CT hiking

The first two trails (Riomaggiore->Manarola and Manarola->Corniglia train station) are quite easy. The first trail is mostly flat and somewhat paved. Super easy. The third trail is a bit more difficult and the fourth trail between Vernazza and Monterosso more difficult yet. RS says that you can do all four trails in 4-5 hours. But as seniors, I'll debate that. The last two trails took us a lot longer.

The hike isn't that hard, and the trail is pretty clearly marked with red/white strip markers. There really shouldn't be any reason that you can't do it on your own, other than you want company. There are always people on the trail so maybe you just "hike" with them if they are at a pace that is comfortable for you. you will meet people going both directions on the trail. I don't know about any tours for this hike, but I wanted to encourage you that it can be done by yourself!

Relax, Patricia. It's not like climbing the Eiger. You can stroll along at any pace that you desire & and it's nearly impossible to get lost. Just make sure to bring water and wear some solid footwear and you will be fine. Quite likely, you will run into a few hikers who set the same pace and become a mini group. Have a great trip!

Ellen, I pinkie swear that I never saw your post!

What's up with Bob and Ellen???

What happens on the CT trails stays on the trail.

To call it a hiking trail is a little misleading. Think of it as a simple footpath between towns. On another note, for whatever reason, lots of people feel they HAVE to walk all five towns as if it's some sort of badge of honor. Trust me, no one at home is going to care if you walked to one or all five. I'd rather choose one or two to walk and take the rest by train. Gives you more time to explore the towns and that's what you traveled all that way for. I have plenty of scenic hiking trails at home, I don't have five charming Italian towns at home. IMHO

I've walked all four sections of the trail but not on the same day. The sections between Corniglia and Vernazza and between Vernazza and Monterosso are well worth walking. The scenery is beautiful, especially on a bright sunny day. Some sections of these trails offer a little challenge. A word of advice though. Allow enough time to complete your walk in daylight.

When we were in CT years ago, we hiked from the town we were staying in to another town that had boat service back to the first town. Sorry I do not remember which towns (I am getting older but still very active) but you could certainly ask about that option wherever you are staying. We found the "trails" easy to navigate for us seniors. Is there still a fee for taking those hikes/walks?

Patricia, Don't be too concerned about hiking the trails on your own. As the others have mentioned, they're not strenuous (more on that later) and there's always lots of company. Note that you'll need to pick up a Park Pass to hike the trails - there WILL be people checking for this! The entire trip from Monterosso to Riomaggiore can be walked in about 4-5 hours (more if you decide to stop for lunch in Vernazza). You can then take the train back to whichever village you're staying in. The first section from Monterosso to Vernazza is the most strenuous as it involves a bit of a climb. It's not difficult and you'll be able to take it at a speed that's comfortable. The leg from Vernazza to Corniglia is a bit easier, and the last two legs to Manarola and Riomaggiore are easy. The section from Manarola to Riomaggiore is called the Via dell'Amore and is mostly level and paved. There's a small Bar/Restaurant part way along where you can get a "cool one" and enjoy the magnificent ocean view. I'll be back in the C.T. later this year, and fully intend on doing the hike again (by myself). Happy travels!

Thanks everyone! Now the deciding factor might be do I want to pack another pair of footwear? If I just stuck to the two easiest sections, could I get away with just wearing my Birkenstocks?

" If I just stuck to the two easiest sections, could I get away with just wearing my Birkenstocks?" Yes. We wear regular sneakers (tennis shoes/ athletic, whatever ) for the entire walk.

Patricia, "If I just stuck to the two easiest sections, could I get away with just wearing my Birkenstocks?" I've seen all kinds of footwear on the C.T. trails, including teenagers wearing cheap rubber flip-flops to Europeans with full high top hiking boots and walking poles. If you're normally able to do light hiking with your Birkenstocks, they'll probably be fine on the C.T. trails. Note that some of the trails can be closed at times due to weather, but you'll be advised of that when you arrive there. The Via dell'Amore should be open most of the time. As I recall, there are some stray Cats on one of the sections, so you might want to pack along a bit of extra water and some food to leave for them. Cheers!