Trail 555, the west flank of Pizzo Carbonara

CAI trail 555 skirts the west flank of Pizzo Carbonara, from the Piano Battaglia area to the Croce dei Monticelli, among sinkholes, beech woods and the meadows of Piano Catagiddebbe. It is about 7 km and 2 hours 30 minutes of walking without stops, one way. It is an EE route, for experienced hikers, to be done only in perfect visibility, between June and October.

You do not come here for the summit. You come for the karst plateau, seen from the side few people walk.

Why walk the 555

To walk inside the strangest landscape in the Madonie, away from the crowds on the 551 that climbs to the top. The Cefalù Madonie tourist district speaks of an area of exceptional geological, scenic and natural interest.

The trail runs among endless sinkholes and the tall beech forest of the former Faggeta Madonia nature reserve. It is an old, high beech wood, with karst hollows opening between one trunk and the next.

What you see along the way

Skirting the west flank of the Carbonara you reach the high meadows of Piano Catagiddebbe. Here, the district writes, dense stands of Cupani’s broom grow, forming golden cushions when in flower.

Then the trail runs along the wooded north side of Cozzo Luminario, 1,512 metres, and crosses the Valle Intera: a karst valley dotted with isolated beeches. You arrive within sight of the Croce dei Monticelli.

How hard is it

The trail register grades it EE. The tourist district calls it very demanding and recommends it only to experienced trekkers, in conditions of perfect visibility.

The reason is the same one that makes the whole Carbonara plateau difficult: the sinkholes all look alike, landmarks are few and fog rises fast. You need a GPS track loaded on your phone and the ability to use it. If you have never walked here, do the Pizzo Carbonara loop from Piano Battaglia first.

When to go

June to October, only in stable weather and clear skies. Cupani’s broom flowers in early summer, the beech woods change colour in October. Check the weather on Pizzo Carbonara and give up if low cloud is forecast.

In winter snow wipes out the track: the route becomes winter mountaineering terrain.

Getting there and getting back

You reach Piano Battaglia by car from Petralia Sottana on the SP54 or from Isnello via Piano Zucchi. The “Directions to the start” button on the page takes you to the beginning of the track. For road conditions see Madonie roads.

The Croce dei Monticelli is not on a road. The simplest choice is to return along the same track. If you want to link up with other trails in the area, study them first on the map and the technical page.

Where to sleep and eat

The Rifugio Giuliano Marini, at Piano Battaglia, lets you start with the morning light. Other accommodation is in where to stay in Petralia Sottana and where to stay in Isnello. For food see where to eat in Petralia Sottana.

Safety tips

• Set off only with a stable forecast for the whole day, and with a downloaded track.
• Carry all your water: there are no springs up high.
• Tell someone which route you are taking and when you expect to be back.
• Off the path, among the sinkholes, the ground is sharp rock and rubble: stay on the trail.

For the GPX track, profile and waymarks of the 555 there is the technical page on sentierisiciliani.it, in the box alongside.