On Sunday afternoon, the routes leading to the summit of Puig de la Creu, situated at 668 meters and overlooking Castellar and Sentmenat, saw a steady flow of hikers and cyclists. This location is traditionally a popular spot for outdoor physical activity for local residents. According to one regular visitor, Antoni, there hasn't been a significant increase in visitor numbers recently, although an uptick was observed in previous years, particularly after the pandemic.
The views from the summit are described as "privileged," offering a panorama of the Vallès region extending to Barcelona, and allowing a glimpse of the sea on the horizon near sunset. The summer was marked by events such as the wildfire that affected a forested area of Sentmenat, the effects of which are visible from the mountain. Gener Martí, a local landowner, mentioned that the fire impacted over 200 hectares and that, despite being relatively distant, "we were quite concerned" about its progression.
As a result of the fire, the Spanish Government designated Sentmenat as an area seriously affected by a civil protection emergency. The local council has reiterated its commitment to collaborate on restoration efforts, prevention measures, and enhancing the municipality's resilience.
The scare from the fire has not diminished interest in the area. Puig de la Creu remains accessible without restrictions to control African swine fever, unlike other municipalities in the region such as Sabadell, Sant Quirze, Sant Cugat, Barberà, or Cerdanyola. This situation has led some visitors to expand their range, discovering new routes. Martí notes that it's common to see visitors from Sabadell parking at locations like Era d'en Petasques to start their ascent, and that other forest landowners in the vicinity have also observed a shift in hikers, although "it is difficult to confirm this with data."
Puig de la Creu is recognized as one of the "100 Peaks," attracting many visitors aiming to complete the list. A commemorative sign was recently installed. The location experienced a surge in visitors during the eclipse on August 12th, with around 200 people present. The evolution of the health crisis and the potential reopening of other areas could influence visitor numbers, although experts caution that a full year without cases is needed to consider the swine fever chapter closed.
