In the heart of Pollino National Park, a scenic trek awaits that is accessible to many, taking you through beech forests, high-altitude plateaus and spectacular views of the Calabrian side. With the guides from A.S.D. I Passi del Pollino, you will experience a morning of true mountain life, but with limited elevation gain and a pace that is also suitable for those who are not experienced hikers.
The meeting point is at the Piano Giumenta car park, at an altitude of about 1,500 metres.
We then continue to the cross-country ski centre, where the actual trekking begins. In just a few minutes, you enter a beautiful beech forest, cool and shady: a gentle trail leads in about 15 minutes to the Piano Giumenta plateau, at an altitude of around 1,550–1,600 metres. Here the landscape opens up, with wide expanses, views of the surrounding hills and the cross-country ski centre that brings this snow-covered clearing to life in winter.
After a stop to enjoy the panorama, the hike continues towards the lookout point and the entrance to the historic “Rue Ping,” the remains of a monorail from the 1950s now transformed into a spectacular vantage point. From this vantage point, the view opens up onto the Calabrian side of Pollino, with valleys, ridges and forests stretching off into the distance. Along this stretch, with a little luck and quiet, it is not uncommon to encounter a few deer moving along the edges of the forest; you then reach Timpa Castello, at about 1,750 m, with the Bosnian pines that are the symbol of the Park.
The hike takes approximately 3–4 hours in total, with a moderate elevation gain and numerous stops. It is an ideal route for those who want to experience the mountains in a relaxed way, listening to the guide's stories about the area, the history of the “rue ping” and the traditions of the Pollino communities, without tackling strenuous ascents.
When you return to the starting point, you will take with you the memory of a morning immersed in nature, among woods, plateaus, mountain lakes and views that reveal the authentic soul of this extraordinary park.
Trekking poles included in the tour
