Dirfi
1,743 m
Greece
Also known as Dirphys, Δίρφη, +4Also known as
Dirphys · Δίρφη · Dirfys · Dirfis · гора Дирфис · Dirfij
- Elevation
- 1,743 m
- Prominence
- 1,740 m
- Difficulty
- 3/10
- Mountain hike
- Best Season
- May–Jun
- Routes
- 1
Routes
1The standard ascent of Euboea's highest peak: from the EOS Chalkida refuge (1,123 m) along the track to Liri at the foot of the summit cone, then a waymarked, rocky path up the south-east ridge through the short scramble at Portes to the summit plateau and the 1,743 m top, Delfi. About 620 m of ascent; 1½–2 hours up.
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- 3.0 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +656 m
- start → summit
- High Point
- 1,743 m
- Time Up
- 2h 37m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 1h 47m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
From Steni the paved road towards Kymi climbs through chestnut, fir and plane forest to the saddle of Rachi Syka at its highest point; there is a small parking area where the dirt road to the refuge begins. The 2 km dirt road (passable without 4x4, but not for low cars) leads to the Michalis Nikolaou refuge of EOS Chalkida at 1,123 m. Walkers can also climb from Steni on the club's S-1 path, which starts behind the sports ground at about 450 m and passes the Sykamino spring and the Elatia fir forest to reach the refuge in about 2½ hours. From the refuge, follow the dirt road to Liri at the base of the summit cone, where a small spring lies a few metres left of the start of the climb and a small mountaineers' memorial stands. The path, marked with yellow paint, climbs the bare, rocky south-south-east ridge. Halfway up, the steep rocky step called Portes needs the hands: an easy scramble in summer, tricky when wet or snow-covered. Above, a few more rocky passages lead onto the rounded summit plateau, and the highest point, Delfi, lies about 400 m further on; a second top on the plateau reaches about 1,735 m. EOS Chalkida gives about 1½ hours from the refuge to the summit, ToposText under 2 hours; allow more in snow. Descend the same way. The summit is very exposed to wind, cloud can cover it quickly, and from December to spring the cone usually holds snow, when it becomes a winter climb.
Start
Michalis Nikolaou refuge1,120 m
- KTEL buses run from Chalkida to Steni; from Steni walk the S-1 path to the refuge (about 2½ hours)
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michalis Nikolaou refuge → Delfi | 3.0 | 656 | 34 | 2h 37m |
Waypoints
- Hut: Michalis Nikolaou refuge1,120 m
- Summit: Delfi1,743 m
Key Passages
- Portes rocky step
- Rocky passages below the summit plateau
Equipment
0/5 packedDownloads
Route confidence 80%Overview
The highest mountain of Euboea (1,743 m), a bald limestone cone rising out of fir and chestnut forest above the village of Steni. A waymarked, rocky path climbs from the EOS Chalkida refuge to the summit in under two hours, with views across the Aegean on clear days.
Dirfi (Dirfys) rises in the middle of Euboea, north-east of Chalkida. Its forested lower slopes, with chestnut, fir, pine and plane, surround the mountain village of Steni; above about 1,200 m the summit cone is bare, rounded limestone. The highest point, Delfi, sits on a small summit plateau with a second top of about 1,735 m; with a prominence of about 1,740 m it is one of Greece's ultra-prominent peaks and the highest summit on any Greek island outside Crete.
From the top the view takes in the Euboean Gulf, Boeotia and Parnassus to the west, and the Aegean with Skyros and, on very clear days, the Northern Sporades and Mount Athos. The mountain is notoriously windy and often in cloud, and the north-east Aegean winds bring heavy snow from December into spring.
The normal ascent is short and well marked: about 620 m from the EOS Chalkida refuge, reached by road, with one easy scramble. Steni is about 1½ hours' drive from Athens, which makes Dirfi a popular weekend outing.
Climbing Notes
A half-day from the refuge for any fit walker comfortable on rough rock: allow 1½–2 hours up and a little less down. Starting on foot from Steni adds about 670 m and 2½ hours each way on the S-1 path, making a full day. Boots and a windproof are essential; the yellow waymarks are clear in summer but may be buried in winter.
From December to April the cone is usually snow-covered and the summit is a winter climb: crampons, ice axe and the skills to use them are needed, snow hides holes between the rocks, and the Portes step can be awkward. Strong winds and sudden cloud are common in all seasons. Book the refuge through the EOS Chalkida website if you want to stay; it has no meals, so bring food to cook, and sheets.
History
In antiquity Dirphys was sacred to Hera, worshipped here as Hera Dirphya, and legend placed a temple to her on the mountain. The rare endemic sandwort Minuartia dirphya takes its name from it. EOS Chalkida planned a hut from the 1930s; the foundation stone was blessed on 26 June 1960 on land given by the community of Steni, on the ridge between Dirfi and Xerovouni, and the refuge opened on 12 June 1966 as the 35th mountain hut in Greece. An extension was inaugurated in 1991. In the late 1990s the hut was named after Michalis Nikolaou, the club's long-serving general secretary, and the route from Rachi Syka to the summit after its president Filoklis Drakos.
Season
Best May–Jun- January: Possible
- February: Possible
- March: Possible
- April: Good
- May: Best (best window)
- June: Best (best window)
- July: Good
- August: Good
- September: Best
- October: Best
- November: Good
- December: Possible
- Jan
- Snow on the cone; winter climb with crampons and ice axe
- Feb
- Snow on the cone; strong winds
- Mar
- Snow on the cone
- Apr
- Snow patches; check conditions
- Jul
- Hot on the approach; start early
- Aug
- Hot; start early
- Nov
- First snow possible
- Dec
- Snow usually arrives; winter conditions
Access & Permits
- Hut Booking
- The Michalis Nikolaou refuge (EOS Chalkida, 45 places) opens only by arrangement: check the booking calendar and send a request through eoschalkidas.gr. No meals are served; bring your own sheets and pillowcase. An unlocked emergency room (at least 5 people) is available when the refuge is closed.
- Rules
- No fires in the forest; on very high fire-risk days in summer the Greek authorities may close forest areas
- Tents only within the EOS Chalkida refuge's own land
- Getting There
Steni Dirfyos; Chalkida
Athens Eleftherios Venizelos (ATH)
- By car from Athens to Chalkida and Nea Artaki, then inland to Steni and up the road towards Kymi to the saddle of Rachi Syka; a 2 km dirt road (no 4x4 needed, but not for low cars) leads to the refuge
- KTEL buses from Chalkida to Steni; from Steni the S-1 path reaches the refuge in about 2½ hours
Hazards
- Weather
- Avalanche
Huts & Shelters
1- 1,123 m
Michalis Nikolaou refugeHutUnstaffedBooking required
45 beds · By arrangement with EOS Chalkida; emergency room always open