In the heart of the Pollino National Park, a scenic trekking route awaits you that is suitable for most people, among beech forests, high plateaus, and spectacular views of the Calabrian side. With the guides from A.S.D. I Passi del Pollino, you will experience a morning in the real mountains, but with a moderate 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 towards the cross-country skiing centre, where the actual trekking begins. In a few minutes you enter a beautiful beech forest, cool and shady: a gentle path 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 open spaces, views of the surrounding hills, and the cross-country skiing facility that brings this snowy clearing to life in winter.
After a stop to enjoy the panorama, the walk continues towards the belvedere 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 onto the Calabrian side of the Pollino, with valleys, ridges, and forests that stretch as far as the horizon. Along this stretch, it is not uncommon, with a little luck and silence, to encounter a few deer moving along the edges of the woods; arrival at Timpa Castello at about 1,750 m, with the Loricata pines, the symbol of the Park.
The hike takes approximately 3 to 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 challenging climbs.
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 panoramas that tell the storey of the authentic soul of this extraordinary park.
Trekking poles included in the tour
