A demanding hike requiring strong legs and a good sense of direction – rewarded with some of the finest views in the Pollença area.

One of the earliest references to puig de Can Groc (556 m) appears in Die Balearen (The Balearic Islands Described in Word and Image), published in 1884. In volume five, when the Archduke Ludwig Salvator reaches Pollença, the first thing he notes is the wealth of “magnificent walks” around the area – especially those heading north. His first recommendation is the valley of Ternelles. When describing the narrow gorge of Ternelles, he refers to the mountain on the right as puig de la Font, and the one on the left as Can Puça – though the correct names are Can Punxa and puig de les Dones de Can Sales, respectively. He also mentions two mills – Can Petit and Can Gormes – “overlooked by puig de Can Groc, so called for its golden hue at sunset.”

Pollença’s own Joan Campomar Cerdà, musician, tireless hiker and self-professed “toponymy addict”, has been instrumental in helping me map out the names and micro-toponyms of this route across la serra de la Font and puig de Can Groc, the north-western spur of la serra de Cornavaques (also known locally as Escornavaques or Notib). It was from him that I first heard an alternative origin of the name Can Groc. Rather than a poetic “golden glow”, the name was explained by an elderly farmer, amo en Francisco de Can Vela, as referring to a patch of land on the Gregal-facing slope of the mountain, once used for planting wheat among the tough carritx grass. In the Serra – as in the Pla – not a single patch of earth went to waste. You can explore more of Campomar’s fascinating research at malaltsdetoponimia.wordpress.com.

Starting point

Begin the walk at the Can Berenguer roundabout (by Teixits Vicens, for reference), at kilometre 0 of the Ma-10. Pollença is accessible by public transport (check schedules at tib.org). The main bus station is on Cecili Metel street, just behind the former Sant Domingo convent, and about 20 minutes’ walk from the trailhead.

The Route

[00 min] The walk begins at the roundabout, heading briefly towards Lluc before turning right onto Camí de la Font. On the left is the old football pitch of Ca n’Escarrinxo, where locals famously repelled pirates during La Patrona festival (2 August, Mare de Déu dels Àngels).
We continue inland, towards the mountains, along a road that was converted in the 1960s into an access route for the La Font residential development – controversial for its visual impact on the lower slopes of the serra de Cornavaques.

[15 min] After a long, straight stretch, the road bends gently right. Shortly after, we take a left turn, followed by another right – the path now begins to climb. The gentle stroll ends here, and we begin the steep ascent through the rocky landscape of the urbanisation. With each step, the views open up: val de Cuixac, Pollença, puig de Maria, serra de la Punta, and Cavall Bernat.

After three switchbacks, the road ends at a flat clearing [45 min] around 150 metres above sea level – a scenic lookout by day, and, as locals whisper, a lovers’ haunt by night. Just before this plateau, a wide track on the right leads to a small antenna. From here, a footpath begins, climbing up the valley in a westerly direction.

We’re now entering the canal dels Cocons, named after the small pools that form along the streambed. An old mule track once ran along the right side of the ravine – long eroded, though fragments of its supporting wall remain. The trail is clearly marked and easy to follow, heading for the first saddle.

[1 h 05 min] We reach a small plateau near the 300-metre mark. Two natural lookouts on the left are marked by stone cairns. We continue west, keeping an eye out for the markers to avoid straying from the ridge path leading to the summit.

Puig de la Font

Gradually, the trail rises along the ridge of la serra de la Font, named after the Font de Cuixac (also known as Ull de la Font). To the left, steep slopes fall away into the gorge of Ternelles. Despite traces of an old path, now barely visible, the terrain becomes steeper and rockier. Vegetation is sparse – mainly hardy shrubs and carritx grasses.

[1 h 35 min] We reach a second shoulder, where a rounded rise to the left marks the summit of puig de la Font (381 m) – a perfect spot to appreciate the natural and cultural landscape of Pollença’s rugged interior.

Continuing on, we cross a broad, well-defined saddle – coll del canal dels Moliners – a south-facing ravine connecting directly to the Ternelles valley. From here, the final climb begins: a bare rocky ridge that rises above the 500-metre line. The trail, still marked by cairns, veers right and climbs towards a small col.

There are now two ways up: either scramble directly up the left-hand face, or take a short detour to the right and gain the ridge more gradually. Both are straightforward, and both lead past puig de les Aritges (508 m), marked with a large cairn.

[2 h 15 min] The ridge ends at a saddle just below puig de Can Groc. From here, it’s a final push straight uphill, following the cairns. They lead us to a small gap just to the left of the rocky outcrop ahead. The passage isn’t difficult, but it does require care. Once over the step, a short path leads directly to the summit.

The final challenge is a small notch separating the last crest from the peak – once crossed, the summit is yours.

[2 h 35 min] You’ve reached the perfect lookout point, poised between the valleys of Ternelles and Cuixac.

Return to Pollença along the same path.

[4 h 45 min]