Trekking the Groppi of Camporaghena: Monte Alto and the Apennine ridge
An 8-hour loop starting from the village and climbing to 1,901 metres on the watershed ridge between Tuscany and Emilia. For experienced walkers, with equipped sections and views over the Alps, the Apuan Alps and the Apennines.
What it is and why do it
This is the most spectacular hike starting directly from Camporaghena. No car needed: you leave the B&B, put on your boots and start walking.
The route touches three peaks above 1,700 metres — Monte Alto (1,901 m), Punta Buffanaro (1,879 m), Monte Acuto (1,756 m) — following the Groppi ridge, the natural watershed between Tuscany and Emilia. In some sections there are steel cables to assist passage over rock.
The panorama stretches from the Apuan Alps to the Ligurian Sea, from the Parma Apennines to the Alps on the clearest days.
This is not a trail for everyone. You need mountain experience, a sure foot and no fear of heights. If you've never done an EE/EEA trail, this is not the right trek for you.
What to expect
- Start and finish in Camporaghena, no car needed
- 8 hours 15 minutes of walking (full loop)
- 1,350 metres of ascent
- Exposed ridge sections, with steel cables on some passages
- Wild, little-frequented environment, within the Appennino Tosco-Emiliano National Park
- Views over Lago di Monte Acuto, Alpe di Succiso and Lunigiana
- Silence, wind, rock, sky
Practical information
- Start: entrance to the village of Camporaghena (845 m)
- Parking: free at the village entrance
- Duration: 8h15' full loop; 7h55' without the Monte Acuto detour
- Elevation gain: +1,350 m / -1,350 m
- Maximum altitude: 1,901 m (Monte Alto)
- Difficulty: EE (Experienced Hikers) / EEA (with equipped sections)
- Waymarking: CAI trails 102, 104, 00, 108. Note: trail 104 has a barely visible track among the ferns; 108 may be overgrown with tall grass
- Water: fountain after leaving Camporaghena on trail 102. No water points on the ridge. Bring at least 2 litres per person
- Mountain huts: none on the direct route. Rifugio Città di Sarzana is near Lago di Monte Acuto, off the main route
- Dogs: not recommended due to equipped sections and rock passages
- Cost: free
- Season: June–September, only with stable weather and good visibility. Not recommended October–May (snow, ice)
- What to bring: trekking boots, at least 2 litres of water, packed lunch, windproof jacket, charged phone, map or GPS track, fleece (it can be cold on the ridge even in summer)
- Sources: Sentieri in Cammino (Simone Bellei, 2023–2024), CAI Prato, Ferrate365, AllTrails
- Trail conditions: check with CAI Fivizzano before setting off. Last checked: November 2026
Who it's for and who it's not
This trek is for you if:
- You have mountain experience and have done EE/EEA trails
- You have a sure foot on exposed, rocky terrain
- You don't suffer from vertigo
- You're in good physical shape (8 hours of walking with 1,350 m of ascent)
- You set off early in the morning (7–8 am) and have navigation experience
This trek is NOT for you if:
- You're a beginner or only hike occasionally
- You suffer from vertigo or fear of heights
- You're travelling with children
- You're travelling with a dog (equipped sections, not recommended)
- You have no experience with equipped trails
- The weather is uncertain, there's fog, rain or strong wind
- There's snow or ice (October–May)
Important warnings
- Trail 106 (Torsana–Punta Buffanaro shortcut): reported as impassable in May 2024. Always check conditions before setting off.
- Trail 104: barely visible track among the ferns, difficult navigation. Bring a GPS track.
- Trail 108: poor maintenance, tall grass. May slow progress.
- Ridge fog: can rise suddenly. If the weather is uncertain, postpone.
- Check trail conditions: contact CAI Fivizzano before setting off for updated information.