The best running trails around Ferriere

Beautiful place. Worth a stop.

Pleasant hut immersed in nature. We had a coffee, decent although it was inside a thermos, and a slice of potato cake. Good, but the portions are "for tasting"… For €3, a potato cake cannot be a tiny slice with just two bites… Portions aside, the place is worth a stop.

Climbing from Selva (a hamlet of Ferriere), keep right and continue towards the GAEP "Vincenzo Stoto" refuge (closed on September 14th) and shortly after you reach the Crociglia Pass. The final section is quite steep, but well-paved. Descent towards the southern slope towards Liguria. I recommend passing through Santo Stefano D'Aveto.

Arriving there is a surprising discovery, an open, restful, and expansive vision: the impression is of arriving in a separate territory, distinct from that in which the common human consortium takes place. There are some Prato Grande meadows scattered throughout the mountainous regions of Italy. Ours, here in the high Piacenza Apennines, extends at around 1,450 meters above sea level, on the right bank of the Nure stream, in the municipality of Ferriere; we are in the area of high-altitude prairies, within which it forms the ideal link between the expanses of Lake Moo and Prato Molle to the north, and that of Prato Bure, to the south. The northern peak of Mount Ragola (1,767 meters) dominates the southwest, imposing itself on hikers who approach it by climbing from the basin of Lake Bino, topped by characteristic rocky outcrops and graced, in July and August, by the fleshy flowers of the yellow water lily. On the eastern flank, Prato Grande is lapped by the Lardana stream, which here flows slowly, little more than a stream, before plunging into a charming waterfall where the plateau ends, near the Rocca dell'Aquila. Beyond Lardana extend the vast foothills of Mount Camulara, also known locally as Lazzarina. Soft underfoot in the summer, when dozens of cattle and Bardigiano horses graze, the meadow is covered in a steady, compact blanket of snow in the winter, which lasts until March, glowing pink on full moon nights. It is precisely on this splendid plateau that in 2006, the Pro Loco Ferriere, in an effort to enhance the area's tourism offerings, built the "Monte Ragola" mountain hut in collaboration with the Municipality. The idea stemmed from the awareness that the upper Nure Valley has always been a popular destination for hiking enthusiasts, as it is home to many of the most beautiful spots in the Piacenza Apennines. With this in mind, we built this mountain hut, which serves as a stopover and base for everyone, from experts to beginners, who wish to spend a day of sport and relaxation in our mountains. Since its inception, the refuge has hosted several groups of hikers who come to the mountain not only on foot but also by bicycle or on horseback, offering them a quiet and simple place to eat and rest before continuing their journey. Since the 2006/07 season, our tourism offering has not been limited to the summer months; our activities have never stopped in the winter either. Thanks to the management of a cross-country ski trail starting from the Zovallo Pass and the organization of various snowshoe excursions, many people have had the opportunity to experience our Apennines even in the particularly charming season of winter, all in complete safety. Source: Proloco Ferriere

Mount Crociglia and Mount Carevolo are two of the most panoramic peaks in the entire Piacenza Apennines. Their peaks share common characteristics: first, their shape—large, grass-covered domes—and second, the lack of significant elevations in the immediate vicinity, making them exposed to the wind but also offering exceptionally beautiful viewpoints. The summit of the mountain (1,578 meters), highlighted by the large statue of the Archangel Raphael, erected in memory of those who fell in the mountains: 😓😓 Luigi Mazzocchi 1975 Giulio Fox 1977 Paolo Fox 1977 Pino De Lorenzi 1979 Giovanni Razzini 1981 Giovanni Tosi 1981 Mauro Fariselli 1990 Mario Sanpaolo 1990 Renata Scaramuzza 2002 Emanuele Patti 2017 Luca Bernini 2024 From here you can enjoy a 360° view of the Nure Valley.

Excellent view of the Piacenza valleys

Even if the snow has frozen, a nice trek is guaranteed!

Great view between upper Nure valley and middle D'aveto valley