Parco Naturale dei Nebrodi

Itineraries

The territory of Parco dei Nebrodi offers the opportunity to carry out a number of hikes. Among the many possible itineraries, we suggest the following ones:

Hiking Trail "La Dorsale dei Nebrodi"

The trail called "La Dorsale dei Nebrodi" crosses the protected area from west to east for about 70 km, crossing all the main roads lying within the Park and going across it from north to south. It is a long hike leading from Serra Merio, in the Municipality of Mistretta, to Portella Dagara, Municipality of Floresta. The ridge, passing near the only high-mountain wetlands of Sicily, crosses the high-mountain environments of the Park and goes through almost unspoiled natural sceneries. Along the trail, equipped with trail markers, there are several stop places coinciding with areas of great naturalistic interest and with a wonderful landscape.

1st Lap
The trail starts from Serro Merio (Mistretta), along the road S.S. 117. Turning left, after a short walk you will get to a small circular lake called Urio Quattrocchi (1030 m above sea level), which is very interesting to visit, since it houses several aquatic bird species.
Going beyond the lake (on the right you can see a fountain made by local stone), follow the main sheep track (called "trazzera" in Sicilian dialect) and, at the first crossroads, turn right in the direction of Case Pomiere, where you will see a big drinking trough.

Departure	Serro Merio (1093 m above sea-level)
Arrival	Portella dell'Obolo (1503 m above sea-level)
Length	km. 21
Walking time	6 hours
Difficulty	Intermediate

2nd Lap
Leaving Portella dell’Obolo (1503 m a.s.l.), go downhill along the road S.P. 168 and, after about 1 km, turn left and follow a road which, asphalted only in its first stretch, runs along the edge of an oak wood. According to the slope exposure and consequently to the soil structure, the Beech and the Turkey oak are in these places entirely integrated and intermixed: the undergrowth is very rich and mainly represented by the Holly, which in some stretches reaches a considerable size, but also by butcher’s brooms, blackberry bushes, hawthorns, and wild pears.

Departure	Portella dell'Obolo (1503 m above sea-level)
Arrival	Rifugio Miraglia (1502 m.) and Portella Femmina Morta (1524 m above sea-level)
Length	km. 24
Walking time	6 hours
Difficulty	Intermediate

3rd Lap
The third lap starts near Portella Femmina Morta (1524 m a.s.l.) at the crossroads with the road S.S. 289 S. Fratello – Cesarò.
The track, flat at the beginning, goes through a neighboring area of the beech wood of Mt. Soro, where the coal areas of the several “fussuni” are still evident. After about 2 km, in Portella Calacudera, the road bifurcates: the asphalt stretch on the right leads to Mt. Soro (1847 m a.s.l.), the highest peak of the Nebrodi mountain system, whereas the road going on the left leads to Maulazzo Lake (1400 m a.s.l.), a 5-hectare artificial basin set in the gorgeous beech wood of Sollazzo Verde.

Departure	Portella Femmina Morta (1524 m above sea-level)
Arrival	Portella Dagara (1467 m above sea-level)
Length	km. 25
Walking time	7 hours
Difficulty	Intermediate

Further information (Italian text)

Biviere Lake (1278 m a.s.l.)

The lake is situated within the Municipality of Cesarò and covers an area of about 18 hectares. It is the most important high-mountain wetland in Sicily from a naturalistic point of view, but also for the particularity of its vegetal and animal population. The very rich flora is influenced by the periodical variations of the water level determining a horizontal zonation of the vegetation, which can be divided into six strips, according the various dominating species. Moreover, the presence of water in a mountain area covered with beech woods represents a privileged reference point for the life of several aquatic bird species, as well as for the stopover of migratory birds. A natural phenomenon which is worth noting: in summer, the water of the lake turns red because of the blooming of a micro algae called Euglena sanguinea.
The trail goes round a wetland area near the Biviere Lake and goes on uphill, entering the Scavioli beech wood. The wood becomes thicker in some points, whereas in other points opens up in large clearings dominated by Holly, isolated Yew shrubs, big specimens of Crab trees and Wild Pears, Blackberry bushes, Hawthorns, and Dog Roses.
Then you will enter the beautiful Bosco di Mangalaviti, made of imposing high-trunk beech woods of great naturalistic and landscape value, with large panoramic points facing Vallata del Rosmarino, Rocche del Crasto, and the Tyrrhenian Sea, dotted with the Aeolian Islands.

Mangalaviti Wood (1518 m. a.s.l.)

