Monte Pisanino

1,946 m

Italy

Also known as mont Pisanino, Монте-Пизанино

mont Pisanino · Монте-Пизанино

Elevation: 1,946 m
Prominence: 1,167 m
Difficulty: 4/10; Alpine hike
Best Season: Sep–Oct
Routes: 1

Routes

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AlpineFUIAAISACT4ScrambleNormal route

Sources differ: EE (CAI) (VieNormali.it; Gulliver.it)

The highest of the Apuan Alps by its least difficult line: path 178 from Val Serenaia (about 1,060–1,100 m) to Foce di Cardeto (1,642 m), then a blue-marked, exposed traverse under the Zucchi di Cardeto with a 20 m hands-on step, and the very steep Canale delle Rose to a short exposed summit ridge. About 1,150–1,180 m of ascent, 3–3¼ hours up.

Elevation Profile

approximate line

Distance: 4.5 km; one way
Ascent: +1,028 m; −165 m lost on the way up
High Point: 1,946 m
Time Up: 4h 19m; DIN 33466
Time Down: 3h 10m; DIN 33466 · same way back

Park near the Val Serenaia campsite below Rifugio Donegani at the head of the Orto di Donna valley (about 1,060–1,100 m), reached from Minucciano by the road signed for Rifugio Donegani. CAI path 178 starts by a small fountain and climbs through beech woods and over a few rocky steps, then across a grassy plain with large boulders below the Zucchi di Cardeto, to the Foce di Cardeto (1,642 m) in about an hour. About 50–100 m beyond the pass, on the far side, a boulder with blue lettering marks the turn-off for Pisanino; from here all waymarks are blue. The path keeps losing height (about 120 m in all) as it traverses the base of the Zucchi di Cardeto, with exposed rocky passages where hands are needed, culminating in the well-known 20 m traverse. There is no fixed protection. A panoramic saddle facing the summit leads into the Canale delle Rose, a very steep but well-marked grass-and-rock gully that reaches the summit ridge in under an hour; the final ridge is short but clearly exposed. A small Madonna statue sits in a niche just below the top; there is no cross. Descend the same way, taking great care as far as Foce di Cardeto. From the pass a variant follows path 179 under Monte Contrario to Rifugio Orto di Donna and path 180 down through the woods to the car park (about 1 hour). The steep Apuan grass ('paleo') is very slippery when wet; avoid the route after rain, in fog, in cold weather, or with snow or ice.

Start

Campeggio Val Serenaia1,084 m

None practical; the valley road to Val Serenaia leaves the SR445 near Gramolazzo/Minucciano. The nearest railway station is on the Lucca–Aulla line in the Serchio valley.
Parking at the trailhead

Stages

Day	Stage	km	m ascent	m descent	Time
1	Campeggio Val Serenaia → Monte Pisanino	4.5	1,028	165	4h 19m

Waypoints

Parking:
Campeggio Val Serenaia1,084 m
Col:
Foce di Cardeto1,643 m
Crux:
Zucchi di Cardeto1,631 m
Exposed traverse at the base of the Zucchi, including a 20 m hands-on passage; height is lost here
Summit:
Monte Pisanino1,946 m

Key Passages

Blue-marked boulder below Foce di Cardeto
Exposed traverse under the Zucchi di Cardeto with the 20 m hands-on step
Very steep Canale delle Rose
Short exposed summit ridge

Equipment

0/5 packed

Technical

Crampons and ice axeonly for experienced parties if snow lingers; otherwise avoid the route with snow or iceRecommended

Safety

Helmetrockfall in the Canale delle Rose, especially with other parties aboveRecommended

Footwear

Mountain boots with stiff, grippy solessteep, slippery grass and rockRequired

Clothing

Waterproof and warm layersfog and sudden weather changes are common on the Apuan crestRequired

Navigation

Map or GPS trackblue waymarks after Foce di Cardeto; the traverse is treacherous in fogRecommended

Downloads

Route confidence 75%

Download GPX Download KML

Overview

The highest summit of the Apuan Alps (1,946 m), a steep marble-and-grass pyramid above the Orto di Donna valley in northern Tuscany. Even the normal route is an exposed EE scramble with a 20 m hands-on traverse and a very steep gully.

Monte Pisanino rises at the northern end of the Apuan Alps in the province of Lucca, above the head of the Orto di Donna valley and Val Serenaia, with the Serchio valley and Garfagnana to the east and the Tyrrhenian coast visible to the west. It is the highest point of the range, a group of sharp limestone and marble peaks only 20–30 km from the sea, inside the Apuan Alps Regional Park and UNESCO Global Geopark, ringed by marble quarries.

The Apuan peaks look modest on paper but behave like much higher mountains: steep grass ('paleo') that becomes very slippery when wet, loose rock, frequent fog from the sea and big height gains from low valleys. Pisanino's normal route, from Val Serenaia over the Foce di Cardeto and up the Canale delle Rose, has no fixed protection and crosses exposed ground where a slip would be serious. Experienced hikers also climb it by the airier Bàgola Bianca ridge (EE+).

The reward is the panorama over the whole Apuan chain, the Tuscan-Emilian Apennine and, on clear days, the sea. The summit has no cross; a small Madonna statue sits in a niche just below the top.

Climbing Notes

Suitable only for sure-footed walkers without fear of heights, ideally with some scrambling experience: about 1,150–1,180 m of ascent including some 120 m lost on the traverse, 3–3½ hours up and a similar effort down. Hands are needed on the traverse below the Zucchi di Cardeto, and the Canale delle Rose is very steep. A helmet is sensible because of rockfall in the gully.

Go only in settled, dry weather: the route is treacherous on wet grass or in fog. Late spring (once snow has gone) and September–November are often recommended; summer days can be hot and hazy with afternoon storms. In winter it becomes a serious snow and ice climb for experienced mountaineers. Rifugio Donegani and Rifugio Orto di Donna near the start are convenient bases.

Season

Best Sep–Oct

January: Not advisable
February: Not advisable
March: Not advisable
April: Possible
May: Good
June: Best
July: Good
August: Good
September: Best (best window)
October: Best (best window)
November: Possible
December: Not advisable

Jan: Snow and ice; serious winter mountaineering only
Feb: Snow and ice
Mar: Snow in the Canale delle Rose; avalanche and fall risk
Apr: Lingering snow in the gully; only when clear
May: Good once the gully is snow-free
Jul: Hot; start early and avoid afternoon storms
Aug: Hot; start early and avoid afternoon storms
Oct: Only in dry weather; grass slippery after rain
Nov: Short days; early snow or icy grass possible
Dec: Winter conditions

Access & Permits

Hut Booking

Rifugio Donegani and Rifugio Orto di Donna near the start can be used as bases; book directly with the huts.

Rules

Inside the Apuan Alps Regional Park: stay on marked paths and follow park rules
Marble quarries operate on surrounding slopes; respect quarry closures and signage on access roads

Getting There

Minucciano and Gramolazzo (Lucca)

Pisa (PSA)

Car: from Lucca follow the SS12/SR445 up the Serchio valley towards Castelnuovo di Garfagnana and Minucciano; just before a tunnel turn off on the road signed for Rifugio Donegani and park near the Val Serenaia campsite
No practical public transport to the trailhead

Hazards

Exposure
Rockfall
Weather