Easy hikes and walks around Lake Giacopiane

It's really worth it. Too bad about the limitation of the €10 toll road and the difficulty in paying it: scan QR code, install App, create an account (if you have network available), understand what and how to pay, etc..... All in 15-20' if you're lucky.

Relatively steep, high single digit

The Passerella dei Roncazzi is an ancient wooden footbridge located near Santo Stefano d'Aveto (GE), connecting the villages of La Villa and Gramizza, providing access to the Cucù Waterfall, behind which you can walk. Its name derives from the Celtic term "ronco" (cultivated land), and historically, it connected farmers' farms before the construction of the paved road in 1930. Main features: • Location: It is located in the Aveto Regional Park, in the village of Gramizza, near Santo Stefano d'Aveto, in the province of Genoa. Structure: It is an ancient wooden footbridge, built and maintained by local farmers. Function: It connected the cultivated fields of the "ronchi" (fields) to the nearby villages and provided access to the Cucù Waterfall. How to get there: 1. Starting point: The starting point is a small parking lot along the SS654, near an information panel near La Villa. 2. Trail: Take a dirt road that descends, following the signs for the Cucù Waterfall and the Roncazzi Passerella. Warnings: • Ice: During the winter, the walkway and wooden sections can become slippery due to ice, requiring caution. https://www.google.com/AI

About 750 meters from La Villa, heading towards Gramizza, there's an information panel along the SS654 (small parking lot along the road). Take the dirt road closed to traffic, pass the chain, and continue downhill for a while, following the signs for "Cascata del Cucù" and "Passerella dei Roncazzi." After a few meters, near a handrail, the turnoff for the waterfall branches off to the left. Follow a well-marked path that descends steeply to a grassy trail. Cross the trail and enter the meadow in front (note: the sign is not located along the grassy trail, but a little further ahead, already inside the meadow). Continue downhill until you reach a section with a handrail. A final set of steps leads to the waterfall, with the unique feature of passing right behind the waterfall (be careful, as the wooden sections may be a bit slippery). A small conduit channels sulfurous spring water, another distinctive feature of this walk. Don't miss sampling it: the unique flavor will amaze the children. The return journey follows the same route (uphill). https://www.comune.santostefanodaveto.ge.it

The Rifugio Casermette del Penna (1,400 m) is located within the Aveto Park, in a beautiful beech forest at the foot of Mount Penna, where the Forestry Corps barracks once stood. Renovated sustainably using local wood, photovoltaic panels, and a biomass boiler, the refuge offers 25 beds in both rooms and dormitories, as well as home-cooked meals prepared using local produce. Today, it is a popular destination for hikers, families, and groups, thanks in part to the large green lawn in front of the building: in summer, it's ideal for relaxing in the sun, picnicking, or letting children play freely. The location is perfect for exploring the trails of Mount Penna, the Lago Penna loop, the Pennino forests, or tackling more technical climbs to the rocky peaks. In winter, it's an ideal base for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.

Challenging climb, but great satisfaction

A little way away from the hustle and bustle of the beach promenades but still easy to reach by car. Don't forget to pay the parking fee down there beforehand. A gigantic view over the lake and, with a bit of luck, wild horses in the woods make this easy circular walk a great experience.

Easy ascent to the top of Monte Penna. From Passo dell'Incisa, the A5 route winds through the beech forest, making it feasible even in the hot season. The slope is not slight (20-25%) but considering the limited distance it is feasible. We did this route with our 6-year-old daughter (already accustomed to mountain walks) without any particular effort. For children this is the path to take, the one that starts from Casermette del Monte Penna is not recommended due to the via ferrata which makes it decidedly less suitable. NOTE: Passo dell'Incisa can be reached by car by carefully following a dirt road (about 1.4 km from the junction on Strada Provinciale 75)