Appennino Tosco-Emiliano National Park

National Park Protected Apennine park spanning Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna

Straddling the northern Apennines, Appennino Tosco‑Emiliano National Park offers beech forests, mountain trails, refuges and winter sports; hikers and nature watchers follow marked routes across highland pastures.

Main image

The Appennino Tosco-Emiliano National Park is a protected area in the northern Apennines spanning parts of Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna, established in the early 21st century. It preserves mountain landscapes and biodiversity representative of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines.

The park contains high-elevation terrain with extensive beech and conifer forests, alpine meadows, and montane streams. It supports hiking and nature observation across a network of trails and seasonal mountain routes and is used for both summer trekking and winter outdoor activities in places where snow persists.

The park was created to protect the ecological and cultural values of the Apennine spine between Tuscany and Emilia. Management since creation has focused on habitat conservation, sustainable tourism, and maintaining traditional pastoral and forestry practices.

The park sits along the ridge of the northern Apennines between the regions of Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna, roughly midway between the cities of Bologna and Pisa. The landscape is mountainous with valleys cutting into the Apennine chain.

  • Establishment: Established in 2001 and managed as a national park covering parts of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines.
  • High-elevation terrain: Contains high Apennine environments with peaks rising above 2,000 meters and extensive beech and montane grassland habitats.
Appennino Tosco-Emiliano National Park
44.3183, 10.2406

How to Get to Appennino Tosco-Emiliano National Park #

Major access points are via the A1 autostrada with local roads leading into the park from towns such as Pontremoli and Parma. Regional buses serve some valley communities; driving offers the most flexible access to trailheads and refuges.

Tips for Visiting Appennino Tosco-Emiliano National Park #

  • Focus on one or two valleys per visit rather than trying to see the whole park-the park is extensive and roads are slow.
  • Hire a local mountain guide for off-trail hikes or to reach higher passes safely.
  • Check refuge and hut opening dates-some mountain accommodations operate seasonally.

Best Time to Visit Appennino Tosco-Emiliano National Park #

Best in summer for hiking and access; late spring offers dramatic water features from snowmelt.

Summer
June-September · 10-25°C (50-77°F)
Best for hiking, alpine meadows, and open refuges; most trails accessible.
Late spring
May-June · 5-15°C (41-59°F)
Snowmelt creates dramatic waterfalls but higher passes may still be snowbound.

Weather & Climate near Appennino Tosco-Emiliano National Park #

Climate

Appennino Tosco-Emiliano National Park's climate is classified as Oceanic - Oceanic climate with mild summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -2°C to 23°C. Abundant rainfall (1765 mm/year), wettest in November.

Air Quality: AQI 31 Good
Best Time to Visit
JulyAugustJune
Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
38°
Warmest Month
-12°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions

January

January is the coolest month with highs of 4°C and lows of -2°C. Significant rainfall (163 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

40 Poor

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
-2°
88%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

163 mm
Rainfall
3.7 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.1
UV Index
Low
9.1h daylight

February

February is cold with highs of 5°C and lows of -2°C. Significant rainfall (130 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

42 Poor

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
-2°
85%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

130 mm
Rainfall
3.8 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.3
UV Index
Low
10.3h daylight

March

March is cold with highs of 8°C and lows of 0°C. Significant rainfall (144 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

44 Poor

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
80%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

144 mm
Rainfall
3.9 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.6
UV Index
Moderate
11.8h daylight

April

April is cold with highs of 11°C and lows of 3°C. Significant rainfall (168 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

50 Acceptable

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
11°
76%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

168 mm
Rainfall
3.7 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
1.0
UV Index
Moderate
13.3h daylight

May

May is cool with highs of 16°C and lows of 7°C. Significant rainfall (118 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

64 Good

Comfort

11°
Feels Like Cool
11°C
Temperature
16°
73%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

118 mm
Rainfall
3.1 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
1.4
UV Index
High
14.6h daylight

June

June is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 10°C. Significant rainfall (109 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

67 Good

Comfort

15°
Feels Like Cool
15°C
Temperature
10° 20°
66%
Humidity
Humid

Weather

109 mm
Rainfall
2.9 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.8
UV Index
Very High
15.3h daylight

July

July is cool with highs of 23°C and lows of 13°C. Moderate rainfall (59 mm) and mostly sunny skies.

87 Excellent

Comfort

18°
Feels Like Cool
18°C
Temperature
13° 23°
59%
Humidity
Humid

Weather

59 mm
Rainfall
2.6 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.9
UV Index
Very High
15.0h daylight

August

August is cool with highs of 23°C and lows of 13°C. Regular rainfall (97 mm) and mostly sunny skies.

83 Excellent

Comfort

18°
Feels Like Cool
18°C
Temperature
13° 23°
60%
Humidity
Humid

Weather

97 mm
Rainfall
2.5 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.5
UV Index
Very High
13.8h daylight

September

September is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 9°C. Significant rainfall (147 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

65 Good

Comfort

14°
Feels Like Cool
14°C
Temperature
18°
69%
Humidity
Humid

Weather

147 mm
Rainfall
2.9 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.0
UV Index
Moderate
12.4h daylight

October

October is cold with highs of 13°C and lows of 6°C. Heavy rain (212 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

48 Poor

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
13°
80%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

212 mm
Rainfall
3.2 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.5
UV Index
Moderate
10.8h daylight

November

November is cold with highs of 8°C and lows of 1°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (234 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

36 Poor

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
88%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

234 mm
Rainfall
3.5 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.2
UV Index
Low
9.5h daylight

December

December is cold with highs of 5°C and lows of -1°C. Significant rainfall (184 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

40 Poor

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
-1°
88%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

184 mm
Rainfall
3.7 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.1
UV Index
Low
8.7h daylight

Nearby Attractions to Appennino Tosco-Emiliano National Park