In the heart of the Pollino National Park, a scenic hike suitable for most people awaits you, taking you through beech forests, across high plateaus, and offering spectacular views of the Calabrian side. Accompanied by guides from A.S.D. I Passi del Pollino, you will experience an authentic morning in the mountains, but with a moderate elevation gain and a pace suitable for those who are not experienced hikers.

The meeting point is at the Piano Giumenta parking lot, at an altitude of approximately 4,921 feet (1,500 meters).
We then continue to the cross-country skiing center, where the actual hike begins. Within a few minutes, you will enter a beautiful, cool, and shady beech forest: an easy trail leads you to the Piano Giumenta plateau in about 15 minutes, at an altitude of around 5,118–5,252 feet (1,550–1,600 meters). Here, the landscape opens up, offering wide-open spaces, views of the surrounding peaks, and the cross-country ski facility that brings this snow-covered clearing to life in winter.

After a stop to enjoy the view, the hike continues to the viewpoint and the entrance to the historic “Rue Ping,” the remains of a 1950s monorail now transformed into a spectacular vantage point. From this vantage point, the view opens up to the Calabrian side of the Pollino, with valleys, ridges, and forests stretching as far as the eye can see. Along this section, with a bit of luck and silence, it is not uncommon to spot a few deer moving along the edges of the forest; we arrive at Timpa Castello, at an elevation of approximately 1,750 meters (5,741 feet), where the Bosnian pines, the symbol of the Park, stand.

The hike takes approximately 3 to 4 hours in total, with a moderate elevation gain and numerous stops. This is an ideal route for those who want to experience the mountains in a relaxed way, listening to their guide's stories about the area, the history of the “rue ping,” and the traditions of the Pollino communities, without tackling any challenging climbs.

When you return to your starting point, you will take with you the memory of a morning immersed in nature, among forests, plateaus, mountain lakes, and panoramas that reveal the authentic soul of this extraordinary park.
Hiking poles included on this tour