San Gottardo – Le Ghiare – Lerici – AV5T junction (REL trail marker)

The itinerary starts from the wooded saddle of San Gottardo, a hillside pass historically crucial for pedestrian routes in the Levanto hinterland. The first section gradually loses elevation as it enters a cool, shaded valley dominated by coppice woodland of chestnut and hornbeam, until it reaches the valley-floor locality known as Le Ghiare. Here the landscape is marked by small streams and lush riparian vegetation.

After crossing the valley floor, the trail changes pace and begins climbing the opposite mountain slope. The track follows an old mule path cutting across Ligurian terraces once intensively cultivated with olive trees and vines. The route thus reaches the stone houses of the rural locality of Lerici, a small isolated hillside settlement behind the coast that preserves the charm of traditional rural architecture from the La Spezia area.

From Lerici the climb becomes more decisive: the trail winds through patches of tall Mediterranean scrub and pine woodland, offering broad panoramic views over the Levanto valley below and the marine horizon. The ascent ends upon reaching the main ridge, where a marked junction leads onto the AV5T (Alta Via delle Cinque Terre). From this strategic high-altitude junction, hikers can turn east towards Colla di Gritta and Monterosso or continue west along the ridge overlooking the National Park.

The route develops on mixed terrain alternating unpaved woodland paths, stone-paved sections near the settlements and stable scree in the upper part. It presents no technical difficulties or exposed passages. Nevertheless, take care on the valley-floor section around Le Ghiare and in shaded areas, where clay soil and leaves can retain moisture for a long time and make the surface slippery. Hiking shoes with a lugged sole and trekking poles are recommended to assist the ascent.