Mountain views within a couple hours of Florence

Florence is in the middle of Appennini mountains, that are relatively low in elevation and mostly covered by woods, so lacking dramatic peaks. On a clear day you can see some distant mountains from Florence, or the peak overlooking the city (Monte Morello, 934 meters above sea level). The closest mountain with some elevation is Abetone pass, once a skying resort, 2 hours driving from Florence. Another skying place was mount Amiata, two hours driving south of Florence. But all these places are low in elevation if compared to Alps.
I have some friends that for an hint of mountain go to Consuma pass or to Vallombrosa, about one hour from Florence. The only place with Alpine looking peaks are the so called Alpi Apuane, the mountains on the back of Viareggio and Forte dei Marmi; their geology is different from Appennines (they have the Carrara marble quarries).
All these places aren't really geared to mass tourism and may be difficult to reach without a car (even with a car, the Abetone road is endlessly curvy). Personally, when I am in need of mountain ambience, I go to Alps.

Having lived in the Sierra Nevada mountains, the Apennines seem more like tall, rolling hills compared to the Sierra Nevada range, and certainly compared to the Alps.

Florence does not have quick access to good mountain scenery offering hiking.

With more time so you could overnight, you might revise your plans and actually go to the Dolomites where the eye-popping scenery is.

To add another example, I know two very brilliant girls that, as an adventure, took a train to Bologna and walked back to Florence (in five days, if memory serves me). Yes, you are going to see some mountains (they went through the Futa pass, 903 meters). But they told me that most of the time they felt like being in the middle of nowhere.

Great information, thank you! I really wish we had time to fit the Alps but we are there for a wedding and only have 2 free days before and 2 after. We are from Florida so we just would like to see some mountains and get out in nature. We aren’t the museum type. If you have any other suggestions please throw them out! We are in Florence the first 2 free days and the plans for the 2nd 2 are up in the air. We just have to be in a city Friday night so we can fly home Saturday.

You could try going by train to Bellano on Lake Como. It’s not exactly ideal daytrip distance but there is a lot of hiking to waterfalls in gorges just outside of Bellano.
The Rhaetian Alps surround Lake Como. Bellano is reachable in 3:15 from Firenze SMN station.

Another example. One of the best samples not so distant from Florence could be a trip to St. Francis sanctuary at La Verna, immersed in a densely wooded area in the middle of Appennines. I am quoting a definite destination as most of Appennines are not very populated and if you have generic ideas you end in some nowhere place with nobody around. But it is a two hours drive from Florence; the bus trip would not be easy.

As usual: depends greatly what you means as "good Mountain View". Of course in the Alps there are some terrific views with huge and tall rock mountains. The problem is that "moderate hiking" + not having a car doesn't allow you to reach such areas and mountains. If you arrive by train you need at least a local bus or a long trekking to reach interesting areas. Or you can see the better mountains only from very far.
Appennines are lower, but can be interesting anyway. For sure much richer of historical things, on top of wonderful landscapes. But the problem is the same: to reach some of the nicest and indulge only in a moderate hike you need a car.

Renting a car is not a problem, we can do that. Just a little more difficult because there are 6 of us and most rentals are quite small.

I also wanted to add we are not opposed to spending our last 2 days somewhere other than Florence. We just need to be with an hour or two from an airport to fly out Saturday morning. We have not booked our flights home yet.

You could go to Barga
Is it six adults? You won’t fit in one vehicle with luggage. You’ll likely need two cars.
You can get to Barga easily by bus, but you’ll probably want a car for getting around. That said, we stayed there without one and did some nice hikes.
You could fly out of Pisa.

Yes 6 adults and all our luggage 😳 We are renting a van in Siena to get to the wedding but they are quite expensive. Thanks, I will check out Barga, this is exactly the kind of info I was hoping for!

Not so convenient to mountains, but Umbria is not far and wonderful.
Consider visiting Gubbio, Perugia, Assisi, Spoleto and more. The terrain is a bit mountains, but not huge.

The Apennines mountains in the province of Florence (the highest are Monte Falco and Monte Falterona, at 1,650 m., or 5,400 ft a.s.l.,) are not as high as the Alps or the Sierra Nevada in California, or not even as high as the Apennines in the rest of Tuscany, as in the Province of Lucca (Apuan Alps, which are the highest in the region) or the province of Pistoia, but compared to the mountains of Florida, I think they are adequate for hiking.

If you don’t mind renting a car, your best bet is to go across the Consuma pass (35 min drive east of Florence), and there will be plenty of trails there as well as Vallombrosa. For even better trails, your best bet can go a little further on the same road to the National Forest of Casentino and Mt. Falterona, which is actually in the province of Arezzo (Consuma pass is on the border of the two provinces). The best way there is to drive down to Stia and go up to the Passo della Calla.. I usually park here then walk the trail all the way to the source of the Arno River exactly where the river comes out of the rock. It’s actually an easy hike that even I can still do nowadays. You can also do a bit steeper hikes up to Monte Falco or the top on Monte Falterona. I haven’t done those since I was in my early 20s but they are not too bad. You can check the photos in my Google maps links above and see if you like the scenery. From Florence to the parking lot at the Passo della Calla is maybe 1.5 hours.
Then when you are done, on the drive back, you can have some gorgeous dinners at one of these favorite restaurants of mine:
L’Ospitale dei Brilli (try the Scottiglia del Casentino and the Potato ravioli, two local specialties)
or also Il Canto della Rana, however the latter may be open only at lunch except for maybe Saturdays, so check before you go.
From Stia back to Florence is just over 1 hour drive. It’s a bit curvy through the Consuma pass so if you drive at night don’t drive too crazy, but it’s a good highway.
The mountain options I gave you are the closest to Florence, so you can do it all on a day trip and be back in Florence for the night. Going to Abetone or the Apuans would take you over a couple hours just to drive up-there.
6 people need two cars, since a van is more expensive than three cars.

While not mountainous like the Dolomites, you might enjoy a day trip driving south to Volterra and San Gimignano. Lovely Tuscan hill towns. The American Cemetery is an interesting place to visit. Or spend two nights in Siena and use the three days to see Siena, Montalcino, Montpulciano, La Foce garden and Pienza. Lots of views but not “mountains” like the Dolomites.