Font de la Pola: Family hiking in Sant Llorenç i l'Obac Natural Park

Views of Montserrat on the way to Font de Pola

Looking for an easy trail, great for hiking with kids and with breathtaking views of the Montserrat massif?

Font de la Pola is your spot. 😉

Technical details

Difficulty: easy.
Length: 4.6 km (round trip).
Elevation gain: 168 m .
Hiking time: 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Sun exposure: 40-60% shade
Starting point: L’Alzina del Sal·lari parking area.
End point: L’Alzina del Sal·lari parking area.
Date completed (photos): July, 2020.

On the way to Font de la Pola

Picture this:

It's summer (one of those really hot ones).
For some reason, your body is craving mountains and nature (call it the post-lockdown effect if you will).
And you have little ones eager to run wild (ideally 5 years and up, who can walk quite a bit without tiring right away—or you'll end up carrying them piggyback). 😉

If you live around Barcelona, this out-and-back hike to Font de la Pola (Pola spring) is a great option to keep in mind.

Panoramic view of Montserrat and Sant Llorenç i l'Obac Natural Park

Especially if you're in good company, since the area next to the spring is perfect for a nice, long, breezy picnic chat. 🙂

Coming along?

L’Alzina del Sal·lari parking

If you're coming from Matadepera heading towards the village of Talamanca, you'll find the L’Alzina del Sal·lari car park on your left.

It's well signposted (you can check it on the map at the end of this post) and has plenty of parking spots, though in peak season (think weekends in spring or fall), they fill up early.

If that happens, you'll spot several pull-off areas along the road just a few meters before reaching the car park that can fit two or three vehicles.

Climb towards Turó de Tres Creus

Head up the slope starting from the car park itself and continue on your left along a paved path closed to traffic.

The road turns (and climbs) to the right right away.

This first stretch (around 1 km) offers plenty of shade along the sides if you hike it in the morning or late afternoon, when the sun isn't at its peak.

Rocky landscape on the way to Font de la Pola, Barcelona

Crossroads

When you reach Tres Creus hill, you'll spot a sign marking the junction between this trail to Font de la Pola and the GR-5 towards Paller de Tot l’Any, one of the landmarks of Parc Natural de Sant Llorenç del Munt i l’Obac.

Coming soon to the blog… 😉

To reach Font de la Pola, just keep going straight along the narrow, shaded path right ahead of you.

A trail with views of Montserrat

Just a few meters into this section of the path, you'll start spotting the Montserrat massif rising on the horizon, along with the iconic rock formations shared by both Montserrat and Sant Llorenç i l’Obac Natural Park.

Intermittent views blend with trail-side caves and wooded stretches.

Enjoy the hike! 🙂

Font de la Pola

When you're just a few meters from the spring, you'll see the path fork ahead of you.

I recommend taking the one on your right: you'll reach the spring directly via the easiest route.

Taking the left one? No worries, it will get you to the spring too, as long as you turn right as soon as you hit the second fork.

If you keep taking the left path, you'll end up doing the full loop—which is great if that's what you're after, but it's longer and you'll miss the spring altogether. 🙂

A cozy spot that makes you want to stay

When you reach the spring, it's the least eye-catching thing around (unless you arrive dying of thirst). 😉

The water is drinkable and comes out slightly naturally carbonated (don't expect sparkling water) due to the minerals in the rocks it filters through. That said, I definitely recommend drinking straight from the spring flow, not from the stagnant pool below it.

However, this little water spring was what turned this sheltered area into a gathering spot for hunters, shepherds, charcoal burners, and hikers, who would even spend whole seasons camping around it back in the early 20th century.

That era is when the curious round stone table with an embedded chessboard in its center was built.

I can attest that the place practically begs you to take a seat:

We spent over 3 hours by the Font de la Pola without even realizing it; having lunch and chatting away in the shade while the kids chased lizards and played hide-and-seek among the caves and undergrowth.

Views of Sant Llorenç i l'Obac Natural Park on the way to Font de la Pola

Heading back to the L’Alzina del Sal·lari parking lot

The way back? Just head back the same way you came. Simple as that! 🙂

Wikiloc Itinerary

Want to follow this route on Wikiloc?

You can view the trail on the map at this link.

What to bring

Food: pack whatever you feel like eating on the trail into your backpack. Need some inspiration?: sandwiches, fruit, nuts, cookies...
Water: the spring water is drinkable, so 0.5 to 1 liter per person should be plenty.
Sun protection: part of the trail is out in the open (just a bit), so make sure to bring sunglasses, a hat, sunscreen...
Clothing: lightweight clothes and hiking shoes.
Travel insurance: if you're not a European resident and want to travel worry-free, book your IATI travel insurance through this link and get a 5% discount. They offer customizable coverage tailored to your needs and take care of paying all medical expenses upfront if you notify them beforehand. I never travel outside Europe without them anymore.