A place of extraordinary beauty and charm, this wood houses ancient Turkey oak woods at lower altitudes, and thick and imposing beech woods, mixed to Maples, Ash Trees, Holly, Crab trees, and Yews at higher altitudes. You can reach this place from Longi, Galati Mamertino and Alcara Li Fusi, through Portella Gazzana (979 m a.s.l.). In the wood, the Park Authority has created a didactic trail for environmental education activities: it is an easy circular track, along which the most representative botanical and animal species that can be found within the Park’s territory are presented.

Hiking Itinerary Le Rocche del Crasto

The hike to Rocche del Crasto is very interesting: they are rocky formations of calcareous nature, with deep fissures, situated within the territory of the Municipalities of Alcara Li Fusi, Longi, and S.Marco d’Alunzio. Several species of great birds of prey build their nests on these harsh and inaccessible architectures. Gorgeous panoramas open up on the summit.

Features of the Itinerary
From Portella Gazzana (Longi) Length: Km 7 Difference in height - up: 250 meters Walking time: 2,30 hours Difficulty: intermediate-high Advisable for: well-trained children and adults	From Alcara Li Fusi: Km 3,200 to Lemina district Length: Km 9,200 to Portella Gazzana Difference in height - up: 270 meters Walking time: 2,30 hours Difficulty: intermediate Advisable for: children and adults	From San Marco d'Alunzio Length: Km 7 Difference in height - up: 250 meters Walking time: 2,30 hours Difficulty: intermediate Advisable for: well-trained children and adults

Equipment
Clothes suitable to the season and to the mountains, trekking shoes, jacket, cap, jumper. Camera and binoculars.

Further information (Italian text)

Naturalistic Itinerary Pisciotto Lake

Accessible Trails

The ideal destination of a naturalistic itinerary accessible for disabled persons is Pisciotto Lake, which is situated at more than 1200 m above sea level in the territory of Tortorici, one of the Municipalities of Parco dei Nebrodi.
The Park Authority, in collaboration with voluntary associations, has already organized more than once guided hikes in one of the most charming wetlands of the Park, during which you can admire various resident and migratory bird species.
The landscape characterizing the area surrounding the lake is characterized by large grazing lands typical of Nebrodi, giving the opportunity to enjoy in spring the strong green of the grassy meadows enriched with the multicolored flowers. In summer, when flowers have withered, the landscape reveals the wide clearings with heaps of stone and stretches of dry meadows, sunny cliffs with typical xerophile vegetation, hills covered with characterizing bushy and shrubby essences where you can also find residual Turkey oak woods.

The route
You can easily reach Pisciotto Lake if you take the asphalt road going from Portella Mitta (S.P. 116 between Piano Campo and Floresta) towards Porcella Castagnera (1430 m above sea-level) and then towards Buzzarita - Badessa hamlet. After walking along a small Turkey oak and Poplar wood on the right and leaving on the left a rural building housing shepherds in summer, you cross a small bridge and turn right: in this way, after about 500 meters, you will reach the lake. The sculpture marking the beginning of the trail represents a duck on arenaceous stone, near the junction.

Features of the Itinerary
From Floresta: Km 7,500 Length: 1.00 Km Difference in height: slight Walking time: 15 minutes Difficulty: low Advisable to: everyone, children and adults.	From Tortorici: Km 27200 Length: 1.00 Km Difference in height - up: slight Walking time: 15 minutes Difficulty: low Advisable to: everyone, children and adults.	From Ucria: Km 16.00 Length: 1.00 Km Difference in height - up: slight Walking time: 15 minutes Difficulty: low Advisable to: everyone, children and adults.

Equipment
Clothes suitable to the season and to the mountains, trekking shoes, jacket, cap, jumper. Camera and binoculars.

Further information (Italian text)

Portella Femmina Morta (1524m) - Mt. Soro (1847m) - Maullazzo Lake (1400m) - Biviere Lake (1278m)

The destinations of this route are the wide beech wood of Mt. Soro, which is really extraordinary for its width and for the beauty of its centuries-old specimens, the Maullazzo Lake, an artificial basin within the wood, and the Biviere Lake, the high-altitude wetland of greatest naturalistic value in Sicily. Following the road S.S. 289 S.Fratello – Cesarò, you will get first to Portella Femmina Morta, and then to Portella Calacudera (1568 m), where the road bifurcates: follow the right track, which goes uphill to the highest peak of the Nebrodi mountains, passing through a beech wood which becomes less thick, and therefore more charming. The beech wood is in some points mixed to examples of Mountain Maples, Field Maples, Ash trees, Hawthorns, and Holly shrubs. Before reaching the destination, the walk through the wood allows visitors to see a monumental Mountain Maple, one of the biggest in Italy (22 m of height, and about 6 m in diameter). By going back and taking the road turning left from Portella Calacudera, you get, after a half-an-hour downhill walk to the Maulazzo Lake, an artificial basin in the north-eastern part of Mt. Soro that has acquired a great value as far as its naturalistic aspects and landscape are concerned. Walking on for about 6 km, you will get to Biviere Lake, the heart of the Park, combining the great naturalistic interest to panoramic values: indeed, besides being surrounded by impenetrable populations of hydrophilous plants and dominated by imposing beeches, it opens up in the North to wonderful sceneries.

