Heron Trail
- Trail Conditions: On foot
- Interest: Flora, Wildlife, Geology
- Duration: 3 hour/s
- Difficulty Level: E - Hiking (level)
- Length: 8 km
- Departure and arrival: main entrance Adelasia, SP 12 Altare - Savona at km 19
This trail is particularly charming and interesting, since it crosses various environments and offers particularly significant panoramic points. Follow the dirt road leading in about ten minutes to Cascina Miera, a wide and open clearing offering a beautiful panorama. The geological substratum is formed in this area by very dark metamorphic rocks called "gabbro". The trail continues along the forest road and enters the beautiful forest of Castellasso, dominated by the imposing high-trunk beech trees with a diameter of over three meters. The undergrowth is rich in Blechnum spicant fern, primroses, and gentians. After February it is also possible to see the spring snowflake, growing together with Scilla bifolia and violets. The trail continues along the ridge until it reaches the eastern slopes of Bric Curlino, then it goes downhill and crosses Rio Barchè. In this area it is possible to observe dolomia outcrops, light gray sedimentary calcareous rocks. The trail continues downhill among specimens of Turkey oaks and sessile oaks mixed with chestnut trees. Towards the east, there are specimens of Quercus crenata. Climb on the left along the trail leading to Rocca dell'Adelasia, a charming panoramic point and one of the most significant biotopes of the Apennines of Savona, to the extent that the Site of Community Importance has been named after it. From the Rocca, the return journey is pleasant and develops along a forest road heading eastwards. Along the way, it is possible to see specimens of red oak. The vegetation here is dominated by chestnut grove mixed with an old beech tree coppice woodland with some big specimens.
