The best walks and hikes around Foreste Casentinesi, Monte Falterona, Campigna National Park

The park offers an extensive network of over 470 hiking routes. These trails cater to various skill levels, with approximately 40 easy routes, over 270 moderate options, and more than 160 difficult excursions for experienced hikers.

The park is beautiful year-round, but spring and autumn are particularly recommended. Spring brings the awakening of the ancient forests, while autumn transforms the landscape into a spectacular display of red, yellow, and orange foliage. Summer is ideal for longer hikes, offering pleasant temperatures in the higher altitudes.

Yes, the park is renowned for its picturesque waterfalls. A notable example is the main Acquacheta waterfall, which plunges over 70 meters and was famously described by Dante. You can experience this on routes like Anello dell’Acquacheta or the more challenging Dante's Acquacheta Waterfall Trail from San Benedetto in Alpe.

Yes, many trails in the park are designed as circular routes, allowing you to start and end at the same point. An example of a challenging loop is the Monte Tiravento and Monte Arsiccio from Grotta Urlante – loop tour.

Hikers will encounter diverse landscapes, from ancient beech and fir forests, including the UNESCO World Heritage site of Sasso Fratino Integral Nature Reserve, to wild areas carved by steep torrents. The park also features rocky outcrops, natural cavities, and the scenic artificial reservoir of Ridracoli, which you can explore on routes like Loop tour east of Lago Ridracoli.

Absolutely. The park is rich in history, featuring sacred places like the hermitages and monasteries of Camaldoli and La Verna. You can also explore ancient villages, castles, and archaeological sites such as the Lake of the Idols, an ancient Etruscan worship site near Monte Falterona.

The highest peaks in the park are Mount Falco (1,657 m) and Monte Falterona (1,658 m). Monte Falterona is also notable as the source of the Arno River.

The hiking experience in the park is highly regarded by the komoot community, with an average rating of 4.6 stars from over 3600 reviews. Hikers often praise the well-maintained trails, the stunning ancient forests, and the diverse natural beauty, from waterfalls to panoramic viewpoints.

Yes, the park boasts a rich and diverse fauna, considered among the most abundant in the Apennines. Hikers may encounter wild boars, red deer, roe deer, fallow deer, and numerous bird species. It is also home to the northern Apennines' most important wolf population.

Yes, the Valbonella Botanical Garden is a notable highlight. Additionally, the Sasso Fratino Integral Nature Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage site, protects ancient beech forests with trees over 500 years old, offering a unique natural experience.

For additional details about the park and its offerings, you can visit the official tourism websites for the regions it spans. Check out visittuscany.com or visitromagna.it.