Summary
Mount Etna in Sicily is many things, including one of the most active volcanoes in the world. We will share with you the best way to hike Italy’s Mount Etna, along with all the advice and tips you need to reach the summit of this magnificent volcano.
Mount Etna is not to be conquered as she is the conqueror, but you can hike to the summit, currently located at 3,326 meters above sea level (10,912 feet).
A Guide to Hiking Mount Etna
When is the Best Time to Climb Mount Etna?
- You can visit Mount Etna and hike year-round.
- April to September is the optimal period for hiking Mount Etna; if you have the flexibility, aim for clear days.
- The ideal months to visit Mount Etna, offering pleasant temperatures while avoiding the peaks of tourist crowds in July and August, are May and late September to October.
From October to April, expect to be hiking in low cloud with significant snow coverage.
Mount Etna Facts
- Mount Etna is situated near the city of Catania on the island of Sicily, Italy.
- The Etna area spans 1,190 km2 (459 sq mi) with a basal circumference of 140 km (87 miles).
- It is the largest of Italy’s three active volcanoes, approximately two and a half times taller than Mount Vesuvius.
- Mount Etna is the most active volcano in Europe.
- The fertile volcanic soils support rich agriculture, showcasing vineyards and orchards across the lower slopes.
- The United Nations designated Mount Etna as a Decade Volcano due to its history of recent activity and proximity to populated areas.
- UNESCO recognized Etna as a World Heritage Site in June 2013.
- Mount Etna’s elevation is 3,326 meters (10,912 feet).
How to Get To Mount Etna
The main access point for Mount Etna is on the south side of the crater at Sapienza Refuge (Rifugio Sapienza). Here, you will find parking lots along with a variety of shops, restaurants, and ticket offices offering various services.
Where to Park for Mount Etna Hiking
A spacious, level car park is available at Sapienza Refuge at an elevation of 1,910 m, providing stunning views toward the coast. Parking for a motorhome costs €12 per day, while a car is charged €3.50. Arriving after 5 PM allows free overnight parking.
You must pay for your parking the following morning at the ticket office across the street.
What Equipment & Clothing Do You Need to Climb Mount Etna?
- warm jacket and multiple removable layers
- winter-weight hiking trousers
- gloves
- Mount Etna Footwear – broken-in, ankle-high hiking boots
- hat or head wrap
- water and packed lunch
- hiking poles
- helmet, mandatory for the main crater
- rucksack
- camera!
Fitness
You do not need to be super-fit to summit Mount Etna, but determination is crucial. The ascent is steep and presents various challenges.
We encountered icy flows from the lava and steep, sometimes sheer drops, so confidence in your hiking abilities is essential. If you have respiratory issues or suffer from vertigo, it is advised not to attempt this hike.
Hiking Options for Mount Etna
Option 1 – Independent Trekking Mount Etna
It is feasible to hike to the summit without assistance, starting from Sapienza Refuge. This strenuous full-day hike climbs 1,416 m across challenging terrain with steep inclines. Guides frequently forge new paths in response to Mount Etna’s ever-changing topography.
The only marked path leads to the cable car at 2,500 m; beyond this point, no marked or defined paths exist.
An experienced hiker can attempt Mount Etna without a guide, but it is critical to possess knowledge of volcanoes, high fitness levels, and a pre-planned GPS route. Disorientation is possible, particularly if the weather turns unfavorable.
Option 2 – Semi-Independent Trek to Summit
This option includes taking the cable car (€33 per person round trip) from Sapienza Refuge to 2,500 m. From there, you will board a 4×4 bus (€24 per person round trip) to 2,920 m, the start of the crater region. A guide (€9 extra) will meet you here to lead you to the two lower craters.
One of these craters is conveniently located right next to the bus stop. Each element is paid separately at the cable car station, where jackets, poles, and helmets can also be rented.
Option 3 – Guided Summit Hike Mount Etna
Mid-April presents the perfect timeframe to hike Mount Etna as it is shoulder season and typically less crowded, with more favorable weather conditions.
Hiring a Guide for Mount Etna
A quick search online reveals numerous Mount Etna guided tours with varying itineraries and costs. You can even find guides available on the morning you wish to hike.
Across from the car park is a semi-permanent trailer labeled ‘Trekking Excursions on Etna,’ where we successfully organized a guided hike at 9 AM that same morning for €85 each. This package includes the costs for the guide, cable car, and 4×4 transportation. Helmets and poles are provided if you don’t have your own.
Payment via credit card can be a lengthy and disorganized process; thus, cash is preferred!
Groups comprise around 20 individuals, with three groups dispatched on the day we hiked.
Expect some disorganization before departure; we did not leave for the cable car until after 10 AM despite the scheduled time of 9:30 AM.
