Corno alle Scale: An easy ski touring in Italy

🗺️ Overview

• Starting point: Corno alle Scale lifts / Rifugio Cavone (1470 m)

• Highest point: Corno alle Scale summit cross (1945 m)

• Total elevation gain: 470 m

• Total distance: 3.8 km

• Total time: 1.5-2 hours (one way)

• Technical difficulty: Easy–Moderate (non-technical)

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Here we are! For the first time, I leave the Alps. This is the first post describing a hike in another ridge: the Apennines in Italy, not far from Bologna, my hometown (not far as the crow flies, but with busy and horrible roads it still takes about 1h50 to get there).

This hike starts at the Corno alle Scale lifts, next to Rifugio Cavone (1470 m), and leads to the summit of the Corno. I did it in winter as a ski touring outing.¨

The starting point is a small side road between Rifugio Cavone and the lifts. After passing behind an old abandoned building, you reach the slopes. You can start going uphill along their edge, but soon a road branches left into the woods and climbs more gently, with fewer skiers around. After a few minutes, you arrive at what I believe was a closed ski slope, which we followed uphill until just below Passo della Porticciola, at around 1660 m.

From here, you follow the ridge next to the slope. The summit cross is already clearly visible. Finally, just before reaching the chair lift, you make a U-turn; the last stretch to the cross is almost flat.

The cross itself was impressive when I went—completely frozen. It felt like being at the Pole, not at “only” 1945 m. All around you is a full 360° panorama, with Monte Cimone on the left and, if you are lucky, views stretching all the way to the Alps to the north and the sea to the south.

Since we were ski touring, we put our skis on and descended via the slopes, but you can also retrace your steps on snowshoes or choose from several other descent options.

And in your way down a polenta at the Rifugio is not to be missed. Good, cheap and one of the fastest service I've ever had!