Circular trail Casermette del Penna - Monte Penna - Passo della Scaletta - Passo dell'Incisa

A very nice trail along the Ligurian Apennines that unfolds along the border between Liguria and Emilia Romagna, passing through varied landscapes that make it especially enjoyable.
Due to the rocky ascent to Monte Penna and Rocca delle Scalette, it is classified as EE (Expert Hikers), suitable for experienced hikers.
It is advisable to start with an adequate water supply, as there are no fountains along the trail.

The starting point is at the Casermette del Penna (1392 m), where the namesake mountain hut is located (check in advance for availability for lunch or overnight stay) and there is large parking lot.
From Lavagna, follow signs to Carasco and then take the SS 654 to Gramizza, where you turn right towards Amborzasco and finally Casermette.

From the parking area, follow the road a few meters to the right until you find the wooden signs of the Aveto Park and the trail marker which shortly leads to a junction indicating Monte Penna to the left, with a walking time of 1 hour.

Always keeping an eye on the , you walk through the forest of Monte Penna, a beechwood scattered with moss-covered boulders, which provides cool shelter in summer and turns vibrant with color in autumn.

After a flat start, a gentle uphill leads to a trail intersection with signs directing to the right. The ascent becomes steeper and, in some winter months, can be more challenging due to icy snow.

At the junction, continue to the right towards Monte Penna, always following the trail marker. The trail climbs a bit more through the forest, reaching the small Penna saddle, which separates Monte Penna (left) from Pennino (right).
A break here is a must to admire the views and assess the rocky wall that must be climbed to reach the summit of Monte Penna.

Not recommended with wet or icy rock, but with proper caution and suitable footwear, and aided by chains, it presents no insurmountable difficulty for those with some hiking experience.

With all these precautions and surrounded by a stunning landscape, in about 10 minutes you'll reach the summit, overlooking the entire Val D’Aveto.
Monte Penna (1736 m) features a large statue of the Madonna and a small chapel that also serves as a shelter in case of bad weather.

Now follow the trail marker, which, after about 30 minutes through a beechwood, leads to Passo dell’Incisa, a trail crossroads. Continue left on the main road for 800 meters to Poggio D’Amburtese, where wooden signs indicate various directions.
Descend to the right following trail , to quickly reach the Il Pianello area and from there, take the trail that continues straight to Monte Quatese.

Surrounded by beech trees, continue on a flat path skirting the mountain before beginning a descent through an open meadow with panoramic views of the surrounding ridges, reaching La Sosta junction after just under 1 kilometer.

Now turn right on trail , which continues flat above the Incisa dam, in the Municipality of Tornolo, Emilia Romagna, and after 3.6 kilometers arrives at Dai Sciarsci, a junction where, turning right on trail , you begin to climb again.
The initially rocky terrain soon gives way to a meadow that, skirting a pine forest, ascends with a few steep sections, until it intersects with the trail coming from Passo del Ghiffi.

This is the Aveto Park ring trail A8, which you follow to the right along a pleasant level path that skirts Monte Pertusa, reaching a trail junction in the Rocchetta area. The route continues straight through a pine forest until reaching the Passo della Scaletta junction (1255 m).

Here begins the second demanding section of the itinerary which, like the climb to Monte Penna, requires caution due to some exposed rocky passages.
The trail ascends steeply to the right, with some sections requiring the use of hands, toward Rocca della Scaletta (1419 m), reached after about 30 minutes, surrounded by a breathtaking landscape.
(N.B. Those not wishing to climb to the summit can continue left to the Prato Mollo refuge and from there follow signs to Passo dell’Incisa).

The trail now enters a beautiful beechwood, descending and then ascending again without difficulty in about twenty minutes to Passo dei Porciletti (1460 m), a junction of several trails.

Now follow the route of the "Alta Via dei Monti Liguri" , also marked by , continuing toward Passo dell’Incisa through a beechwood and then a damper area where, especially after rain, water surfaces from the ground creating muddy sections.

After crossing a small stream and a final uphill stretch, in about 15 minutes you’ll reach Passo dell’Incisa. From here, following the dirt road straight ahead, you’ll return to the parking lot at Rifugio Le Casermette.

The path on Google Map

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