Mount Carmo dominates the coast from above, offering spectacular scenery to hikers. The southeast ridge, rocky and linear, is traversed by a steep but very scenic trail, which gives unforgettable views of the sea and surrounding hills.
The loop return follows a gentle path through a beech and chestnut forest, where you can still admire the traditional “boxes”, circular stone constructions once used as shelter and tool storage.
Access
To reach the starting point of the hike, from Loano proceed to the hamlet of Verzi, which you cross, then following the road behind the church. Continuing along via Castagnabanca, the road becomes unpaved and leads to a widening with a large tree and a cable car, where you can leave your car (elevation about 600 m).
Itinerary
From the starting clearing, the route follows the small dirt road upstream from the parking lot. After a few hundred meters you come to a fork: turn right onto the path marked with two red squares, which climbs steeply into the woods. After passing a rocky notch and a small bridge over the stream (Ponte dei Martinetti), you reach Rifugio Pian delle Bosse (CAI), in an exceptional panoramic position.
From the hut, continue through the woods to a marker post, where you leave the main route to veer left. After a series of steep climbs and scenic views, you reach the col above the Hague Rock, famous among rock climbers.
From the col, follow the ridge: paying attention to the paint notches on the rocks, go over a few rocky steps until the ridge itself is fully traversed, ending at a disused cable car. To the left is the Friends of Carmo Shelter (private) and opposite is the summit of Mt.
The trail continues by descending into a small grassy basin and zigzagging up along the South slope, up to the large summit cross of Mt. Carmo.
Ring return
Follow the ascent path back to the grassy basin below. From here you turn left onto the “little stairs” path (be careful in case of snow or ice), which skirts the striking rocky slope of Carmo and joins the main ascent path again. Continue to the right through some clearings until you reach the widening of the Giustenice Yoke.
Follow the wide Bardineto-Giustenice cartroad to the right until the first bend, where you leave the road for a path through dense forest (marker “red triangle”). Along the way you will encounter traces of ancient human activity: traditional stone boxes, remnants of old charcoal kilns and a neviera.
The path finally leads to a grassy expanse; turn right along the lower limit of the meadow until you locate a path that descends into the woods and, reuniting with the “crestine” detour, leads back to the Pian delle Bosse Refuge. From here, following the same route as the outward journey, return to the parking lot.