Mount Etna Hike Summary
Distance – 8.9 km on a circular route
Elevation – 421 m
Mount Etna Hike Time – 5-6 hours
All About Trekking Mount Etna
1. The Cable Car
From Rifugio Sapienza, we stopped to split into separate groups for a scenic ride up to 2,500 meters. Here, chaos reigned in a facility that struggles to accommodate the volume of daily visitors.
Although there have been two attempts to construct new cable cars, both endeavors have been thwarted by recent eruptions.
You must wear your helmet to access the ‘special line’ for tours, which will create frustration for others not wearing helmets, as your line progresses quicker.
You will eventually filter through a small gap and enter the cable car.
While the views may be slightly obscured by scratched windows, you will gain a first real impression of Mount Etna’s vast and dramatic landscape as you ascend into the clouds, traversing black lava fields and observing small hikers along the path.
Upon arrival, you’ll be directed to wait for your 4×4 bus, again reaping the benefits of wearing a helmet!
2. The 4×4 Bus
Once we disembarked the cable car, we boarded a 4×4 bus that navigated the slopes and solidified lava flows to 2,920 meters. These buses are remarkable, equipped with massive tires and visible shock absorbers. The ride was bumpy but exhilarating, arriving at the ‘new’ cable car station, which has since melted due to an eruption!
No facilities are available here, so ensure you visit the restroom at the cable car station before boarding the bus.
3. What to Expect When You Start the Hike
Your guide will introduce themselves, and you will then set off across a flat lava plain where the path is relatively easy, filled with volcanic sand and grit.
Your guide will periodically stop to discuss your surroundings, point out visible craters, and the dates of the last eruptions.
As you absorb the information, you might feel steam wrapping around your feet and legs, an indication that you are standing over natural geothermal heat!
4. The Ascent
The route to the Mount Etna summit frequently changes, so expect to encounter snow, ice, and a steep final ascent of 421 meters (1,280 feet).
At one point, we traversed a steep slope covered in ice fields, which proved to be a significant challenge; therefore, having hiking poles is essential. I regretted bringing only one!
Mount Etna Summit area and Crater Trek
It takes around 1 hour and 30 minutes to reach the first main crater, with the guide making regular stops to provide insights and ensure everyone keeps pace.
5. The Main Summit Craters
As you summit, prepare to be awestruck. The rumbling deep underground is unmistakable. The tangy scent of sulfur fills the air, and inhaling too deeply may leave you coughing.
The summit presents a striking moonscape, with occasional ochre and green rocks and sulfur deposits adding beauty to the stark environment.
Standing at the crater’s edge, you will feel the raw power of Mount Etna as you peer into its depths, enveloped in smoke and sulfur. It can be unsettling not to see the bottom while feeling the heat warming your face, particularly when you turn away to face the biting wind.
You will proceed around the crater’s edge in a single file line, making numerous stops for information while waiting for clouds of sulfur to pass. Fascinating fumaroles emit steam, and you can reach in cautiously to feel the warmth.
At this altitude above the clouds, the view in every direction is breathtaking—craters, steam, and sulfur on one side contrasted against a piercing blue sky and puffy white clouds on the other.
Your lunch stop here will offer the most stunning view you’ve ever experienced!
Plan on a 20-minute lunch break at the summit; any longer, and the cold will set in. There’s little privacy if you need to relieve yourself, but fellow hikers understand, and discretion is practiced. The guide will offer generous pours of red wine and coffee, but we cherished our flask of tea!
You will enjoy approximately an hour at the summit, with ample opportunities for photographs and questions before starting your descent.
6. The Descent
The descent presents challenges similar to the ascent! We spent considerable time sliding through volcanic sand and ash. Descending was akin to running down a steep sand dune towards the sea, except no sea lay in sight—only the vast lava fields stretching ahead.
The sheer size of these fields is awe-inspiring, and it’s sobering to imagine the scale of an eruption accompanied by flowing lava—one such eruption on December 3, 2015, saw lava fountains reach 1 km (3,300 ft) in height!
While there are areas with ice and snow to traverse, they are generally manageable, allowing us to reach the lower craters quickly.
7. The Lower Craters of Mount Etna
The lower craters are just as fascinating and easier to navigate, stemming from recent eruptions. The paths here are narrower, with steep drops on either side.
From this point, you will continue your hike back to the cable car station before taking the journey back to Sapienza Refuge.
The Experience of Climbing Mount Etna
If you’re visiting Italy and have Sicily on your list, a trip to Mount Etna is essential. Even a short visit to Sapienza Refuge along with a mini-hike to the crater adjacent to the car park is worthwhile.
This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity not to be missed!
If you can afford it and are fit enough to reach the summit, we highly recommend the guided hike.
Not only will you remain safe under the guidance of an experienced mountain leader, but you will also gain valuable insights about the immense power and unpredictability of Mount Etna.
I assure you, you will leave in awe of nature’s ability to create both beauty and terror simultaneously.
