Monte Finestra (Route 309/300/310)

Although there are already several similar tracks posted here, I still decided to add this one as I think it gives a more detailed description and a good track for you to follow.

For those that enjoy geocaching, there are 5 regular caches along this track as well as the start of multi-cache.

I've hiked this track as "Difficult", as it's likely going to take you 5 hours to hike 14 km, which is a lot longer as you may expect for such a short hike. During the hike, you are likely going to have use hand and feet to make it up and down a number of shorter section along the track. If you have problems with heights, there are a few sections in this track that will be unpleasant. But if you are looking for a challenging day hike, you will enjoy this one. The track is quite varied with plenty of trees in the lower sections and rocks in the upper sections. Special equipment will not be needed, but tracking poles will make the track lighter.

Along the way, there will be no chance to get water or food, so you will need to bring enough with you. The only fountain in the area will be close to the starting point.

The track starts in Tramonti, but if you prefer, you can start anywhere along the first 3 km of the track. As it's a circular track, you will simply walk that bit at the end of the day instead of the beginning.

At the waypoint "Leave Road", you will leave the asphalted road and start the ascent up the mountain. Here you will be following track 309 until it intersects with track 300. For the next 1.5 km, you will be following small tracks through the forest going uphill. As there are lots of cows/sheep animal tracks through the forest, you may take a slightly different track, which should not be a problem, as long as you continue to climb and follow track up. But if you want to follow the best track, make sure to keep an eye on the red/white marked tracks.

When you have hiked about 4.6 km, you will come to an intersection that has a wooden table with benches. This might be a good spot to take a break and enjoy the view before setting off again.

From this point, you will be following the 300 track, which is also marked with red/white markings. For the next 1 km, you will be following a well marked and easy track, parallel to the mountain which will possibly be the easiest part of the entire track.

When you get to way point "Pass 1". you will reach the ridge and follow that for many hours to come. Although it may look easy from down below, when on the ridge, you will see that the ridge has plenty of ups and downs and rocks to climb over. At the way point, you will also find another bench to sit on.

After about 1 km, you will get to way point "Pass 3". From here you will see an intersection that will take you down the east side of the mountain, but if you continue the marked track, you will pass the summit on the next mountain on the west side.

On this track, you will also pass by the natural Cave of Pietrapiana and you'll see the altar with a statue of Madonna della Pace. On 25 April, 2 June and the first Sunday of September, you will probably find quite a crowd up the mountain here, but the rest of the year, this is still the most likely place that you will run into other hikers.

The cave is worth a quick visit, but the benches and seats are a nice place to take a rest and have a bit of food. At this point, you have already passed the half-way point in kilometres, but the last ascent is yet to come.

From the cave and the statue, you will stay parallel to the mountain again until you get to way point "Pass 4". From that point, you are back on the ridge of the mountain and continue to climb.

When you get to way point "Detour Summit", you have the option to hike up the North Peak of the Monte Finestra. On the summit you will also find a small hut, which might be a welcome spot if the weather is not as nice as you'd hoped. The detour add about 200 meters to the length of your hike, but those 200 meters are steep up and down.

When you take the detour or not, you will be back on track by the way point "Steep Descent". As the name suggests, from this point there is a steep descent in the general western direction. The south side at this point will turn into a rather steep cliff. This is the section to be quite careful and use you hand and feet to climb down the rocks. Make sure to follow the red/white markings as they will indicate the easiest way to make it down.

In about 100 meters distance, you will descent almost meters, so you can understand that it's a serious descent. Once you have reached the end of this part, the track will circle around the ridge and take you along a narrow track along the cliff. On the most narrow bits of this track, you find a steel cable to hold on to. This section is only 30 meters until you come to the way point marked "Pass 6".

From that point, you will follow the last 300 meters steep up the mountain to get to highest point and South peak of Monte Finestra at 1145 meters. On a good day, you can see quite far from this point and usually, you can see at least the sea and Salerno.

From the summit the rest of the track is basically descending down. For the next 1 km, you will continue to follow the 300 track, but from the way point marked "Leave Track", you will leave the 300 track and follow the 310 track instead. It will take you further down the mountain in the western direction. Initially, this part of the track may not be as clear, but soon enough, the track is rather obvious and easy to follow, although quite steep. Along the way, you'll see plenty of places where the track has been reinforced with concrete and bricks. In about 1 km, you will descend 500 meters, so take your time and find good places for your feet.

The last 500 meters will bring you slowly back in civilisation with some farmland and possibly some sheep. In the last few meters, you will be back on the asphalted road and you'll cross the bridge. Depending on where you've parked your car, it may already be insight or you will need to follow this road further to make the circle complete.

Please enjoy the hike and leave a comment.