Monte Cimone in Spring
🗺️ Overview
- Starting point: Passo del Lupo (1540 m)
- Highest point: Monte Cimone (2165 m)
- Total elevation gain: ~625 m
- Total distance: ~7–8 km (round trip)
- Total time: ~2h30–3h (including breaks)
- Technical difficulty: Easy–moderate (more demanding in winter conditions)
I was in Bologna for Easter and it was 25 degrees. On the other hand, the week before had been much colder and it had snowed in Italy, so we decided to take advantage of one last snowshoe/ski touring hike.
We set off to Monte Cimone, in the province of Modena. At 2165 m, it is one of the highest peaks in Emilia-Romagna. I was with my dad and three of his friends from the Club Alpino Italiano — the youngest was about 30 years older than me 🙂
We started from Passo del Lupo, above Pian del Falco. Compared to my region in Switzerland, you even have to “earn” the starting point in the Apennines — it took almost two hours to get there from Bologna.
But my group of pensioners knew how to live: we stopped in Fanano for a cappuccino. If you have time, I recommend a short walk around — it’s a nice historical village.
The Ascent
At Passo del Lupo there is a large parking area where you can access the slopes. The normal winter snowshoe trails actually start from Lago della Ninfa, on a road to the left just before the pass.
However, we were in spring: the ski resort was closed and the snow was melting, so we preferred to go up via the ski slopes, where the snow is more compact and lasts longer.
We set off along the slopes and shortly reached a large crossroads where two lifts arrive and there is even a hamburger place — surprisingly open in spring. We continued straight, just below the chairlift on the right. Here, a summer road acts as a connecting slope. It was perfect in our conditions and also works well as a summer path, although I wondered where the official snowshoe trail goes when the slopes are open — you probably have to pass somewhere else.
After a flat section, the road climbs again and soon reaches another flat area, from where you can see Pian Cavallaro, the arrival of the main chairlift, straight ahead. We continued along the slopes until we reached it.
From here, the temptation is to go straight up — but don’t do it, or you will have to go downhill afterwards. It’s better to stay low on the right until you reach a building that looks like a snowcat garage, at the base of the summit slope.
Up to this point, the hike is very pleasant, with no real difficulty and a steady incline.
Final Ascent and Summit
The last section is more challenging, at least in winter. It is steeper and the snow can be slippery.
Continuing uphill toward the crest, we reached a small col. The path continues on the other side. My four pensioners with skis went up zig-zagging on the left side of the mountain. However, with snowshoes it became too steep.
Fortunately, the crest was partially snow-free, with rocks sticking out. In summer, a shortcut path runs along here. So I removed my snowshoes and followed it. It was steep, and at times I sank knee-deep into the snow, but by jumping from rock to rock I managed to reach the base of the buildings on the summit — a military observatory.
To reach the true summit, you have to go around the observatory. You can go on either side, but the left is less steep. After going around the building, you continue along it and pass below a metal structure.
Finally, the summit is marked by a Madonna and a sign with the altitude.
From here you can see the whole ridge: Corno alle Scale on the left, Monte Cusna on the right, and — in front — the sea.
There was some light fog, so the sea was not clearly visible when I was there. But my more experienced companions told me that the faint line I could see was actually the mountains of Corsica — right in the middle of the sea!
Descent
After a break, I went down the same way I had climbed up.
It was super fun: the snow was soft and I could almost slide down, taking long steps. It felt like walking on the Moon.
It took me about 45 minutes to descend, compared to 1h45 to climb up.
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