50 Hikes In and Around Tuscany by Jeff Taylor

50 Hikes In and Around Tuscany

Hiking the Mountains, Forests, Coast, and Historic Sites of Wild Tuscany and Beyond

By Jeff Taylor

With Assistance by Linda Lenz and Maile

Published by Countryman Press

Available at Amazon.com

From high mountain meadows to rocky coastal cliffs, dense chestnut forests to abandoned medieval villages, Tuscany is a land of stark contrasts, fascinating history, and spectacular hiking opportunities.

50 Hikes In and Around Tuscany is the first comprehensive hiking guide to this incredible landscape that offers visitors the opportunity to explore the "wild" Tuscany, no one hears about.

On this website you'll have the opportunity to see photographs of from all 50+ hikes in this book and I sincerely hope this will inspire you to get off the beaten track to explore this incredible slice of Italy.

At the top, you can  click on all of the regions covered in the book to see information, including basic hike descriptions and introductory notes on the ecosystems, geology, and cultural history of each region. Below is a map of Tuscany and the surrounding provinces and the areas covered in the book.

• Southern Tuscan Coast
• Northern Tuscan Coast
• Tuscan Hill Country
• Mountains of the Alpi Apuane
• Cinque Terre Coast
• Mountains of the Northern Apennines
• Mountains of the Central Apennines
• Central Italy and the Adriatic Coast

For reviews, questions, or comments, please email me at hikemasters@gmail.com

For detailed hike descriptions of hikes all across North America, check out;

Hikemaster's Trail Description Site at www.hikemasters.com

Hikes of the Adriatic Side of the Apennines

41 Monte Falco in Foreste Casintenesi National Park

A hike through the ancient forests of the Apennines to the summit of Monte Falterona

Distance: approximately 15 km (9.3 miles) 

Elevation: 1296 – 1654 meters (4251 - 5425 ft)

Hiking Time: 5 hours

Difficulty: Moderate

Park: Parco Nazionale di Foreste Casintenesi

Time to Visit: April to November

42  Republic of San Marino

A hike to the top of Mount Titano in the ancient Republic of San Marino

Round Trip: 7.1 km (4.4 miles)        

Elevation: 456 – 740 m (1496 – 2427 ft)

Hiking Time: 3 hours

Park: Parco Naturale del San Marino

Difficulty: Easy

Time to Visit: Year Round

43  Sea Stacks of Monte Conero

A steep, rugged descent down to an isolated beach with le due Sorelle sea stacks

Round Trip: 6.4 km (4 miles)           

Elevation: 240 m – Sea Level (787 ft – Sea Level)

Hiking Time: 3 hours

Difficulty: Difficult (Moderate)

Park: Parco del Conero

Time to Visit: Year Round (extreme caution when wet or rarely icy)

44  Monte Subasio of St. Francis of Assisi

A hike to the summit of Monte Subasio – the mountain St. Francis would wander to find solace and appreciate nature

Round Trip: 7.5 km (4.7 miles)        

Elevation: 750 m – 1290 meters (2460 - 4231 ft)

Hiking Time: 3 hours

Park: Parco del Monte Subasio

Difficulty: Moderate

Time to Visit: March to November

45  Badlands of Civita di Bagnoregio

A hike into the volcanic badlands and the ancient and crumbing village of Civita

Distance: 6.0 km (3.7 mi)

Elevation: 481 – 240 m (1580 – 792 ft)

Hiking Time: 2-3 hours

Park: Sistema della Forre della Provincia di Viterbo

Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous (Brushy and hard to follow)

Time to Visit: September to June (avoid mid-summer and when wet)

Hikes of the Central Apennines

46 West Ridge Route to Monte Patino

Distance:  up to 19 km roundtrip (11.7 miles)

Hiking Time: 6-7 hours

Elevation: 1,296 – 1,883 m (4,250 – 6,176 ft)

Difficulty: Moderately strenuous

Time to Visit: April to October

47  South Ridge Route to Monte Macchialto

Distance: 11.8 km roundtrip (7.3 miles) to the summit of Monte Macchialto

Elevation: 1,296 – 1,751 m (4,250 – 5,743 ft)

Hiking Time: 4-5 hours

Difficulty: Moderately easy

Time to Visit: April to October

48  Monte Vettore Summit Route

Hike to the summit of Monte Vettore – the 5^th highest peak in the Apennines

Distance:  10 km (6.2 miles) – 12 km (7.4 miles) with side trip to Lago di Pilato

Elevation: 1530 – 2476 meters (5018 - 8121 ft)

Hiking Time: 4-5 hours

Park: Parco Nazionale dei Monti Sibillini

Difficulty: Strenuous

Time to Visit: May to October

                                               

Bonus Hike:  Lakes of Pantani Accumoli

A pleasant hike from Refugio Perugia to the lakes of Pantani Accumoli with spectacular views of the Umbrian hills, Monti Sibillini, and Gran Sasso.

