Mount Etna Birch Forest – Monti Sartorius loop from Monte Baracca

Hiking trails & Routes

Mount Etna Birch Forest – Monti Sartorius loop from Monte Baracca

Easy

4.8

(19)

hikers

Mount Etna Birch Forest – Monti Sartorius loop from Monte Baracca

01:01

3.58km

80m

Hiking

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

Last updated: August 27, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Parco dell'Etna

Waypoints

Start point

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607 m

Mount Etna Birch Forest

Highlight • Forest

The play of colors is fantastic. The paths are easy to walk. However, the birch trees are increasingly suffering from the high temperatures. Many have a darker brownish bark.

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1.24 km

Volcanic Bombs of the Sartorius Craters

Highlight • Natural Monument

The birches of Etna (birch aetnensis) is an arboreal plant endemic to Sicily present spontaneously only in the Etna area, on the north, north-east and north-west slopes of the volcano, at altitudes between 1450 and 2000 meters. Its presence on the island is due to the effects that the last glaciation (Wurm - 70,000 / 10,000 years ago) produced on Sicilian habitats. Finding itself in conditions of extremely low temperatures, the birch was able to widen its distribution range "descending" from the high latitudes of Northern Europe, to lower latitudes and also arriving in different areas of Sicily. At the end of the glaciation, about 10,000 years ago, the rise in temperature confined the birch to the Etna area alone, as there were no favorable climatic conditions in other Sicilian areas. Over time, the birch has adapted to the climate and volcanic soil and has evolved to become endemic and a symbol of an entire territory. An area of particular interest for the observation of this unique tree species is that around the Sartorius Mountains, a complex of "buttonhole" craters in the northeastern part of the volcano. (myetnamap.it/betulla-delletna/)

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1.74 km

Wooden Figures at Parco dell'Etna

Highlight • Structure

Unfortunately, birch trees have to be felled again and again because of beetle infestations. Here, an imaginative use has been found for the cut wood in the form of life-sized figures.

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1.87 km

View of Mount Etna

Highlight • Viewpoint

2.17 km

Monti Sartorius

Highlight • Volcano

A whole network of beautiful hiking trails leads around and to the Monti Sartorius, ashes cone of a flank eruption of Etna 150 years ago. Great view down to the sea and towards Taormina is included. The paths are mostly easy to walk on and are also suitable for a relaxed walk. Some sections are also quite airy around the crater edges, so there is something for every taste. The nearby Refugio Citelli offers refreshments.

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2.49 km

Mount Etna viewpoint

Highlight • Viewpoint

The viewpoint, which faces the sea, is the destination of most guided tours. Those who are a little more fit can reach even higher craters to the west, from which you can get a good overview of the entire crater landscape.

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2.58 km

Monti Sartorius

Highlight • Volcano

2.90 km

Lava field

Highlight (Segment) • Natural Monument

3.58 km

End point

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

2.43 km

1.13 km

< 100 m

Surfaces

2.18 km

1.38 km

< 100 m

Elevation

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Weather

Monday 5 October

11°C

0°C

21 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 5.0 km/h

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Comments

September 26, 2025,Monte Sartorio

Afterwards, I continued on to Monte Sartorio. There was a hike for families, with barely any elevation gain, and wide paths mostly over lava ash. The contrast with the many white birches was simply magnificent. My highlight was the path across the lava field. Afterward, I walked a short circular trail that led me between two craters to a beautiful …

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