In the heart of the Pollino National Park, a scenic hike awaits you, suitable for most, through beech forests, high plateaus, and spectacular views of the Calabrian side. With the guides of A.S.D. I Passi del Pollino, you'll experience a real mountain morning, but with a moderate elevation gain and a pace suitable even for non-expert hikers.
Meet at the Piano Giumenta car park, at an altitude of about 1,500 metres.
Then you'll head to the cross-country ski centre, where the actual trek begins. In a few minutes, you'll enter a beautiful, cool, and shady beech forest: 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 ski resort that brings this snow-covered clearing to life in winter.
After a stop to enjoy the view, the walk continues towards the belvedere and the entrance to the historic “rue ping,” the remains of a 1950s monorail now transformed into a spectacular observation point. From this vantage point, the view opens onto the Calabrian side of the Pollino, with valleys, ridges, and forests stretching to the horizon. Along this stretch, with a bit of luck and silence, it's not uncommon to spot deer moving along the edges of the woods; you'll arrive at Timpa Castello at about 1,750 m, with the Bosnian pines, the symbol of the Park.
The hike lasts about 3 to 4 hours, with a moderate elevation gain and lots of stops. It's an ideal route for those who want to experience the mountains in a relaxed way, listening to the guide's tales 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'll take with you the memory of a morning immersed in nature, among forests, plateaus, mountain lakes, and views that tell the authentic soul of this extraordinary park.
Hiking poles are included in the tour