Mirador de l'Estrella

Mirador de l'Estrella is a viewpoint in Montcada i Reixac, a small town right on Barcelona's northern edge, set into the slopes of Collserola Natural Park. Its name comes from the star-shaped platform itself, perched at roughly 110 meters above sea level, right above the N-150 road toward Terrassa and the C-58 motorway.

Where exactly is it?

The viewpoint sits within Can Cuiàs Park, an area reclaimed and landscaped for recreation and hiking between 1998 and 2007. This isn't its original spot, either — when the BUS-VAO lane was built, part of the slope had to be cut away, so the whole platform was shifted around 7 meters back into the hillside. Today it works as a key stop along the hiking network in the northern stretch of the Collserola range.

What can you see from the platform?

From Mirador de l'Estrella you get a sweeping view over Turó de Montcada and the Serralada de Marina range. The Coll de Montcada pass — a spot with real historical weight for the region — is clearly visible, along with the Turó Quatre Pins hill. Down below, the roads mentioned above cut through the valley, making it easy to see how close this pocket of natural landscape sits to the built-up valley floor.

What kind of landscape surrounds it?

The area is covered in typical Mediterranean maquis and scrubland, mixed with meadows and heathland. Further up the slopes, pine and oak woods take over, characteristic of Collserola Natural Park as a whole. That means the walk to the viewpoint is itself a trip through varied vegetation — from open, sun-exposed stretches to shadier patches of woodland.

How do you get there?

Mirador de l'Estrella lies within Montcada i Reixac's boundaries, right next to Can Cuiàs Park, from where marked footpaths lead up to it. Given its modest elevation — just over 110 meters — the approach is gentle and manageable for most visitors, no specialized hiking gear required.

When is the best time to visit?

Viewpoints in Collserola are best visited in the morning or late afternoon, when the light works best over the mountains and valley and temperatures are comfortable for walking. It's worth avoiding the middle of the day, especially in summer, since the Mediterranean scrubland offers little shade along the open sections of trail.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Mirador de l'Estrella a difficult hike? No — the viewpoint sits at around 110 meters above sea level within Can Cuiàs Park, and the approach follows gentle paths accessible to most visitors without specialized preparation.

Why is it called "de l'Estrella"? The name refers to the star shape of the viewing platform itself, designed as part of the Can Cuiàs Park redevelopment carried out between 1998 and 2007.

What views does the platform offer? It looks out over Turó de Montcada, the Serralada de Marina range, the Coll de Montcada pass, and Turó Quatre Pins, with the N-150 road and C-58 motorway running below.

Is this the viewpoint's original location? No — it was moved about 7 meters back into the hillside after construction of the BUS-VAO lane required cutting away the slope it originally stood on.