Mount Othrys (Gkiouzi)
1,726 m
Greece
Also known as Gerakovouni, Отрис, +6Also known as
Gerakovouni · Отрис · Othrys · Όθρυς · Otris · Otri · Muntele Othrys · Óros Óthris
- Elevation
- 1,726 m
- Prominence
- 1,101 m
- Difficulty
- 2/10
- Hike
- Best Season
- Apr–Jun
- Routes
- 1
Routes
1A straightforward ascent of Gkiouzi (1,726 m), the highest summit of Othrys, from the north: forest roads from the Kofoi–Koulia road through the fir-clad Charchalorema gorge lead past the Nerospilia cave to open cattle pastures, from where tracks and grassy slopes climb south to the summit trig point. About 500 m of ascent from Nerospilia.
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- 8.9 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +571 m
- −108 m lost on the way up
- High Point
- 1,726 m
- Time Up
- 3h 17m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 2h 59m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
From Almyros take the road to Kofoi and continue on asphalt past the memorial to the 1991 C-130 crash to the Koulia junction (about 35 km). A forest road runs about 7 km from here through the Charchalorema gorge, past the small emergency shelter of the Almyros mountaineering club on a flat spot above the gorge, up a winding stretch under fir trees to open pasture, and on to the Nerospilia cave (about 1,220 m), the longest known cave in Magnesia, from which a stream emerges. Walk from Koulia (about 2.5 hours to the pastures) or drive the forest road in a suitable vehicle. From the area of Nerospilia follow the forest road west across the pastures; at a fork the southern branch climbs towards Gkiouzi. A track continues to about 1,400–1,500 m on the north-west slopes, and the final climb is on open, grassy ground past a collapsed antenna to the summit, which has a Hellenic Army Geographical Service trig point. The upper mountain is open grazing country with cattle tracks everywhere, scattered firs and wide fern slopes. Return the same way. Gerakovouni, the lower northern top (about 1,640 m), can be added along the ridge; club traverses link Gkiouzi, Gerakovouni and Piliouras in a 7–8 hour day.
Start
Νεροσπηλιά1,259 m
- None. Reach Almyros by bus from Volos, then drive via Kofoi.
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Νεροσπηλιά → Γερακοβούνι (Όθρυς) | 8.9 | 571 | 108 | 3h 17m |
Waypoints
- Trailhead: Νεροσπηλιά1,259 m
Nerospilia cave on the forest road from Koulia; water
- Feature: Northern pastures track end1,404 m
End of the track; continue south over open grassy slopes
- Summit: Γερακοβούνι (Όθρυς)1,726 m
Gkiouzi summit; HAGS trig point
Key Passages
- Fir forest in the Charchalorema gorge
- Open cattle pastures
- Grassy upper slopes to the summit trig point
Equipment
0/5 packedDownloads
Route confidence 40%Overview
Othrys is the broad, little-visited range between the Thessalian plain and the Malian Gulf. Its highest summit, Gkiouzi (1,726 m), often labelled Gerakovouni after the eastern ridge, is a grassy top above fir forest, karst pastures and the Nerospilia cave, with views over three gulfs.
Mount Othrys (Othris) rises between Almyros and the Pagasetic Gulf to the east, the Thessalian plain to the north and the Spercheios valley and Malian Gulf to the south. The eastern part of the range is called Gerakovouni; its highest summit is Gkiouzi (Gkiozi, 1,726 m), with Skoumpourdi (1,630 m), Gerakovouni (about 1,640 m) and the twin-topped Piliouras (1,557 m) nearby.
The lower slopes carry oak, kermes oak and juniper, the gorges fir forest, and the high ground open grazing land with ferns, scattered firs and karst dolines. Cattle range freely over the summits. Nerospilia, a cave about 1,400 m long from which a stream emerges, lies on the north side at about 1,220 m. In spring the summit area is covered in wildflowers and mountain tea.
From the top the view takes in the Pagasetic, North Euboean and Malian gulfs and the mountains of central Greece: Oiti, Giona, Parnassos, Pelion and, on clear days, Olympus. There are no waymarked summit routes; Othrys is mainly visited by Greek clubs on long traverses.
Climbing Notes
An easy but remote hike on unmarked grazing tracks and open slopes. From Nerospilia, reached by forest road from the Kofoi–Koulia road, allow roughly 1.5–2 hours to the summit (estimate); full-day traverses linking Gkiouzi, Gerakovouni and Piliouras take 7–8 hours. Carry a GPS track and plenty of water: there are springs in the gorges and at Nerospilia, but nothing on the upper mountain, which is almost entirely without shade. During the hunting season make yourself visible. The small Almyros club shelter in the Charchalorema gorge is for emergencies only.
History
On 5 February 1991 a Hellenic Air Force C-130 crashed on Othrys, killing 61 people according to routes.gr; memorials stand by the Kofoi road north of the summit. No record of a first ascent is known.
Season
Best Apr–Jun- January: Possible
- February: Possible
- March: Good
- April: Best (best window)
- May: Best (best window)
- June: Best (best window)
- July: Good
- August: Good
- September: Best
- October: Best
- November: Good
- December: Possible
- Jan
- Snow possible on top; club winter ascents
- Feb
- Snow possible on top
- Mar
- Snow patches; cave stream in flood
- Apr
- Spring flowers
- May
- Spring flowers and mountain tea
- Jun
- Good conditions
- Jul
- Hot and shadeless; start early
- Aug
- Hot and shadeless; start early
- Sep
- Good conditions; hunting season begins
- Oct
- Good conditions; hunting season
- Nov
- Hunting season; shorter days
- Dec
- Winter conditions
Access & Permits
- Rules
- Free-range cattle grazing on the upper mountain; close gates and keep dogs under control
- Getting There
Almyros
Nea Anchialos / Volos (VOL)
- Car: from Almyros on the road to Kofoi, about 30 km of asphalt to the C-130 memorial and 5 km more to the Koulia junction, then about 7 km of forest road to Nerospilia
- From the south: dirt roads above Neraida (Stylida municipality, Fthiotida) past the Anavra spring
- No public transport to the trailheads; buses run from Volos to Almyros
Hazards
- Remoteness
- Weather
Huts & Shelters
1- 1,020 m
ΕΟΣ ΑλμυρούBivouacUnstaffed
Emergency shelter