Monte Valinis loop from Sottomonte

Park the car near the San Giovanni di Sottomonte church, a hamlet of Meduno (two parking lots, 305 m). Here begins trail 819, to be followed until a fork: right to Monte Valinis, left... also. It is better to do the loop counterclockwise; it is more pleasant. The ascent goes through the forest up to 600 meters altitude, where it thins out. At this point, the view opens onto the Friulian plain, and paragliders' sails will very likely fly over us. At the 960 m saddle, take the left, pass the take-off point, and climb the grassy ridge that leads to the Valinis summit cross (1102 m); summit book inside the curious metal box.

To close the loop, beyond the cross follow the trail that continues along the ridge line and, shortly after, plunges down on switchbacks toward the Forchia di Meduno; here you can find tall grass up to the forest. You reach a fork – ignore it – and descend to Borgo Cilia (555 m), a charming place with a generous fountain. We descend onto the asphalt, turn left, pass the last houses, follow the border between clearings and forest, and meet our trail again, clearly visible. This is the least pleasant part of the loop, in a dark forest and on a sometimes slippery path; however, you safely reach the initial fork from where you descend to the parking lots.