Mangalaviti Wood (1518m) and Serra del Re (1754m)

These are places of extraordinary beauty and charm, belonging to the territory of the Municipality of Longi. At lower altitudes, these areas are characterized by ancient Turkey oak woods, with some remarkable specimens, whereas at higher altitudes there are thick and imposing beech woods, mixed to Maples, Ash trees, Holly shrubs, Yews, Wild pears, and Crab trees. Both the fauna and the riparian vegetation along the several watercourses are very rich. All across the wood, which can be reached from Longi and Galati Mamertino, through Portella Gazzana (979 m), there are amazing panoramic points.

Hiking Itinerary Agrifoglio

Contrada Fontanazza - Agrifoglio - Maulazzo Lake

The itinerary crosses a woodland, from the territory of Militello Rosmarino, location Fontanazze, and crossing the hamlets of Agrifoglio, Faitedda, and Palettone, to Maulazzo Lake in the territory of Alcara Li Fusi. The trail gives the opportunity to see very interesting environments in one day: elements of Mediterranean maquis, oak woods, cultivated fields, meadows, beech tree woods - mixed first and pure after - with the presence in the undergrowth of wonderful specimens of Holly, and wetlands.

The route
Leaving from Militello Rosmarino, a Park Municipality in the north of S. Agata Militello, follow the directions to the village of San Piero. Go ahead along the asphalt road, where you will find the trail markers indicating Maulazzo Lake. After about seven km you will reach location Fontanazze, where the hiking trail begins.

Features of the Itinerary

From Militello Rosmarino: Km 7,5
Length: 7,5 Km
Difference in height - up: 500 m
Walking time: 2 hours
Difficulty: intermediate, the route entirely develops on roads in good conditions.
Advisable to: everyone, children and adults.

Equipment
Clothes suitable to the season and to the mountains, trekking shoes, jacket, cap, jumper. Camera and binoculars.

Further information (Italian text)

Naturalistic Itinerary Spartà Lake

Spartà Lake is one of the several small wetlands characterizing Parco dei Nebrodi. In the past it was exploited by farmers to make the vane of the mills situated downstream work; today it represents a great richness for the territory, both for its landscape and naturalistic aspects, becoming an instrument promoting the knowledge and safeguard of flora and fauna in the Protected Area.

The route
The lake is situated in the Municipality of Sant'Agata Militello, at about 13 Km from the town, and is part of the D zone (Control Zone) of the Park perimeter. It is surrounded in the south-east by Mt. Furci (880 m above sea-level) and in the north by Serra Quaranta (654 m above sea-level). You can reach the itinerary from Sant'Agata Militello, following the road to Iria. Beyond the town, after about 1 Km you turn right to Girina hamlet along a dirt road. After walking along Serra Quaranta turn right, and after about one hundred meters you will get to Spartà Lake. An easier alternative route is represented by the road linking Militello Rosmarino to S. Piero hamlet and continues in the direction of Furci. Once you reach Km 3,6, turn right on a dirt road; turn left after 500 meters and, after about 400 meters, you will see the Lake.

Features of the Itinerary
From Militello Rosmarino: Km 3.6 Length: km 7 Difference in height - up: slight Walking time: 15 min. Difficulty: low Advisable to: everyone, children, adults, and disabled persons.	From Sant'Agata Militello contrada Iria Length: km ,3,2 Difference in height - up: m 150 Walking time: 1 hour Difficulty: intermediate-high Advisable to: well-trained children and adults

Equipment
Clothes suitable to the season and to the mountains, trekking shoes, jacket, cap, jumper. Camera and binoculars.

Further information (Italian text)

Trail of the Springs

The hiking itinerary develops on the southern side of Parco dei Nebrodi in a mountain territory characterized by gentle slopes giving these mountains a reinsuring aspect.

Features of the Itinerary

Length: about 18 km
Walking time: 7/8 hours (including stops)
Difference in height - up: 750 meters
Difficulty: intermediate, suitable for children and adults with trekking experiences and some training.
Alternative routes: the route offers different alternative itineraries which can make it longer or shorter.
Some alternative route (departure from “Segheria” above Porticelle Soprane) give the opportunity to go along the itinerary by mountain-bike.

Equipment
Clothes suitable to the season and to the mountains, trekking shoes, jacket, cap, jumper. Camera and binoculars.

Further information (Italian text)