Circular trail Villanoce - Monte Aiona - Magnasco

Loop itinerary to climb Monte Aiona starting from Villanoce, a welcoming village in the Val D’Aveto located along state road 654 between Rezzoaglio and Santo Stefano D’Aveto, also reachable by bus from Chiavari.

The itinerary starts just after the only shop in the village, where you can also park your car.
Here, on the right, a paved road begins, soon turning into a beautiful trail that climbs among vast meadows with views over the peaks of the Ligurian Apennines.

Upon reaching a junction, following the trail marker , continue on the path that climbs to the left and then proceeds along a flat stretch surrounded by pine trees until the point where the marker and an old wooden sign invite you to turn right.

The path now climbs entirely through the forest, alternating more or less steep stretches and passing through a beautiful beech forest dotted with large moss-covered rocks.

After just over 3 kilometers from the start, you reach and join the trail that climbs from Lago delle Lame and passes by the Ravezza waterfall; next to the marker , you will also see the inscription A1, one of the loops of the Aveto Park, which you follow, with a series of ups and downs, until the first junction where you leave it and turn left onto A3, the loop that leads to Passo del Cerighetto (1470 m).

Continue downhill for a few minutes to reach Rifugio Moglia Negretta, an unmanned wooden shelter available to hikers, which precedes the arrival at the crossroads of Re di Coppe.

From here, follow the markers A3, A4 along a forest section that leads to a wide forest road. This road ascends parallel to the Rio Dragonale, passes by the Ronco del Diavolo waterfall (which can be visited with a short detour), and reaches, after about 30 minutes from the junction, Passo della Spingarda (1546 m), an important trail intersection.

Our route continues to the right along the Alta Via dei Monti Liguri, whose trail marker joins the previous ones ( and A3), very useful for orientation especially when (a not uncommon condition) the mountain is shrouded in fog.

Without particular difficulties, you climb the slope with sparse vegetation and exposed rocks until reaching a plateau which, in the absence of a real path, you cross by following the trail markers placed on the rocks.

Once at the point where the path splits, keep right, following to reach in just a few minutes the summit of Monte Aiona (1701 m), recognizable by the cross and the numerous boulders that give the mountain a "lunar" appearance.

The view is stunning and allows you to admire all the main peaks of the Ligurian Apennines and beyond, especially on exceptionally clear days.

Now we go down on the opposite side following the red diamond and markers, which lead you down a wide grassy area bordered by forest, reaching a beautiful plain known as Cian de Pumme.
From here, the path bends right and descends into the forest, starting with a narrow, rocky stretch and then becoming easier through the beech woods until reaching Passo Pre de Lame (1537 m), another trail crossroads.

Leave the Alta Via dei Monti Liguri and descend toward Magnasco, following the marker through the beech forest. The trail, sometimes interrupted by boulders, leads to a junction where a water source is indicated, and with a short detour to the right, you reach the unmanned Trapper shelter.

Our route continues following the same marker descending through the forest, with some flatter stretches, until a junction where you keep following the direction to Magnasco.

We then arrive near the Lago delle Lame (which can be reached by following the road to the left for a few meters) and continue always toward Magnasco until crossing the carriage road, which you cross to follow the trail cutting between clearings and small woods, making a left detour to reach Lago delle Libellule.
Walking among original artistic installations and across a small bridge, you arrive at the small lake framed by a pine forest.

Back on the main trail, follow the path that descends into the forest, crossing the carriage road twice, until reaching the first houses of Magnasco, behind the church, and turning right onto SS 654, which you follow, still to the right, until the hamlet of Cerisola.

After the first house on the left, descend to take the path that continues flat until reaching the Bachicchi Mill, a water mill dating back to 1789.

Continuing along the trail, after about a hundred meters you find, on the right, the path that climbs in a few minutes to Villanoce, passing in front of the building that once housed the village school.

Once you reach the state road, follow it to the left to return to the starting point of the hike.

The path on Google Map

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