El Montgó — circular from Jávea

After staying one week in Deniá we finally found the time to climb the home mountain Montegó. The paths were rockey and steap. The views and the nature were stunning 🤩 a day well spent 🥰

Beautiful hike. Great prospects. Mountaineering experience is recommended on routes 5 and 6.

The summit of Montgó (753 m) emerges wild, solitary and ruthless above seven hundred meters in height in a fierce block of limestone architecture between the populations of the Alicante coastal platform. The "shell of the turtle", as it is popularly known, has been considered a magical mountain by Levantine cultures since ancient times. The starting point is the Pare Pere hermitage, at the end of Camí del Pou de la Muntanya, on the north face of the mountains where the tourist colonies of Dénia are. The Montgó massif is terrifying, a superb wall of limestone walls seems to prevent access to the summit platform. The route goes up Camí de la Colònia and takes the turnoff for Cova de l'Aigua, marked with a natural park post. The cavity was inhabited by Iberians, Romans and the rest of the civilizations that have inhabited the Mediterranean coast. The main path leaves the cave on the left and runs along the base of the limestone walls to connect with another path that goes up from the Camí de la Colònia track and climbs the only slope accessible on foot on the north face of Montgó. At the end of the steep section, the path from Jesus Pobre appears on the right and continues on the left to the top of Montgó. The panorama at the top of the natural park is magnificent, the coast, the capes, the beaches, the towns and in the background the infinite horizon of the Alicante mountains, a marvel. The return begins along the path that goes down from the top to the east, marked with the milestones of PR-CV 355. The slope is stony and steep, with delicate steps that may force you to use your hands. The trail traces several zetas in the steepest section and continues straight ahead towards Les Planes and Cabo de San Antonio. The route turns to the left, passes through the ravine where the Cova del Gamell is and runs along the Camí de la Colònia to the starting point, with magnificent views of Dénia and part of the Gulf of Valencia coastline.

The climb to Montgó is done by the so-called Grey Route that starts from Camp de Tir de Xabia. The impressive mass of Montgó makes us think that the climb will be complicated and hard but in reality it is not so much. Until reaching the crest that divides both slopes the path makes numerous zigzags so the climb is quite gentle and not too demanding. When you reach the crest sometimes you will have to use your hands to help yourself, but at no time is there a feeling of aerial exposure until you reach the summit. At this point you can retrace your steps or continue to Denia descending along the orange route. The path becomes very uncomfortable to walk requiring a firm step as it is a lapiaz. At a given moment the path begins to lose height at a fast pace giving a feeling of exposure in some sections. Once you reach the Cami de la Colonia blue route the return to the starting point is a walk, except for a small climb without problems when you reach Cova del Gamell

Parking indicated from the road to the shooting range. Pleasant hike, not to be done in the middle of summer during hot hours because the sun is beating down. The descent on the Dénia side is a bit technical but not exposed so very doable, not recommended for beginners however.

The tour starts at the Hunting Club at the foot of Móntgo. In the fresh morning air we climb the steep east flank to the summit post. But this time not further to the Cross of Dénia but down the dry riverbed almost to Jesus Pobre. From there in a long loop around the Móntgo. On the sea side then a beautiful section through pine forest before the Cami de la Colonia takes us back. At the end after the Cova del Gamell there is still a small climb, then a simple piece of hiking trail and the tour is over.