Private Hiking Valle delle Ferriere: Rare Plants & Waterfalls

Walk into a forest that feels like another continent, steps from the Amalfi Coast.

A private guided hike through the Valle delle Ferriere, a 455-hectare nature reserve on the Amalfi Coast, starting from Scala and following the river Canneto through rare subtropical plants and waterfalls. The trail takes three hours and includes a certified hiking guide. Entrance to the reserve is available as an add-on at checkout. Moderate fitness is required.

The experience

You start in Scala and walk along lemon groves that open into the Valle delle Ferriere, a State Nature Reserve protected by the Council of Europe. The path follows the river Canneto, whose crystalline water has kept a subtropical microclimate frozen in time. The kind of ecosystem you would expect in Southeast Asia, not a few kilometers from the Amalfi Coast. The reserve holds plant species that date back millions of years, including Woodwardia Radicans, a fern so ancient it is considered a living fossil, alongside rare species like Pteris Vittata, Pteris Cretica, Erica Terminalis and Hirtiflora Pinguicula that exist nowhere else nearby.

The hike takes three hours total. Your certified guide speaks English or Italian and walks with you through the forest, pointing out the waterfalls created by the river and the amphibians like the Spectacled Salamander that thrive in the cool, wet microclimate. The trail is moderate in difficulty. You need a reasonable level of fitness to manage the terrain and the pace. The entrance ticket to the nature reserve can be added to your booking at checkout if you don't already have one.

What’s included

• Certified hiking guide in English or Italian.
• three-hour guided walk through the 455-hectare reserve following the river Canneto and its waterfalls.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 10:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (10 to 65 years) · Under 10: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Italian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on site€ 5

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPets welcomeNot for pregnant travelers

Operated by Trentaremi

Is this one for you?Book this hike if you have a free afternoon on the Amalfi Coast and want to see a subtropical forest ecosystem that most visitors never find: the three-hour duration fits between other activities, and the moderate difficulty means you need reasonable fitness but not climbing experience.

Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Italian.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the Woodwardia Radicans fern I'll see in the Valle delle Ferriere?

Woodwardia Radicans is a fern species dating back a million years, preserved unchanged in the reserve's subtropical microclimate. It is considered a living fossil because it survives in so few places on earth, and the Canneto river's crystalline water creates the exact conditions it needs.

How long does the hike take and how difficult is it?

The hike takes three hours and requires at least a moderate level of physical fitness. You walk along paths through lemon groves and forest terrain alongside the river, so comfortable hiking boots and a reasonable pace are necessary.

Does the hike start in a town, or do I need to arrange transport to the trailhead?

The hike starts from Scala, a village on the Amalfi Coast. You will need to arrange your own transport to Scala. The guide meets you at the starting point and walks the route with you from there.

What plants and animals will I actually encounter on this hike?

The reserve is home to rare plant species including Pteris Vittata, Pteris Cretica, Erica Terminalis and Hirtiflora Pinguicula, plus the ancient Woodwardia Radicans fern. You may also see the Spectacled Salamander and other amphibians that thrive in the cool, wet microclimate created by the river and waterfalls.

Is the entrance ticket to the nature reserve included in the hike price?

The entrance ticket to the Valle delle Ferriere Nature Reserve is not included in the base hike price. You can add it to your booking at checkout if you need one.