This loop from Santo Stefano D’Aveto takes you to three scenic peaks in the Ligurian Apennines. It's not particularly demanding.
Start at Rocca D’Aveto, 3 km from Santo Stefano. You can get there in under two hours from Chiavari via SP 654, or from Val Fontanabuona by taking SP 23 from Cicagna to Passo della Scoglina, then SP 56 to Parazzuolo, where it meets SP 654.
In Rocca D’Aveto, you'll find a bar and a restaurant, and parking is easy, even in peak season.
From the parking area, head towards the chairlift to Prato della Cipolla. Turn right just before the lift and climb through the woods to a wide plateau beneath Rocca del Prete, an impressive cliff about half a kilometer long.
There's a drinking water source here.
Cross the meadow and continue on the dirt road climbing to the right. Ignore the first right and second left junctions until you reach Passo della Lepre, where a trail from Allegrezze joins.
After a few meters, leave the main track and follow the Aveto Park signs, climbing left towards Monte Croce Martincano.
This is part of the Park's A15 loop, the Maggiorasca loop, marked by 
.
Ascend through the beech forest, alternating steep and flat sections, until you reach an area with large rocky outcrops.
The trail climbs again through the forest, crossing a damp area of beech trees and moss-covered rocks, bordering Emilia Romagna.
At a junction, keep left, following 
to reach the first summit, Monte Croce Martincano (1724 m), in about 15 minutes. The climb passes through a beech forest and then a grassy area.
From the summit, marked by a wooden cross, enjoy views over the Emilian valley on one side and the Ligurian valley extending to the coast on the other.
Descend by retracing your steps to the junction, then continue left on the main level trail through the forest, skirting Monte Picchetto. Follow even at the intersection pointing to Monte Maggiorasca.
With a final uphill stretch, follow a clear track across grassy terrain for about 20 minutes to reach the saddle dividing Monte Maggiorasca's summit, to the right with antennas, from the secondary summit, to the left, marked by the Madonna of Guadalupe statue (1792 m).
After taking in the panoramic views, retrace a few meters of the path until you find, on the right before the wooden box, the trail descending steeply to the mountain's base, then bending left and continuing downhill through a beautiful beech forest.
Look for on some trees, leading to the first junction where you leave and continue flat to the right.
At the second intersection, descend left and continue to an Aveto Park signpost indicating the left turn to Rocca del Prete, the third summit.
Follow the CAI marker 
to climb the clearing and soon reach a viewpoint, just a few meters from the true summit of Rocca del Prete (1671 m), with a small commemorative pyramid, offering views of Monte Maggiorasca and the valley.
Retrace your steps to the first junction, then continue left towards Prato della Cipolla, following along a mostly flat path through a beautiful beech forest. After about 20 minutes, it opens into a meadow that becomes a ski slope in winter.
Follow the flat trail straight ahead, passing a small wooden hut, then through the woods, briefly under the chairlift, to reach Prato della Cipolla (1550 m) with views of the Dente della Cipolla cliff.
This area, home to the Prato della Cipolla Refuge (check opening times), is perfect for a break to enjoy the scenery or cool off in the picnic area with tables and benches under the trees.
There's a drinking water source near the refuge.
Continue straight, following signs to Passo della Roncalla; this follows the Aveto Park loop A14 along a level trail until you see the left junction descending to the A.S.T.A.S.S. Refuge, an unstaffed hut available for overnight stays.
From here, keep left to descend towards Rocca D’Aveto. The path alternates between forest stretches and open sections with views of Monte Bue and Monte Maggiorasca, sometimes over gravel that requires caution.
After about 30 minutes, rejoin the main trail, following it right back to the Rocca D’Aveto parking area.