Distance:  Between 7.0 and 13.0 km roundtrip (4.5 – 8.0 mi)

Hiking Time: 4-5 hours

Elevation: 1,547 – 1,790 m (5,075 – 5,871 ft)

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

50  Great Cirque of Corno Grande

Loop hike from Campo Imperatore into the great cirque of Corno Grande, the highest peak on the Italian Peninsula

Round Trip: 14.3 km (9 miles)

Elevation: 1640 – 2450 m (5380 – 8036 ft)

Hiking Time: 6-7 hours

Park: Parco Nazionale del Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga

Difficulty: Strenuous

Time to Visit: May to October

Hikes of the Northern Apennines

34  High Crest – Monte Sillara Loop    

Loop along  the high crest of the Appennino Parmanese to the summit of Monte Sillara

Distance: Approximately 10 km (6 mi)

Elevation: 1320 – 1859 meters (4330 - 6098 ft)

Hiking Time: 6 hours

Park: Parco di Cento Laghi

Difficulty: Moderately Strenuous

Time to Visit: April to October

35  Springs of the Secchia River

Passo del Cerreto to the source of the Secchia river located in the glacial cirque of the Alpe di Succiso

Distance: Approximately 8 km (5 mi) roundtrip

            Approximately 12 km (7.5 mi) with Alpi di Succiso summit

Elevation: 1261 – 1779 m (4136 – 5835 ft) or 2017 m (6616 ft) at Alpi di Succiso summit

Hiking Time: 3-4 hours or add 2 additional hours for Alpi di Succiso summit

Park: Parco del Gigante

Difficulty: Moderate (strenuous with Alpi di Succiso summit climb)

Time to Visit: April to October

36  Monte Sillano Loop

Loop around Monte Sillano in the Appenino Reggiano

Round Trip: 15 km (9.3 miles)

(Add 1.6 km round-trip and 150 m climb for the Monte Sillano summit spur)

Elevation: 1575 m – 1810 m (5166 ft – 5937 ft) or 1824 m (5983 ft) at Monte Sillano summit

Hiking Time: 4-5 hours

Park: Parco di Gigante

Difficulty: Moderate

Time to Visit: May to October

                                          
37  Monte Cusna Loop

Distance: approximately  14.5 km (9 mi)

Elevation: 1,150 – 2,120 m (3,772 – 6,954 ft)

Hiking Time: 4-5 hours

Park: Parco Regionale Alto Appennino Reggiano (Parco del Gigante)

Difficulty: Strenuous

Time to Visit: June – October

38  Monte Cimone Loop – Highest Point in the Northern Apennines

Loop hike to the summit of Monte Cimone; the highest peak in the Northern Apennines.

Distance: 12.2 km (7.6 miles)

Elevation: 1,305 – 2,165 m (4,280 – 7,101ft)

Hiking Time: 6 hours

Park: Parco Regionale dell’Alto Apennino Modenese (Parco del Frignano)

Difficulty: Moderately Strenuous

Time to Visit: May - October

                    

39  Glacial Cirque of Monte Giovo

Distance: approximately  8.5 km (5.3 mi) for the short loop – 11.4 km (7.1 mi) for the long loop 

Elevation: 1365 – 1964 m (4477 – 6442 ft) or 1991 m (6531 ft) at Monte Giovo summit

Hiking Time: 4-5 hours for the short loop – 6-7 hours for the long loop

Park: Parco Regionale dell’Alto Apennino Modenese (Parco del Frignano)

Difficulty: Moderately Strenuous for the short loop – Very strenuous for the long loop

Time to Visit: June – October

40  Corno alle Scale Loop

Loop along the crest of the Apennino Bolognese to the summit of Corno alle Scale

Round Trip: 9.2 km (5.7 miles)        

Elevation: 1415 – 1945 meters (4641 - 6380 ft)

Hiking Time: 3-4 hours

Park: Parco Regionale del Corno alle Scale

Difficulty: Moderate

Time to Visit: May – October