Trekking
How do you reach the Monte Nieddu and Pitrisconi waterfalls?
There are two ways to reach the Monte Nieddu waterfalls. The first option is to take a hiking trail that starts on the Padru side, in the Sos Pantamos area, and takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Alternatively, you can approach from the San Teodoro side by taking Via Aresula from the hamlet of Straulas/Budditogliu. This road allows you to park just a few minutes away from the first waterfalls; however, since it is unpaved, a high-clearance vehicle or a 4x4 is required.
Note: At the moment, although there is a raised barrier, access to Monte Nieddu is open to anyone wishing to enter on foot or without a motor vehicle. To enter with a private vehicle, however, it is necessary to request permission from the forest rangers.
1 – Pitrisconi Pools and Waterfalls Loop (Green Trail on the map)
Distance: 5.2 kilometres
Elevation gain: 550 metres
Difficulty: EE (Experienced Hiker)
Download track: click here
The loop trail allows you to discover several incredibly beautiful waterfalls and natural pools. From the Pitrisconi farmhouse, we head south, soon crossing the river that we will ford. Just a few metres ahead, we encounter a natural pool on our right, and shortly after, the large Pitrisconi Waterfall. Before the waterfall, a steep trail can be easily spotted – this will be our path.
After about 10 minutes of steep ascent, we pass through a lovely granite tafone (small grotto) and begin the descent that leads to the junction. From here, the challenging downhill begins (watch the steepness) which takes us to the stunning Pitriolu natural pool and its waterfall. This may be the most beautiful spot in all of Monte Nieddu. We strongly recommend NOT using the ropes you will find on the right bank of the waterfall – these are used by canyoning enthusiasts for emergency exits!
After enjoying the scenery and refreshing waters of the pool, we can climb back up the same trail to reach the junction again, this time heading downstream. From here, the unpaved path gradually becomes a wider dirt road, which we follow until the end. At the end of the road, we take the trail on our left to reach the river ford, where it is possible to take a dip in another natural pool.
From here begins a very steep climb that brings us to the left bank of the Rio Pitrisconi and offers a unique panorama of all the natural pools. Following the trail, we return once again to the Pitrisconi farmhouse.
2 – Punta Casteddacciu and Punta Pala di Monti Loop (Orange Trail on the map)
Distance: 6.6 kilometres
Elevation gain: 560 metres
Difficulty: EE (Experienced Hiker)
Download track: click here
The trail starts a few hundred metres before the Pitrisconi farmhouse at the clear sign for Punta Casteddacciu (40.75385, 9.59153). From here, a beautiful ascent through the Mediterranean scrub begins, taking about 35 minutes to reach the peak, which overlooks the northern side of Monte Nieddu at 828 metres above sea level.
At the junction, we quickly climb towards Casteddacciu, where the panorama extends to the sea near Santa Lucia and San Teodoro, and to the north across the entire Lerno and Padru valleys.
Once we descend, we take the left at the junction towards Pala di Monti. This is another unmissable panoramic peak, offering views of the entire coastline: Tavolara, Molara, the Gulf of Olbia, Brandinchi, and Coda Cavallo. The viewpoint reaches a height of 615 metres. From here, we can take the large dirt road that will bring us back to our car.
What to bring
Remember to bring water (2 liters per person in summer).
The ideal footwear is trekking shoes with a hard sole.
Sunglasses, suncream, swimsuit, food (packed lunch, fruit, energy bars)
How difficult it is
Both hiking routes are classified as EE (Experienced Hiker), as the terrain is technical in some sections (rocky ground and steep slopes). In summer, when temperatures are high, the trail becomes extremely demanding and is therefore not recommended.
More infos
In large parts of the massif, there is no mobile phone signal, so it is essential to be fully familiar with the route, to have studied the map carefully, and to carry the track with you, which can be downloaded for free from the website.