Hiking in the Sila Grande



The Sila Grande is renowned for its pines, in particular the Pino Laricio, which resembles its northern alpine relatives. The Park itself is crisscrossed with many nature trails that were originally logging roads, which lead to some of the more suggestive areas of the park. There is always the opportunity to view wildlife along the way, and in fact there are several designated areas reserved for fauna from whose periphery one may observe the animals. Be sure to visit the attractive Visitor's Center, where there is a fine museum on the park's natural history. For the best possible introduction ask to speak with one of the park guides, who lead guided walking tours of the park during the summer.

Many interesting walks can be taken within the Sila Grande. Starting from the Visitor Center, trail #1 is a brief (3km) path that can also be done with a guide during the summer; here there are illustrative tablets describing the park and the natural environment within. Pass by a large fauna reserve, which presently hosts a couple of deer, the male of which in the summer develops great horns, while the female, without horns, is thinner and more agile. For those who want to continue from here follow trail #7 at the intersection (5km total). Pass through pure stands of Pino Laricio and other typical, lush vegetation - the climate here is ideal for plant growth, with the abundant rainfall, the high altitude and the slightly acidic soil among conditions contributing to the wide diversity of life.

One of the most interesting of the longer routes is trail #2. The first part of the route climbs slightly through pure stands of Pino Laricio, with both adult (80-100 years) and youth (35-40 years) trees. Keep an eye out for the cute black squirrel during the climb to Cozzo del Principe, whose heights afford superb views of the territory, encompassing Lago Cecita. The path descends from here to Vivaio, where in the spring one can observe deer at pasture. Return to the Visitor Center on trails #3 and #6. Total distance about 12km.

Fossiato is a scenic picnic area well within the forest, though just a few minutes drive from Lago Cecita Visitor Center. From here the lovely trail #4 begins, a classic 9-km loop. This trail may be the best introduction to the park's natural environment, as it passes through a great stand of giant Pino Laricio. There are 70 trees from some 230 years ago, over 40m high and average diameter of 1.2m. Along the way one may observe deer, foxes, squirrels, hares, and during the winter even the wolf.





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