Monte Camorlo Ring

ACCESS:

From Sefro, drive alongside the Scarzito stream along the S.P. 79 towards Montelago for about 3 km, then turn right to Valle della Scurosa. Leave the paved road for a white gravel road that continues for about 500 meters until you see the Valle Scurosa Refuge. Park below (do not drive up to the refuge with cars).

DESCRIPTION:

From the Valle Scurosa Refuge, climb towards the Piano di Sardigliano, taking the path no. 214 to the left, heading south. Enter the wooded valley and continue until you notice a spring on the left; after the spring, turn immediately left and cross the streambed, following the path until you reach characteristic boulders beneath an overhanging rock face. On the right, you will see the fork with path no. 262, from where you will return, leading to the foot of the Forra del Bottaone. Continue northeast, soon exiting the valley near the Cerreto hamlet. After passing the first house, turn right by 90 degrees and continue uphill on the clear path. After a straight stretch, the path faces some switchbacks, then continues diagonally uphill towards the southwest. Exiting the woods and reaching the meadows, the route climbs steeply and joins path no. 201. Continue right along a short stretch of path no. 201 and at a clear junction, keep left onto path 214a.

Proceed gently uphill south along a beautiful gravel road, skirting the Carbonai hill. Continue on the gravel road overcoming some undulations, until you emerge onto a ridge from which it is possible to see the wooded summit of Monte Camorlo and, on the left, the view of the village of Copogna and a path descending into the Valle Dell'Afro, where at Fonte Vecchia the namesake gorge begins. Leaving the valley view behind, continue the route circling Monte Camorlo on an open grassy field. The route follows a trail gaining slightly but steadily in altitude until reaching a wide saddle. From the saddle, continue north, still on open ground, until entering a wide path that goes into the woods. Now descending northwest, the route leads to a junction. Here you can see on the left path no. 259, which goes to the Bocchetta della Scurosa. Continue on our route keeping right and take path no. 201, which climbs again towards Monte Camorlo passing a beautiful panoramic point. During the climb, you can admire numerous holly and yew plants. After crossing the woods, enter the meadows above, between Monte Camorlo (altitude: 1395 m) and Monte Stinco (altitude: 1303 m). Here you can admire the magnificent view of Monte Linguaro, Monte Rangora, Valle della Scurosa, Forca di Bara, Monte Pennino. Take the gravel road descending towards Fonte Camorlo and upon reaching Casale Carbonara, immediately after the building, turn left for path 262. A short descent through the woods leads to the entrance of Forra del Bottaone. Do not follow the white/blue markers that lead inside the gorge, but continue on the opposite side, heading north. Now the path alternates between large clearings and small woods. In this section, great care must be taken with the markers, as there is no true path trace. Follow the markers which, like Ariadne’s thread, lead towards Valle Scurosa. Descend to a junction where on the right you will see the white/blue signals marking the gorge exit. Continue left into the valley for at least another 15 minutes, until reaching a fork and path no. 214, done in ascent. Turn left, cross the streambed and the spring, which will now be on your right, until you reach the Valle Scurosa Refuge.