SI V18

The stage involves descending towards the Raino' River, less than 1 km from the agritourism Villa Raino', following the red and white signs on the edge of the concrete road. You tackle the descent on natural and unpaved terrain, heading towards Messina. Once you reach the valley, continue on the left and take a marked uphill track that intersects with S.P. 60 towards San Mauro Castelverde. The trail changes number and becomes 601, continuing uphill and then turning right towards the wind turbines, where at an intersection, you continue the unpaved road on the left under the turbines until you reach an intersection with the Marrocco farm, and after a few kilometers, to the Malopasseto pass. Here, beneath the wind turbines, you enter the Sambuchetti-Campanito Nature Reserve, managed by the Sicilian Regional Forests Agency. Nearby, about 9 km along paved road, is the municipality of Castel di Lucio (ME). This is the connection point between the Madonie and Nebrodi mountains, both regional parks. The stage initially unfolds on an unpaved road until the Raino' River and then continues uphill beneath a wind turbine installation, in a landscape that's not particularly beautiful at first, somewhat desolate, although necessary for a short transfer section. After having the chance to visit the Scarpello farm in Malopasseto, the original stopping place for those wishing to stay there, you continue towards Sella del Contrasto, the gateway to the Nebrodi Park, the destination of the next stage. This stage indeed marks the connection between Madonie and Nebrodi, both regional parks crossed by the SI. After a short stretch, the path immerses itself in the nature reserve established by the Sicilian region Sambuchetti - Campanito, managed by the Forestry Department of rural and territorial development, interesting for its reforestation vegetation and botanical experiments (see http://www.riserveenna.it/SambughettiCampanito.aspx) where various information can be found. The Sambuchetti – Campanito mountain range forms a ridge parallel to the Nebrodi mountains extending south of the main ridge, connected by the saddle called “del Contrasto,” stretched between the slopes of Monte Castelli to the northeast and those of Monte Campanito to the southwest. In this area, the Nebrodi mountains properly terminate with the heights around the mountain center of Mistretta and slope slightly towards the area of Castel di Lucio and San Mauro Castelverde where the chain rises again to form the Madonie. The highest peaks of the range, which are also the tallest in the province of Enna, include Peak Sambughetti at 1559 meters above sea level, Peak Monte Campanito at 1512 meters, and Peak Rocca Campanito at 1508 meters. Additionally, the range, which is actually a single large mountain with various peaks, also includes Monte Trippaturi (1393 m), the two summits of Portella Pantano (1270 and 1274 m), Monte Graffagna (1422 m), Monte San Martino (1204 m), and Monte Coniglio (1084 m). The path develops along an internal unpaved road within the reserve, and there are several CAI trails present; the section of the SI is located further north than the rest of the trail network and reaches Sella del Contrasto on S.S. 117 Nicosia Mistretta, this last one being the closest center where various options for accommodation can be found about 5 km away, while Nicosia is about 15 km away. The end of the stage, located on S.S. 117 and somewhat isolated from inhabited centers, allows for a spartan overnight stay or to contact accommodation in Mistretta as per instructions, awaiting a CAI reception point, with a shuttle that needs to be contacted for transport. There is the possibility of a variant from Sella del Contrasto to the inhabited center of Capizzi for an overnight stay in this center and to resume the SI towards Portella Femmina Morta, another stopping point.