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The Iron and Coal Route, in reference to the important ironworking tradition of the Baix Ripollès region and the mining of coal at Ogassa, follows the route that was once plied by the train. The 12 km of railway have been transformed into an ideal trail for enjoying a long walk or bicycle ride, and for reminding us of the industrial past that is an important part of our heritage.
The section of railway going from Sant Joan de les Abadesses to Toralles remained in use until the mines closed down in 1967. The Sant Joan de les Abadesses - Ripoll section remained active until 1980, the year of its centennial anniversary.
The route links Ripoll, at an elevation of 682 metres above sea level, with Sant Joan de les Abadesses (775 m).
The entire route is paved and flanked by vegetation. The total vertical rise is 160 metres, and there is a gentle 1% incline.
This section of the track starts at km 9, right in front of the old train station at Sant Joan de les Abadesses. Some 300 metres past the station, the track crosses the road to Ogassa and begins to rise gradually along the valley of the Malatosca, a tributary of the Ter River that rises from the Cavallera range. You are alerted at each road crossing by cobblestones along the trail and proper signposting throughout the whole itinerary. The track crosses a long-distance (GR) hiking trail some 500 metres from the station, and then crosses the highway again just beyond the GR trail. The route is placid and runs without problem to a point some 2 km before Sant Joan, at the Toralles loading station, where the coal from the mining railway of Ogassa was received. The section of greenway running from Toralles to Ogassa is an ascent section. Ogassa (975 m) is located 4 km from Sant Joan de les Abadesses and 13 km from Ripoll.
The linking section of greenway with Olot begins at the Sant Joan de les Abadesses train station.
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