The best hiking routes in Monte la Nuda, Cima Belfiore, Passo del Cerreto

The ridge running from Passo del Cerreto up to Monte la Nuda and Cima Belfiore offers a stark contrast between two distinct mountain faces. On the southern, Tuscan side, the slopes drop away in steep, grassy meadows and sheer sandstone cliffs. To the north, facing Emilia, the terrain is dominated by deep, shaded glacial cirques where beech forests climb high up the slopes before giving way to vast bilberry moors. This is a rugged, high-altitude landscape shaped by ancient glaciers, where the transition from dense woodland to exposed alpine tundra happens abruptly.

Underfoot, the trails change character quickly. The lower approaches from Passo del Cerreto start on soft forest soil, thick with beech leaves and exposed roots. As you gain elevation toward the main ridge, the path becomes a narrow, stony track cut directly into the crumbling sandstone and shale. There are no gentle, rolling meadows here; the walking requires steady footwork on loose scree and steep rock steps, particularly on the final scramble to the summit of Monte la Nuda.

In early June, the high ridges are defined by the bright green of emerging bilberry shoots and alpine wildflowers, while by October the beech canopy below turns a deep copper. The ridge is often quieter than the busy pass road below, though the main trail to the summit of Monte la Nuda sees regular foot traffic. This area is not a place for casual strolling, as the sharp drop-offs and rocky crests demand constant attention to the terrain.