Psili Koryfi
1,589 m
Greece
Also known as Ψηλή Κορυφή, Psili Koryfi (Akarnanika)Also known as
Ψηλή Κορυφή · Psili Koryfi (Akarnanika)
- Elevation
- 1,589 m
- Prominence
- 1,516 m
- Difficulty
- 3/10
- Mountain hike
- Best Season
- Apr–May
- Routes
- 1
Routes
1From the near-abandoned hamlet of Vatos (about 820 m) on the western side of the range, an old stone-laid mule path climbs east to the high pastures and the summit ridge, Psili Rachi, ending at a broken trig pillar on the 1,589 m top. Roughly 770 m of ascent; unwaymarked, with wind-farm roads now on the ridge just to the north.
About 100% of this line is approximate (no mapped trail; drawn from the terrain). Check it against a map before relying on it.
Why? 3 check notes
- 100% approximate geometry
- low confidence 0.4
- Βάτος → Ψηλή Κορυφή: dem (snap_failed, 2.7 km)
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- 2.7 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +748 m
- start → summit
- High Point
- 1,589 m
- Time Up
- 2h 54m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 1h 56m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
Vatos is a small, mostly ruined hamlet on the western flank of the Acarnanian Mountains, reached by narrow mountain roads in the Xiromero area of Aetolia-Acarnania. A chapel of Agios Georgios stands by the houses. The few summer residents point out the line of the path: up past a prominent tree, across a scree slope and into the forest above. The usual way follows the old stone-laid mule path that once carried loaded animals to the summer pastures, rather than the steeper direct line straight up to the summit, which locals describe as hard and known only to them. Above the forest the route reaches the open ridge of Psili Rachi and follows it to the summit, marked by a broken trig pillar; golden eagles and griffon vultures are often seen here. Since about 2019 the ridge north of the summit (Psili Koryfi–Flamboura–Pergandi) has carried a wind farm of eleven turbines with a new access road along the crest; the nearest turbine stands about 500 m north-west of the top. Descend the same way. There is no waymarking, little shade higher up and no reliable water.
Start
Βάτος867 m
- None practical. KTEL buses reach Astakos, Vonitsa and Katouna from Agrinio; Vatos needs a car.
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Βάτος → Ψηλή Κορυφή | 2.7 | 748 | 31 | 2h 54m |
Waypoints
- Trailhead: Βάτος867 m
Hamlet with the chapel of Agios Georgios; sources give 820 m and 880 m
- Summit: Ψηλή Κορυφή1,589 m
Key Passages
- Old stone-laid mule path above Vatos
- Scree and forest below the ridge
- Psili Rachi summit ridge
Equipment
0/5 packedDownloads
Route confidence 40%Overview
Psili Koryfi ('high peak', 1,589 m) is the summit of the Acarnanian Mountains in western mainland Greece, a limestone ridge rising straight out of the Xiromero lowlands opposite Lefkada. Little visited and unwaymarked, it now shares its ridge with a wind farm.
The Acarnanian Mountains (Akarnanika) form a compact limestone range in the Xiromero district of Aetolia-Acarnania, between the Ambracian Gulf and the Ionian coast at Astakos, facing Lefkada across the water. Psili Koryfi is the highest point; Boumistos (1,577 m), 4 km to the south-east, is better known locally and carries the only Kefalonian fir forest in Acarnania. Because the range rises from near sea level, it is visible from much of western Greece and has a wide view over the Ionian islands, the Ambracian Gulf and the Pindus.
The mountain holds little water, and apart from the fir forest on Boumistos the slopes carry oak and kermes oak lower down and open, stony pasture above. The cliffs are a refuge for griffon vultures, and part of the area is a designated wildlife refuge (Pergandi–Xiromero) next to the Natura 2000 bird area of Mount Tsereka (Akarnanika). Around 2019 a wind farm of eleven large turbines, with new access roads, was built along the summit ridge from Psili Koryfi north over Flamboura to Pergandi, and anemometer masts have since appeared on Boumistos.
This is a peak for those who like empty country and are happy to navigate: there are no waymarked trails to the summit, the villages on its flanks are largely abandoned, and the ridge-top roads now change the character of the top.
Climbing Notes
The only described route climbs about 770 m from the hamlet of Vatos on the west side, on an old stone mule path and then the open ridge; allow a half-day and carry a GPS track, as there are no waymarks. Take plenty of water, sun protection and a windproof; there is little shade above the forest. Spring and autumn are best; summer is hot and the lower slopes are fire-prone. Snow falls on the ridge in some winters. Shepherds' dogs may guard flocks on the high pastures. Mountaineering clubs from Agrinio climb Boumistos from Kompoti on the east side; combining the two summits would make a long, rough day.
Season
Best Apr–May- January: Possible
- February: Possible
- March: Good
- April: Best (best window)
- May: Best (best window)
- June: Good
- July: Possible
- August: Possible
- September: Good
- October: Best
- November: Good
- December: Possible
- Jan
- Possible snow and strong wind on the ridge
- Feb
- Possible snow
- Apr
- Spring flowers; cool
- Jun
- Hot; start early
- Jul
- Very hot, little shade or water
- Aug
- Very hot, little shade or water
- Oct
- Stable autumn weather
- Dec
- Short days; rain and possible snow
Access & Permits
- Rules
- Part of the area lies in the Pergandi–Xiromero wildlife refuge, beside the Natura 2000 Special Protection Area GR2310011 'Oros Tsereka (Akarnanika)'; do not disturb nesting raptors and vultures on the cliffs
- Getting There
Astakos
Preveza-Aktion (PVK)
- Car: from Agrinio or Vonitsa into Xiromero, then by narrow mountain roads to Vatos on the western flank
- Bus: KTEL buses from Agrinio serve the larger Xiromero towns (Astakos, Katouna, Vonitsa); no service to Vatos
Hazards
- Remoteness
- Weather