. Directional signpost.

(8) At the Torres d'en Costa fork, climb to the right, above the track, along a path heading due east towards La Souque, with sparse yellow markings. Please note: this is a confusing area where you will need to look for the yellow markings, which are present.
After 100 m, cross an electric fence with no pedestrian crossing. You will soon find a path that is very well marked on the ground due to trampling by cows. The path climbs up the grassy promontory. Pass by the altitude 1635 m and continue towards the summit of La Soca.

(9) At the summit, the highest point of the hike, find the geodesic marker indicating that you are at the remarkable altitude of 1626 on the IGN map.
50 metres further on, a Catalan flag flies above a small stone structure with a commemorative plaque screwed onto it.
This is a very beautiful spot to take a break and snap a few photos. In the direction we came from, you can see the Serra del Roc Nègre, the Puig del Roc Nègre and, in line with it, the Canigó. A little to the right and a little lower down are the old iron mines of Batère, visible thanks to the buildings still used as a stopover lodge. Due west, below, are the chapel and the Saint-Guillem Refuge.

It's time to think about the return journey. Head due east, where a cairn marks the start of the return path. Look carefully for the yellow markings throughout the descent. Descend steeply and you will soon come to a series of hairpin bends in the forest. The path then heads south-east, continuing to descend rapidly, and comes to a crossroads.

(10) Continue straight ahead. The path may be obstructed in places.
After 150m (at an altitude of 1350m), the well-marked path turns right, heading south, and joins a grassy track. Continue along this narrow track until you reach the large crossroads you passed on the way up.

(5) Take the second wide track on the left, heading due east in the opposite direction to the outward journey (end of the yellow markings). Pass the recent picnic area (2025) and the high-voltage power line and arrive at the fork in the track and path at Puig de Vilafort.

(3) Leave the track you took on the way up and turn left onto a^PR®® path that descends rapidly (yellow markings). You will soon come out onto a large mown and maintained grassy area. Stay on the edge of the forest and follow the cairns and recent wooden posts (2025) to help you find your way through the mown pasture.
Pass the first turn-off on the left and follow the yellow markings. The path resumes and turns to the right.

(11) At the crossroads, continue straight ahead, still descending. The ruins of the castle are in sight; leave them on your right (altitude 1035m).
Caution: it is strongly advised not to venture into these very unstable ruins.
Continue downhill along this ridge through the forest. The PR® overlooks a track on the left. Do not take this track; stay on the PR® and follow the yellow markings. Cut across a wide path and you will come out in an area that is being cleared and deforested. Descend to a track leading to a flat, open area.

(12) At the crossroads of the track and the El Pla del Bad path, head straight ahead for about 30 metres along a small grassy track, then take the path on the right.
Cross the track and follow it on your right for about 100 metres. The path then turns 180° to the south-west. Cut across a path and continue downhill. Yellow markings are present.

(13) At the track, continue straight ahead, still following the PR® trail, marked in yellow. Ford a stream and continue downhill.

(14) At the track, continue straight ahead, still following the PR® trail, marked in yellow. Join the D54 road below.

(15) Follow it to the right towards Montferrer.
Be careful of traffic and walk on the hard shoulder. The road is narrow in places, squeezed between a parapet and the mountain. Reach the car park (S/E).

(7) The Fontaine del Brigader has not flowed for many years. Maintained refuge above.
(4) Newly developed area: captured spring, picnic area, bench, viewpoint: observed on 16 November 2025.
(S/E) Drinking water tap at the large fountain at the entrance to the car park of the swimming pool in Montferrer.

¹ (S/E) Option to reverse the direction of the return journey from (S/E) to (3) for those who prefer to descend via the track at the end of the hike.

The route from (3) to (5) is the same for both the outward and return journeys.

The hike can be shortened. From (S/E), climb up the trail to (3) (crossroads of the first circular) and descend directly via el Castell to (S/E).

This is a mid-mountain area. So, as you should, you will need: rain gear, water, snacks, route map, description, map, GPS, camera, good walking shoes, and a walking stick.

Montferrer.
The castle.

Update on the start of the hike on 28 August 2020.

(4) New area developed: picnic area, bench, viewpoint: observed on 16 November 2025.