The place is easily reachable thanks to a stone-paved road that will take you directly to a refuge. Unfortunately the car park is very small and if it is full it is best to leave the car on the side of the road. The route is perfect for families and the initial structure is equipped with public toilets. There are many paths, among which I recommend you take the circular ring which will give you a taste of the entire plan. Take at least 4-5 hours if you want to visit it all as it is quite vast. The landscape is spectacular, with a breathtaking view of Etna. As an alternative route I recommend you go to Mount Lepre and then to Mount Egypt, although there is a bit of an uphill slope you will find some magnificent centuries-old trees. The potential of the site is quite high, perhaps a significant expansion and more services in the accommodation facility would make it more attractive to the general public. Certainly worth visiting for its beauty and vastness. 5 stars

Magical place for both hiking and mountain biking. Not recommended for gravel bikes as the surface is too rough. The access road is very convenient and perfectly passable by car. At the end of this, a large square allows you to park and prepare your bike. Unfortunately the refuge is closed. Given the vegetation is not always dense, it is better to protect the skin, with protective cream, especially in the warmer months.

On February 20, 2022, Etna showed strong activity. There was smoke from at least 4 chimneys at the same time. It was particularly beautiful to see here and it was worth taking lots of photos here. But that was just the beginning of the activities. The following day, Mount Etna erupted and emitted a powerful cloud of smoke that spread like a huge mushroom across the sky towards Catania. And suddenly, as if nothing had happened, everything was gone again.

easily reachable by car via a road paved with basalt, once you arrive at the Piano dei Grilli refuge it is possible to leave the car in a large car park, a perfect place for long walks or mountain bike excursions, where the volcano has left destruction now there are the birches.

A paved road leads to this place among a field of basalt, an otherworldly landscape. Several barbecue areas, unfortunately closed after the season. Good view of Etna.

Easily accessible place for short or long walks.

The work done in this place is commendable: the road is new (it must be about thirty years old), but it has an ancient feel with its route entirely made of basalt. It looks like the pavement of a church or a medieval town and is suitable for all cars. You arrive directly at the refuge of the same name, open according to the hours and days of the structure, and there you will find a not too large car park where you can leave your car. The path almost forms a circumference around Monte Ruvolo and, making a small detour, you arrive at a forestry refuge, now closed, from which you can enjoy a breathtaking view.

Nice open space from which to undertake excursions in the Etna Park. Fantastic view of the Volcano. It's a shame the refuge was closed even though it was a public holiday. Beautiful vegetation and walks suitable for all ages.

Fantastic starting point to leave the car and start an excursion on one of the most beautiful and fascinating sides of Etna.

Affascinante punto di ingresso per le escursioni sul vulcano , con un punto ristoro al varco di ingresso

Un luogo per me molto suggestivo, quando posso ci passo un po’ di tempo in solitaria, dove si può sentire la “ muntagna “, ultima volta sono salito in bicicletta...stupendo

Piano dei Grilli è il luogo ideale per visitare l’Etna, punto di partenza escursionistico sulle direttrici che s’inerpicano sul vulcano, alla fine di un basolato a lavico monumentale di circa 3km a quota 1185 c'è un parcheggio per circa 10 auto in uno sterrato di fronte all'omonimo rifugio. La denominazione arcaica è stata data dai pastori per la presenza di una forte concentrazione di grilli e di insetti in genere. E’ un sito SIC (Sito d’Importanza Comunitaria) e ZPS (Zona di Protezione speciale), con notevoli peculiarità naturalistiche. La vista spazia con ampie vedute del versante Nord-Ovest dell’Etna punteggiato da conetti vulcanici di varie epoche e affascinanti angoli di natura ancora integri. E’ un’area interessata da colate, le più antiche ricoperte da boschi a querce caducifoglie e leccete. Nei siti in cui si alternano i campi lavici e gli accumuli di sabbie vulcaniche si insedia la Genista aetnensis, mentre sui substrati più rocciosi si rinvengono aspetti a piccoli arbusti a copertura con discontinuità (Helichrysum italicum e Centranthus ruber, oppure Euphorbia rigida). L’area in oggetto presenta un notevole interesse naturalistico per l’estesa copertura di formazioni forestali sia caducifoglie che sempreverdi. La fauna annovera specie di interesse scientifico e conservazionistico, soprattutto rapaci. Di un certo interesse, come accennato, anche le specie di insetti, che in Sicilia sono spesso localizzate soltanto sull’Etna.

Punto di partenza per meravigliosi percorsi naturalistici nel territorio dell'Etna. Possibilità di lasciare i mezzi di trasporto ed affittare attrezzature. Consigliato

Starting point where you arrive easily by car after a journey among the secular skiing, from there on you are in the Etna park in a large plain called the Ginestre, an endemic plant of Etna which grows like a tree unlike the Ginestra of north. Along the route you will encounter many small volcanoes of ancient lava flows. I got as far as Monte Fiore, a small volcano that erupted in 1974 at 1700 meters where nature has not yet arrived apart from two loricated pines on the side of the cone